California
Jack & Jack Lyrics


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I flew to the other side, landed on the coastline
Didn't know what do all alone for the first time
Found the long way out of my mental maze
And felt the sun-kissed tide wipe away my slate
I've been trying to find myself
Took a trip to the west coast to look for help
Got no options left to lose
I got nothing here to prove
So what am I supposed to do?
Crashing down for a very long time
Burning on the fumes of my first high
I've been chasing stars for a heavenly sign
And I found it, and I found it
On the waves of California
On the waves of California
Find myself with a 5-man band on the boardwalk
Working day to day but they give it all they got
They tell me everything's gonna be alright
As they chip away at a skeptic's mind
I've been trying to find myself
Took a trip to the west coast to look for help
Oh this city's full of dreams
And nothing's as it seems
So what is that supposed to mean
Crashing down for a very long time
Burning on the fumes of my first high
I've been chasing stars for a heavenly sign
And I found it, and I found it
On the waves of California
On the waves of California
You get get to 25
On cruise control your whole life
You're paralyzed
Your future's running out of time
Nothing you wanted
is where you're driving to
And now you're too scared to try something new
But LA
(LA, LA)
Gave me some kind of a clue
So I wrote down a list of goals and put it in a bottle
Vowed my yesterday's wouldn't bleed into tomorrows




Flew back to the east coast with a west coast state of mind
My heart was thundering home on California time

Overall Meaning

In the song “California,” Jack & Jack express their desire to succeed despite naysayers trying to kill their dreams. They refer to the Hunger Games character Katniss Everdeen as she overcame odds in her favor. The duo boasts about their success from Vine, and how they've surpassed being just another viral sensation. They're the best duo in LA since Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. The lyrics also reveal their ambitions of staying in California, which is the land of dreams, from the perspective of a “Midwest kid dreaming of California.”


Jack & Jack rap about the pressure they feel to succeed with a lot of people putting their trust in them. The theme of keeping one’s individuality despite the pressure also comes up in the lyrics. The song also acknowledges the challenges that come with chasing success, such as late-night basketball sessions and missing family and friends. However, the duo is determined and motivated to put in the hard work to achieve their dreams.


Line by Line Meaning

I can't stop, never let a hater
I don't give up because of the negativity of others


Kill your dreams, nineteen, I got paper
I won't let others stop me from realizing my ambitions; I am 19 and successful


Katniss Everdeen
I am like the main character from the Hunger Games, who is fearless and determined to succeed


Odds always in my favor
I have an advantage in life and things seem to always go my way


I pull up on the scene, black tee and a Blazer
I arrive in style and am confident in my appearance


Won't chase a woman, I re-place
I don't waste my time pursuing someone who doesn't reciprocate my feelings


I'll make you have déjà vu when I walk by
I leave a lasting impression on those who see me


Like, hey it's that guy yeah aren't you from Vine?
People recognize me from the social media app Vine


Hell nah I'm from Nebraska, get your facts aligned
I am from Nebraska, not where people may assume I'm from; don't believe false information


But I ain't gonna lie, Jack and Jack
I'll admit, Jack and Jack gained popularity on Vine


Did blow up on the app but we're more than that
But we are more than just social media stars


Best duo in LA since Kobe-Shaq
We are the best duo in LA since the legendary basketball duo Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal


We need a whole demolition just to hold us back
We are so determined and successful that it would take a lot to hinder us from achieving our goals


Run circles around the competition, culdesacs
We are much better than our competitors, we easily win


Legs keep burnin' but it's so worth it
We are working hard but the effort is worthwhile in the end


When you're young and earnin' money like a surgeon
As young guys, we are making a lot of money


Yeah it's cool and all but spreadin' love's my purpose
While being successful is great, my true goal is to spread love and positivity


So who's gonna tell me I can't do
I won't let anyone discourage me from reaching my goals


Anything I put my mind to
I am capable of achieving anything I desire


Now I ain't tryna hear it
I'm not interested in hearing negativity or discouragement


Bitch get up out my ear
I don't want to hear negative talk or criticism from this person


I'm just a midwest kid dreamin' California
I am a kid from the Midwest who is determined to make it big in California


One way ticket 'cause I had to show yah
I am so confident in my abilities that I bought a one-way ticket to California; I will succeed


Flow so sick, make you catch pneumonia
I am a great rapper; my rhymes are so good they will make you sick with admiration


I'm never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
I am so committed to living in California and succeeding, that there is no chance I will leave


I'm fresh up in the game and I'm here to stay
I'm new to this business, but I'm not going anywhere anytime soon


Don't really got my shit together, just appear this way
I don't really have everything figured out, but I look like I do


And I'm like everybody else, I got fears to face
I may seem confident, but like anyone else, I have fears and challenges to overcome


Nowadays even the real are just a realist phase
People who seem authentic might just be showing off; being real isn't cool anymore


And nobody's really what they seem
People often present themselves differently than who they truly are


Learned that the hard way, cuts run deep
I know this from personal experience and it has caused me significant pain


And these millions of people put their trust in me
I have a lot of fans who rely on me to deliver quality content


Man I got a lot of pressure but I must succeed
There is a lot of pressure on me due to the high expectations of my fans, but I am determined to meet them


So I'm a keep grindin' and workin', I'm finally certain
I'm going to keep working hard; I am confident in my abilities and my success


My life is not meant to be wasted
I have a purpose to fulfill that is greater than wasting time on frivolous activities


The line of success all these people be tracin'
Others may have success following a certain path, but that's not for me


That shit, it ain't me, I'm a play my own way
I won't copy others or conform; I will do things my own way


And I'm a little unorthodox, I can't lie
I have a unique way of doing things


No I ain't gonna conform I rock my own style
I won't follow trends or conform to what others think I should do; I will be true to myself


Tell that to the fans and everybody by side
I will proudly share my individuality with my fans and supporters


Yo we're headed to the top and you should keep a close eye
We are on our way to great success; everyone should watch and see what we achieve


Before I touched down, thought I had it all
Before I came to California, I thought I had everything I needed to succeed


Now it's midnight sessions, playin' basketball
I am working tirelessly late into the night to better myself


My friends and my family, I'm a have to call
I need to keep my loved ones updated on my progress


And tell 'em I'm never goin' home, yeah I'm never goin' home
I need to let my loved ones know that I am staying in California permanently


Midwest kid dreamin' California
I am from the Midwest but dream of living in California


One way ticket 'cause I had to show yah
I am so determined to succeed that I invested in a one-way ticket to California


Flow so sick, make you catch pneumonia
I am a great rapper; my rhymes are so good they will make you sick with admiration


I'm never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
I am so committed to living in California and succeeding, that there is no chance I will leave




Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Jack Shu

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Ailanna Souza

I can't stop, never let a hater
Kill your dreams, nineteen, I got paper
Katniss Everdeen
Odds always in my favor
I pull up on the scene, black tee and a Blazer
Won't chase a woman, I re-place
I'll make you have déjà vu when I walk by
Like, hey it's that guy yeah aren't you from Vine?
Hell nah I'm from Nebraska, get your facts aligned
But I ain't gonna lie, Jack and Jack
Did blow up on the app but we're more than that
Best duo in LA since Kobe-Shaq
We need a whole demolition just to hold us back
Run circles around the competition, culdesacs
Legs keep burnin' but it's so worth it
When you're young and earnin' money like a surgeon
Yeah it's cool and all but spreadin' love's my purpose
So who's gonna tell me I can't do
Anything I put my mind to
Now I ain't tryna hear it
Bitch get up out my ear
I'm just a midwest kid dreamin' California
One way ticket 'cause I had to show yah
Flow so sick, make you catch pneumonia
I'm never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
No way, no way
Never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
No way, no way
Never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
No way
I'm fresh up in the game and I'm here to stay
Don't really got my shit together, just appear this way
And I'm like everybody else, I got fears to face
Nowadays even the real are just a realist phase
And nobody's really what they seem
Learned that the hard way, cuts run deep
And these millions of people put their trust in me
Man I got a lot of pressure but I must succeed
So I'm a keep grindin' and workin', I'm finally certain
My life is not meant to be wasted
The line of success all these people be tracin'
That shit, it ain't me, I'm a play my own way
And I'm a little unorthodox, I can't lie
No I ain't gonna conform I rock my own style
Tell that to the fans and everybody by side
Yo we're headed to the top and you should keep a close eye
So who's gonna tell me I can't do
Anything I put my mind to
Now I ain't tryna hear it
Bitch get up out my ear
I'm just a midwest kid dreamin' California
One way ticket 'cause I had to show yah
Flow so sick, make you catch pneumonia
I'm never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
No way, no way
Never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
No way, no way
Never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
No way
Before I touched down, thought I had it all
Now it's midnight sessions, playin' basketball
My friends and my family, I'm a have to call
And tell 'em I'm never goin' home, yeah I'm never goin' home
No way
Midwest kid dreamin' California
One way ticket 'cause I had to show yah
Flow so sick, make you catch pneumonia
I'm never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
No way, no way
Never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
No way, no way
Never goin' home, n-n-never goin' home
No way



All comments from YouTube:

sunoosflowers

I hate to admit it but this is still a bop 💀

Brooklyn

Yes it is😂 me and my sister are vibin to all there olds songs rn😂

idelli

truee

Raegan Boulet

fr though

Esmeralda U

HELP THE WAY WE TURNED INTO KPOP STANS

Johanna M

@idelli 1

5 More Replies...

Liv K.

sooo I'm here almost 7 years later and that song still hits the same

Martinaa

fr

Nisha

samee

Giselle Chimon

Same bestie same

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