California Dreamin'
J. Phillips Lyrics
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I've been for a walk on a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
Stopped in to a church I passed along the way
Well I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray
He knows I'm gonna stay
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray
I've been for a walk on a winter's day
If I didn't tell her I could leave today
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
J. Phillips's song California Dreamin’ is about someone who dreams of being in California, where it’s warm, dry, and sunny despite the winter season’s cold and gray weather. The song opens with the line, ‘All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray,’ which sets the scene for the melancholic atmosphere of winter. It describes the singer’s yearning to be somewhere else, specifically in Los Angeles, where it is warm and pleasant all year long. The emotions are palpable and convey the yearning to get out of a cold, dreary place and to fly away to a better life.
The singer's desire to escape from his surroundings is captured through the verses, such as ‘I've been for a walk on a winter's day. I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A,’ which suggests that the singer is unhappy where they are and would prefer to be in a warmer location. He even pretends to pray when he stops at a church on his way, indicating that he is trying to find solace in religion, but the appeal of the California dream is too strong to ignore. The singer is lost in thought, imagining what his life would be like in the golden state, and concludes the song with the repeating line, ‘California dreamin' on such a winter's day.’
Line by Line Meaning
All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray
The dreary winter season has taken over my surroundings, making everything appear dull and lifeless.
I've been for a walk on a winter's day
I have gone outside for a stroll, despite the depressing winter weather.
I'd be safe and warm if I was in L.A
If I were in Los Angeles, I would be comfortable and secure instead of dealing with the harshness of winter.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
I am longing and daydreaming of a better life in California, away from the bleakness of winter.
Stopped in to a church I passed along the way
During my walk, I stopped by a church that I came across.
Well I got down on my knees and I pretend to pray
I kneeled down and acted as if I were praying to seek comfort and guidance.
You know the preacher liked the cold
The pastor is comfortable in the winter weather, unlike me.
He knows I'm gonna stay
The preacher assumes I will remain in the area, even though I am daydreaming of a life elsewhere.
If I didn't tell her I could leave today
If I had not yet revealed my desire to depart, I could leave my current location immediately.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
Once again, I am dreaming of a better life in California while stuck in the harsh winter climate.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
Repeating the chorus to emphasize my yearning for a life in California away from the cold winters.
California dreamin' on such a winter's day
Continuing the repetition of the chorus, highlighting how constantly I am thinking of a life in California.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: John Edmund Andrew Phillips, Michelle Gilliam Phillips
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nikhilsuresh6214
I am 35 and can proudly say 1967 Michelle Philips was an absolute SMOKEEEEE SHOW 😢
@maxresdefault8235
yeah what is she now? a shriveled cherry. i still would though
@MKSBEMA
Hell yeah she was!!
@Liam0125
I’m 30 and I can agree 10/10
@linus..1215
Smoking hot! 😊
@packwaza8
This song has a very unique ability to send you into a haunted state of nostalgia. The absolutely somber sound combined with the hopeful lyrics makes for an emotional outburst of beauty. I’m a 90s baby but feel like I’ve lived in the 60s more than once
@somnusdagod6749
Beautifully said. I was just talking to my girlfriend about how this song makes me homesick. Makes me long for the old days like this. And I was born in 94. It's incredibly odd but beautiful.
@SpellboundWolf
Awww, that's sweet.
@jeromeglick
I'm a '90s baby too and have been drawn to oldies music since age 10. As a teen I felt like I was born in the wrong decade. Music resonates a vibe, a complex energy. Trends come and go but some feelings are eternal. In the '60s this vibe was thick and overflowing everywhere. We've still got it in each of us, some more than others, but the 2020s mainstream is just out of phase with this vibe.
@rudi.445
Yessss, me too, I feel like I have lived in 60's but I'm 20