Not In California
K.Flay Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We have not allowed ourselves to comprehend what failure might mean for us
Is it a comfort or a curse?
A knowledge that we could've avoided all this?

The birds all died and the trees caught fire
And the government, it called us crazy
We built a big world, then we watched it all burn
'Cause the television made us lazy
It didn't seem true when the power lines blew
Yeah, the heroin, it made us hazy
I looked up at the clouds as I was freaking out
God save me

We're not in California anymore
We're not in California anymore
Traded all our sunshine in for a storm
Don't say I didn't warn you
We're not in California anymore

The babies all cry as the scientists try
But the politicians keep on screaming
I'd like a road map, like to turn the clock back
But the internet, it keeps on freezing
Drink up every bottle and I smoke some marijuana
I was hoping I can find some peace
I looked up at the clouds, the light was peaking out
I can't believe it

We're not in California anymore
We're not in California anymore
Traded all our sunshine in for a storm
Don't say I didn't warn you
We're not in California anymore

Visions of the dissonance
I'm searching for the synonyms
But all that I can say is that I think I lost my innocence
And I bet if I ask everybody that I know
They'd wanna be a kid again
Visions of the dissonance
I'm searching for the synonyms
But all that I can say is that I think I lost my innocence
And I bet if I ask everybody that I know
They'd wanna be a kid again
So they could do it different

We're not in California anymore
We're not in California anymore
Traded all our sunshine in for a storm
Don't say I didn't warn you
We're not in California anymore

Not in California anymore
Not in California anymore




Don't say I didn't warn you
We're not in California anymore

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to K.Flay's song "Not In California" evoke a sense of disillusionment and a longing for a simpler time. The opening lines suggest that the characters in the song have deliberately avoided contemplating failure and its potential consequences. They question whether this ignorance is comforting or a curse, and if knowing they could have prevented their current situation adds to their burden.


The following lines create a dystopian image: birds dying, trees catching fire, and a government labelling them as crazy. The reference to building a big world only to watch it burn points to the destructive influence of television, which has made them complacent and lazy. The singer reflects on the surreal nature of the events, including the power lines blowing and the haze created by heroin. Looking up at the clouds, they plea for salvation.


The chorus emphasizes the idea that they are no longer in California, symbolizing the loss of a sunny, carefree state of mind. They have traded the optimism and brightness of California for a storm, implying that their current reality is tumultuous. The repetition of "We're not in California anymore" serves as a warning that their lives have fundamentally changed.


The second verse introduces the themes of societal problems and personal escapism. The babies cry while scientists and politicians clash, with no resolution in sight. The singer longs for a roadmap to navigate their situation, but technology, represented by the freezing internet, offers no guidance. Seeking solace, they turn to alcohol and marijuana in hopes of finding inner peace. Looking at the clouds one more time, they express disbelief at their circumstances.


The bridge delves into introspection and a yearning for lost innocence. The singer acknowledges the dissonance and seeks alternative ways to express their thoughts, ultimately realizing that they have lost their innocence. They speculate that if they were to ask others, they too would long to be children again, as a means to do things differently.


Overall, "Not In California" conveys a sense of disillusionment, societal unrest, and personal longing for a simpler, more innocent time. It reflects on the consequences of ignorance and escapism while seeking to find meaning and a way forward.


Line by Line Meaning

We have not allowed ourselves to comprehend what failure might mean for us
We have not taken the time to truly understand the consequences of our actions and how they could lead to failure.


Is it a comfort or a curse?
Are we finding solace or suffering in our ignorance?


A knowledge that we could've avoided all this?
Realizing that if we had been more aware and proactive, we could have prevented these negative outcomes.


The birds all died and the trees caught fire
Nature is suffering, experiencing destruction and devastation.


And the government, it called us crazy
The authorities labeled us as insane for our actions or beliefs.


We built a big world, then we watched it all burn
We created a prosperous society and then witnessed its downfall and destruction.


'Cause the television made us lazy
Our dependency on television made us complacent and unmotivated.


It didn't seem true when the power lines blew
We couldn't believe it was real when the electricity infrastructure failed.


Yeah, the heroin, it made us hazy
The drug addiction clouded our judgment and perception.


I looked up at the clouds as I was freaking out
In a state of panic, I gazed at the sky, desperate for help.


God save me
A plea for divine intervention or salvation.


The babies all cry as the scientists try
While scientists attempt to find solutions, the youngest and most vulnerable suffer.


But the politicians keep on screaming
Politicians continue to engage in pointless arguments and conflict instead of taking action.


I'd like a road map, like to turn the clock back
I wish for guidance and the ability to undo past mistakes.


But the internet, it keeps on freezing
The internet, our source of information and connection, is constantly failing us.


Drink up every bottle and I smoke some marijuana
Engaging in substance abuse as a means to find temporary relief.


I was hoping I can find some peace
I had hoped to discover tranquility or calmness.


I looked up at the clouds, the light was peaking out
Observing the sky, I noticed a glimmer of hope.


I can't believe it
Expressing disbelief or astonishment.


Visions of the dissonance
Experiencing conflicting and contradictory thoughts or images.


I'm searching for the synonyms
Seeking alternative words or expressions to accurately convey my emotions.


But all that I can say is that I think I lost my innocence
Despite my efforts, the only conclusion I can come to is that I have lost my naivety or purity.


And I bet if I ask everybody that I know, they'd wanna be a kid again
I believe that if I were to inquire, everyone I am acquainted with would desire to return to their childhood.


So they could do it different
In order to change the outcome or make different choices.


Not in California anymore
We are no longer in the familiar and comfortable state of California.


Traded all our sunshine in for a storm
We willingly exchanged our happiness and positivity for chaos and hardships.


Don't say I didn't warn you
I had previously cautioned about the challenges we would face.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kristine Flaherty, Nick Long, Thomas James Schleiter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

LJ

Girl, you are so underrated. Lots of love from Slovakia❤

Martin Šugár

Exactly ❤

OPATCHKI

too many ppl dont understand good stuff..

NamFlow [CZ/SK]

I think she is doing fine! :-) Personally I wouldn't call her underrated unless people don't buy tickets to go on her concert, which they do.
There are a lot of talented artists out there who don't even come close to views or subscribers that K.Flay has on youtube, if that's what you are referring to as being "underated". Accomplishments and success in the music industry shouldn't be messured by those things alone.

Ismail Aden

Koralína Jonesová hi. Are slovakians Racist?

bbwin1

only if you're black. 😁

15 More Replies...

Jenn Cardona

When you got arrested for cleaning up, my jaw dropped.
Such a powerful message, I love the way the three music videos tell the story like that. Absolutely amazing <3

Linnie the pooh

i don't think she was actually arrested i think they would've had a marked car with at least some kind of logo saying police on their uniforms, i think that was the psych ward coming to bring her back, it was odd tho so many interpret it different!

Kat Ganis

You are the best, most talented female artist on the scene... thanks for sharing your talents with the world, K.Flay!!

Yobama007

K. Flay always keeping it relevant. Love ya girl.

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