Mazzy Star is best known for the song "Fade Into You", which brought the band some success in the mid-1990s and was the group's biggest mainstream hit, earning extensive exposure on MTV, VH1 and radio airplay. Roback and Sandoval were the creative center of the band, with Sandoval as lyricist and Roback as composer of the majority of the band's material until his passing in Los Angeles on February 24, 2020 due to metastatic cancer.
The band's most recent studio album, Seasons of Your Day, was released in 2013, followed by the EP Still in 2018.
California
Mazzy Star Lyrics
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Somewhere distant and it's so far away
It's so far
It's so far
Far away
I think I'll drift across the ocean now
Clouds looks so clear in your eyes
Let me bring all my friends
I think I'll fly across the ocean
I can watch the sky turning grey
I think I'm going back
I think I'll go back
I think I hear the whisper of my oldest friend
I think I hear the bells ringing in the square
California
California
The lyrics of Mazzy Star's "California" evoke feelings of longing and nostalgia for a place that is far away, yet still holds a special place in the singer's heart. The first two lines of the song establish the desire to return to California as an escape, a distant place that the singer longs for. The repetition of the phrase "It's so far, it's so far" emphasizes the distance and perhaps the difficulty in achieving this desire.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more contemplative and introspective. The mention of drifting across the ocean and watching the sky turn grey suggests a sense of uncertainty and melancholy. However, the line "Clouds look so clear in your eyes" introduces a glimmer of hope and perhaps even romanticism. The reference to bringing friends along on the journey adds to the sense of nostalgia for a time or place where the singer was surrounded by loved ones.
The final lines of the song mention the whisper of an old friend and the sound of bells ringing in the square. The repetition of "California" reinforces that this place holds a special significance for the singer, evoking a sense of yearning and emotional attachment.
Overall, "California" can be interpreted as a meditation on the intersection of place, memory, and emotion. The song's lyrics convey a sense of longing for a place that may no longer exist or that may exist only in the singer's memories.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I'm going back to California
The singer is considering returning to California, a place that holds some significance to them.
Somewhere distant and it's so far away
The place they are considering going to is far away and distant from their current location.
It's so far
Emphasizing the great distance that they will have to travel to get to California.
Far away
Reinforcing the idea that the place they want to go is very far from them.
I think I'll drift across the ocean now
The artist imagines themselves traveling by boat across the ocean to reach California.
Clouds looks so clear in your eyes
The singer is able to see through a friend's eyes the beauty of the clouds they will encounter on their journey.
Let me bring all my
The singer wants to bring all of their friends with them on their journey.
I think I'll fly across the ocean
The artist is now considering traveling by plane to reach California.
I can watch the sky turning grey
The artist can see the changing colors of the sky from their vantage point on the plane.
I think I'm going back
The artist is confident that they will return to California, a place they have been before.
I think I'll go back
Similar to the previous line, the singer has made up their mind to go back to California.
I think I hear the whisper of my oldest friend
The artist hears the voice of an old friend encouraging them to return to California.
I think I hear the bells ringing in the square
The singer hears the sound of church bells ringing in a public square, possibly in California.
California
The title of the song and a repeated refrain, emphasizing the significance of this location to the singer.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: DAVID ROBACK, HOPE SANDOVAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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LYRICS
I think I'm going back to California
Somewhere distant and it's so far away
It's so far
It's so far
Far away
I think I'll drift across the ocean now
Clouds look so clear in your eyes
Let me bring all my
Let me bring all my friends
I think I'll fly across the ocean
I can watch the sky turning grey
I think I'm going back
I think I'll go back
I think I hear the whisper of my own best friend
I think I hear the bells ringing in the square
California
California
Rach
California"
I think I'm going back to California
Somewhere distant and it's all far away
It's so far, it's so far far away
I think I'll drift across the ocean now
Clouds look so clear in your eyes
Let me dream all my, let me dream all my friends
I think I'll fly across the ocean
I can watch the sky turning grey
I think I'm going back, I think I'll go back
I think I hear the whisper of my own best friend
I think I hear the bells ringing in the square
California, California
Joe St Jack
What I find so remarkable is that they have retained their original sound so well after 20 years. I mean really, think about it, how long is 20 years, that's enough time to have had children and seen them leave home. They still capture PERFECTLY what they did 20 years ago.
Dexter McGrubbin
I believe some of the material on this album actually was recorded in the 90's. Not sure which tracks, but apparently much of it has been sitting in vaults for some time.
AJ L
It feels good to see that somethings don't change.
Matt Perry
They don´t "capture", is in their essence.
Jonathan Patta
She still sounds like she's in her 20s too
Nicole
I'm so proud of her for not turning out like Madonna where you follow along with the generation and change the beauty of the old style she has . just love it . always will .
songsthatarecatchy
@MrDLOC11 🤣
MrDLOC11
Madonna could never make music without getting her picture taken.
Randy B. Hughes
Yeah I agree totally. Madonna never really topped True Blue. That Album was Solid ,all the way thru. I. In my opinion
somnia
changing isn't a bad thing