Both of her parents are private investigators, but father Rick is also a country guitarist and songwriter. Lambert became seriously interested in country music after attending a Garth Brooks concert as a young girl, and soon began singing in talent contests under the tutelage of her father.
At 16, Miranda began appearing on the Johnny High Country Music Review in Arlington, Texas, the same show that helped launch the career of LeAnn Rimes. Miranda quickly landed a recording session in Nashville, but left the studio in tears after she became frustrated with the "pop" sound of music that was not her own. Upon returning to Texas, Miranda began writing songs and taking guitar lessons from her father.
When Miranda's aptitude for music became apparent, her parents encouraged her to aggressively pursue singing and acting opportunities. While still a high school student, Miranda made her professional singing debut and fronted the house band at the Reo Palm Isle Ballroom in Longview, Texas, a long-running venue that has showcased Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson.
Foregoing college, Miranda performed throughout Texas in 2001 and 2002. She finished first in the Texas auditions for Nashville Star and eventually placed third on the national competition.
Discography
On September 15, 2003, she signed with Sony records. She has since released three studio albums, 2005's Kerosene, 2007's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, 2009's Revolution and 2011's Four The Record; all four of which debuted at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Kerosene,Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Revolution have been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Miranda Lambert has release a total of fourteen singles, which includes five Top 20 hits; of these, Kerosene and Gunpowder & Lead have been certified Gold singles by the RIAA.
Awards and Critical Acclaim
In 2005, at the 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Miranda won the Cover Girl Fresh Face of Country Music Award. In 2005, she was also nominated for the Country Music Association's Horizon Award and performed "Kerosene". Nashville Scene named Kerosene one of the best albums of 2005
Miranda was nominated for and won the "Album of the Year" award at the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards for her latest album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
California
Miranda Lambert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i was standing there with no where left to fly
i was young but never green
a little wiser than my time it seemed
he told me bout the places we could hide
wild and kind of crazy most the time
my heart was hanging on his every line
but the walls he had could never be brought down
and now he's not around
i guess i'm just a face left in the crowd
oh california
please come back to me
oh california
you're who i want to be
live inside of me
a vivid picture plays inside my head
the things you swore we'd never do again
and he put on that LA face
and he left me with a bittersweet taste of life
and thats enough to keep me alive
i know you're lying somewhere in the arms of destiny
your memory it still lingers here and i'll never set it free
oh california
please come back to me
oh california
you're who i want to be
live inside of me
The song California by Miranda Lambert tells a story about a young woman who meets a man who seems to be adventurous and free-spirited. She felt that he could show her the world and introduce her to new experiences, but she slowly learns that he has some emotional walls built up that she cannot penetrate. The lyrics portray her struggles to let go of him and the memory of their time together. She longs for the feeling of freedom that he represented to her and California, the epitome of freedom and possibilities, becomes the symbol of it.
The opening line, "I met him on the edge of a good bye," suggests that the relationship was already on the brink of falling apart when they met. The lyrics "a little wiser than my time it seemed," indicate that the woman may have been more mature or level-headed then her age suggested. The use of the phrase "LA face" might be a nod to the idea of people putting on a facade in Los Angeles to hide their true selves. The chorus repeats the name California like a lament, reflecting the woman's longing for the carefree lifestyle she envisioned with the man.
Line by Line Meaning
I met him on the edge of a good bye
I met him just as we were saying our farewells
i was standing there with no where left to fly
I was at a standstill, unsure of where to go from there
i was young but never green
I was inexperienced, yet not naive
a little wiser than my time it seemed
I possessed a level of wisdom beyond my years
he told me bout the places we could hide
He spoke of places where we could escape and be alone together
wild and kind of crazy most the time
Our relationship was exciting and unpredictable
my heart was hanging on his every line
I was completely enamored with him and believed everything he said
i memorized his every thought
I paid close attention to everything he said and thought so I could get to know him better
but the walls he had could never be brought down
Despite my efforts, he was guarded and difficult to truly connect with
and now he's not around
He's no longer in my life
i guess i'm just a face left in the crowd
I'm nothing special to him now, just one among many
oh california
California is representative of a place of freedom and endless possibilities
please come back to me
I long to return to the days of carefree bliss I experienced in California
you're who i want to be
I want to emulate the free-spirited, adventurous lifestyle of California
live inside of me
I want the essence of California to be a part of me, to shape who I am
a vivid picture plays inside my head
I have a clear and detailed image of our past experiences together in my mind
the things you swore we'd never do again
There were certain things we promised to avoid in our relationship, yet did them anyway
and he put on that LA face
He assumed an artificial persona, typical of the Hollywood lifestyle, to hide his true feelings
and he left me with a bittersweet taste of life
He departed my life, leaving both positive and negative memories
and thats enough to keep me alive
Despite the ups and downs of our relationship, the memories are significant enough to give me purpose in life
i know you're lying somewhere in the arms of destiny
I am aware that he has moved on and is living life as fate intended
your memory it still lingers here and i'll never set it free
His presence still has an effect on me and I cannot completely forget him
Contributed by Eva W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michaela Dodge
Love this song
jobiec420
She performed this on the reality show Nashville Star. I could be wrong, but I think she wrote it about a fellow contestant on the show with her. She is such a talent. Love her!!
Amanda Jo
Love this song!!
American Reaper
AWESOME SONG, LOVE THIS, SO DAMN COOL
Ashley LucindaBelle
SHE IS MY QUEEN <3
Paulina Hedlund
Great song!
just sayin'
I think we've all had a "California" in our lives at one point or another.
Zoe Chambliss
where can i get this album?! i have looked everywhere!
Midnightmadness8
Proud to be a Cali girl <3!
Erin Johnston
Its on "Me And Charlie Talking" album. It's only a bonus track, and on I-tunes you have to buy the album to get the song!