Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, known professionally as Katy Perry (born October… Read Full Bio ↴Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, known professionally as Katy Perry (born October 25, 1984 in Santa Barbara, CA) is an American singer, songwriter, and television judge. The story of who was born into a totally Christian environment and who years later would become a pop music star. Muse of those who feel different or excluded, Katy Perry got her first guitar (from the church) at the age of thirteen and dreamed of it, as many young people do. The difference is that she did it. She broke free from the shackles of faith (without ever losing it) and set out to live through songs about her experiences. The result? Aside from Michael Jackson, only she was able to place five songs from the same album at the top of the charts.

After singing in church during her childhood, she pursued a career in gospel music as a teenager. Perry signed with Red Hill Records and released her debut studio album Katy Hudson under her birth name in 2001, which was commercially unsuccessful. She moved to Los Angeles the following year to venture into secular music after Red Hill ceased operations and she subsequently began working with producers Glen Ballard, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin. After adopting the stage name 'Katy Perry' and being dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group and Columbia Records, she signed a recording contract with Capitol Records in April 2007.

Perry rose to fame in 2008 with her second album, One of the Boys, a pop rock record containing the controversial U.S number one song "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold". Three subsequent albums have topped the U.S. Billboard 200. The disco-influenced Teenage Dream (2010) spawned five chart-topping U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles–"California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T.", and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" — a record tying her with Michael Jackson's "Bad". Its follow-up record Prism (2013) was inspired by her divorce, and incorporates pop and dance along with themes of self-reflection, everyday life, and relationships. With the music videos for its chart-topping songs "Roar" and "Dark Horse", Perry became the first artist to have multiple videos reach one billion views on Vevo. Her 2017 electropop album, 'Witness' featured a political subtext and a theme of liberation. Her sixth studio album 'Smile' followed in 2020.

Perry has nine U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one singles and has received various awards, including four Guinness World Records, five Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, a Brit Award, and a Juno Award. She has been included in the annual Forbes lists of highest-earning women in music from 2011 to 2019. Her estimated net worth as of 2016 is $125 million. Perry is one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 18 million albums and 125 million singles worldwide. In film, she released an autobiographical documentary titled "Katy Perry: Part of Me" in 2012, and voiced Smurfette in the 2011 film The Smurfs and its sequel in 2013. Her Super Bowl halftime show performance is the most watched in history. Perry also began serving as a judge on American Idol in 2018.

California Gurls feat. Snoop Dogg & Cali Swag District
Katy Perry Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Greetings loved ones
Let's take a journey

I know a place
Where the grass is really greener
Warm, wet n' wild
There must be something in the water
Sippin' gin and juice

Laying underneath the palm trees
(Undone)
The boys
Break their necks
Try'na to creep a little sneak peek
(At us)

You could travel the world
But nothing comes close
To the golden coast
Once you party with us
You'll be falling in love
Ooh oh ooh oh oh ooh

California girls
We're unforgettable
Daisy dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We'll melt your popsicle
Ooh oh ooh
Ooh oh ooh

California girls
We're undeniable
Fine, fresh, fierce
We got it on lock
West coast represent
Now put your hands up
Ooh oh ooh
Ooh oh ooh

Sex on the beach
We don't mind sand in our stilettos
We freak
In my jeep
Snoop doggy-dog on the stereo oh oh

You could travel the world
But nothing comes close
To the golden coast
Once you party with us
You'll be falling in love
Ooh oh ooh ooh oh ooh

California girls
We're unforgettable
Daisy dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We'll melt your popsicle
Ooh oh ooh
Ooh oh ooh

California girls
We're undeniable
Fine, fresh, fierce
We got it on lock
West coast represent
Now put your hands up
Ooh oh ooh
Ooh oh ooh

Toned, tan
Fit and ready
Turn it up 'cause its gettin' heavy
Wild, wild west coast
These are the girls I love the most
I mean the ones
I mean like she's the one
Kiss her, touch her
Squeeze her buns
The girl's a freak
She drive a jeep
And live on the beach
I'm okay
I won't play
I love the bay
Just like I love L.A.
Venice Beach
And Palm Springs
Summertime is everything
Home boys
Bangin' out
All that ass
Hanging out
Bikinis, zucchinis, martinis
No weenies
Just a king
And a queenie
Katy my lady
(Yeah)
And looky here baby
(Uh huh)
I'm all up on ya
'Cause you representing California (oh yeah)

California girls
We're unforgettable
Daisy dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We'll melt your popsicle
Ooh oh ooh
Ooh oh ooh

California girls
We're undeniable
Fine, fresh, fierce
We got it on lock
West coast represent (west coast, west coast)
Now put your hands up
Ooh oh ooh
Ooh oh ooh

(California, California)
California girls man

(California)
(California girls)

Overall Meaning

The song "California Gurls" by Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg & Cali Swag District is an ode to the sunny state of California, specifically the women who reside there. The lyrics describe a place with perfect weather and beautiful tanned women wearing skimpy clothing such as daisy dukes and bikinis. The lines "Where the grass is really greener", "Warm, wet n' wild", and "Sun-kissed skin, so hot" all evoke a sense of paradise in listeners' minds, enticing them to visit the state. The chorus is catchy and easily remembered, making it a popular party song.

The use of the phrase "we got it unlocked" in the second verse implies that the women of California are confident and know what they want, while the line "sex on the beach, we don't mind sand in our stilettos" showcases their carefree and fun-loving nature. Snoop Dogg's verse speaks to the west coast lifestyle, referencing popular California beaches such as Venice Beach and Palm Springs. Overall, the song promotes the idea that the women of California are unforgettable, undeniable, and have an allure that cannot be found anywhere else.

Line by Line Meaning

Greetings loved ones
Hello, my dearest friends

Let's take a journey
Let us embark on an adventure

I know a place
I am aware of a location

Where the grass is really greener
Foliage is much healthier over there

Warm, wet n' wild
The atmosphere is warm, humid and wild

There must be something in the water
There is likely something special in the water

Sippin' gin and juice
Drinking gin and juice

Laying underneath the palm trees
Resting underneath palm trees

(undone) The boys
(their attention is on) Boys

Break their necks
They turn their heads around very quickly

Try'na to creep a little sneak peek
Attempting to take a quick glimpse

(at us)
(at the girls)

You could travel the world
One can explore different parts of the world

But nothing comes close
Nothing compares

To the golden coast
To the beautiful California coast

Once you party with us
If you attend our party

You'll be falling in love
You will begin to have strong feelings of affection

Ooh oh ooh oh oh ooh
A repeated sound of excitement

California gurls
Girls from California

We're unforgettable
We are unforgettable

Daisy dukes
Shorts worn by girls

Bikinis on top
Wearing bikinis on top of their clothes

Sun-kissed skin
Skin with a sun-tanned glow

So hot
Extremely attractive

We'll melt your Popsicle
We will make you feel hot and bothered

California gurls
Girls from California

We're undeniable
We cannot be denied

Fine, fresh, fierce
Very attractive, fashionable and bold

We got it unlocked
We are ahead of the game

West coast represent
Representing the western U.S.A.

Now put your hands up
Raise your hands in celebration

Toned tan
Well-toned, sun-tanned

Fit and ready
Physically and mentally prepared

Turn it up cause its gettin' heavy
Raise the volume because it's getting intense

Wild, wild west coast
The west coast is full of excitement

These are the gurls I love the most
These are my favorite type of girls

I mean the ones
I am referring to those particular girls

I mean like shes the one
She is the one I am attracted to

Kiss her, touch her
Affectionate actions towards her

Squeeze her buns
Squeeze her rear end

The gurls a freak
She is adventurous and sexually open

She drives a jeep
She owns a Jeep vehicle

And live on the beach
She lives near the beach

I'm okay
I am fine

I won't play
I will not be playful

I love the bay
I love the San Francisco Bay area

Just like I love L.A.
Similar to my love for Los Angeles

Venice beach
The beach located in Venice, California

And palm springs
The resort city of Palm Springs, California

Summer time is everything
The summer season is a special time

Home boys
Close male friends from the area

Bangin' out
Making beats or musical hits

All that ass
All those attractive girls

Hanging out
Relaxing and spending time together

Bikinis, tankinis, martinis
Swimsuits, a type of swimsuit, and cocktails

No weenies
We aren't cowards

Just a king
Only someone who is powerful and wealthy

And a Queenie
And a female who is powerful and wealthy

Katy my lady
Referring to the female singer Katy Perry affectionately

(yeah)
(yes)

And looky here baby
Look here, my dear

(uh huh)
(yes)

I'm all up on you
I am trying to get close to you

'Cause you representing California (oh yeah)
Because you are a symbol of California

California gurls
Girls from California

We're unforgettable
We are unforgettable

Daisy dukes
Shorts worn by girls

Bikinis on top
Wearing bikinis on top of their clothes

Sun-kissed skin
Skin with a sun-tanned glow

So hot
Extremely attractive

We'll melt your Popsicle
We will make you feel hot and bothered

California gurls
Girls from California

We're undeniable
We cannot be denied

Fine, fresh, fierce
Very attractive, fashionable and bold

We got it on lock
We are ahead of the game

West coast represent (west coast, west coast)
Representing the western U.S.A.

Now put your hands up
Raise your hands in celebration

Ooh oh ooh
A repeated sound of excitement

(California, California)
(referring to the state of California)

California gurls man
Girls from California

(California)
(referring to the state of California)

(California gurls)
(girls from California)

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lukasz Gottwald, Calvin Broadus, Mike E. Love, Brian Douglas Wilson, Max Martin, Katy Perry, Benjamin Levin, Bonnie McKee

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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