Jamiroquai is an English funk and acid jazz band from London. Formed in 199… Read Full Bio ↴Jamiroquai is an English funk and acid jazz band from London. Formed in 1992, they are fronted by vocalist Jay Kay, and were prominent in the London-based funk and acid jazz movement of the 1990s. They built on their acid jazz sound in their early releases and later drew from rock, disco, electronic and Latin music genres. Lyrically, the group has addressed social and environmental justice. Kay has remained as the only original member through several line-up changes.

The band made their debut under Acid Jazz Records but subsequently found mainstream success under Sony. While under this label, three of their albums have charted at number one in the UK, including Emergency on Planet Earth (1993), Synkronized (1999) and A Funk Odyssey (2001). The band's 1998 single, "Deeper Underground", was also number one in their native country.

As of 2017, Jamiroquai had sold more than 26 million albums worldwide. Their third album, Travelling Without Moving (1996), received a Guinness World Record as the best-selling funk album in history. The music video for its lead single, "Virtual Insanity", also contributed to the band's success. The song was named Video of the Year at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards and earned the band a Grammy Award in 1998.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamiroquai

Studio albums
Emergency on Planet Earth (1993)
The Return of the Space Cowboy (1994)
Travelling Without Moving (1996)
Synkronized (1999)
A Funk Odyssey (2001)
Dynamite (2005)
Rock Dust Light Star (2010)
Automaton (2017)

California Dreaming
Jamiroquai Lyrics

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all the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) and the sky is grey (and the sky is grey) i've been for a walk (i've been for a walk) on a winter's day (on a winter's day) i'd be safe and warm (i'd be safe and warm) if i was in l.a. (if i was in l.a.) california dreaming (california dreaming) on such a winter's day... stopped into a church i passed along the way well, i got down on my knees (got down on my knees) and i pretend'd to pray (i pretend'd to pray) you know the preacher likes the cold (preacher likes the cold) he knows i'm gonna stay (knows i'm gonna stay) california dreaming (california dreaming) on such a winter's day... all the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) and the sky is grey (and the sky is grey) i've been for a walk (i've been for a walk) on a winter's day (on a winter's day) if i didn't tell her (if i didn't tell her) i could leave today (i could leave today) california dreaming (california dreaming) on such a winter's day... california dreaming on such a winter's day... california dreaming on such a winter's day...

Overall Meaning

The song "California Dreaming" by Jamiroquai is a cover of the popular song originally written and performed by The Mamas & The Papas in 1965. The lyrics describe a desire to escape the cold and dreary winter weather and dream of being in sunny California. The first verse sets the scene, with the singer walking on a winter's day and imagining being safe and warm in Los Angeles. The chorus repeats the title phrase, emphasizing the dream-like quality of the longing for a better place.

The second verse adds some religious imagery, with the singer stopping into a church and pretending to pray. The preacher likes the cold, perhaps suggesting that he is used to the weather and doesn't mind it, while the singer is desperate to escape. The final verse implies a romantic relationship, with the singer wishing they could leave and head west to California together. Throughout the song, the imagery of brown leaves and grey skies emphasizes the bleakness of the current situation and the yearning for something brighter.

Overall, the song captures the universal desire to escape and find a better life, with California representing a kind of promised land of sunshine and happiness. The simple, repetitive lyrics and catchy melody have made it a beloved classic that continues to resonate with listeners today.

Line by Line Meaning

all the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
Everything seems lifeless and dead.

and the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
The surroundings are dull and gloomy.

i've been for a walk (i've been for a walk)
I have taken a stroll to clear my head.

on a winter's day (on a winter's day)
It is a cold and bitter winter day.

i'd be safe and warm (i'd be safe and warm)
I would feel protected and cozy.

if i was in l.a. (if i was in l.a.)
Being in Los Angeles would provide a sense of comfort.

california dreaming (california dreaming)
I am fantasizing about a better place.

on such a winter's day... (on such a winter's day...)
Even on a winter day, the hope for a better future persists.

stopped into a church i passed along the way
I entered a church I came across on my walk.

well, i got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
I knelt down to collect my thoughts.

and i pretend'd to pray (i pretend'd to pray)
I went through the motions of prayer, but my thoughts were elsewhere.

you know the preacher likes the cold (preacher likes the cold)
It is not unusual for the preacher to prefer colder temperatures.

he knows i'm gonna stay (knows i'm gonna stay)
The preacher likely assumed I would remain in the area for some time.

if i didn't tell her (if i didn't tell her)
If I did not express my hopes and dreams to someone special...

i could leave today (i could leave today)
...I could easily just leave everything behind.

california dreaming (california dreaming)
Daydreaming about living a perfect life.

on such a winter's day... (on such a winter's day...)
Even on the coldest day of the year, hope remains alive.

california dreaming on such a winter's day... (california dreaming on such a winter's day...)
Imagining a better future even in the midst of a bleak present.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN EDMUND ANDREW PHILLIPS, MICHELLE GILLIAM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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