California Love
My American Heart Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

California love!

Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west
A state that's untouchable like Elliot Ness
The track hits ya eardrum like a slug to ya chest
Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of sex
We in that sunshine state with a bomb ass hemp beat
The state where ya never find a dance floor empty
And pimps be on a mission for them greens
Lean mean money-makin-machines servin fiends
I been in the game for ten years makin rap tunes
Ever since honeys was wearin sassoon
Now it's '95 and they clock me and watch me
Diamonds shinin lookin like I robbed Liberace
It's all good, from Diego to tha Bay
Your city is tha bomb if your city makin pay
Throw up a finger if ya feel the same way
Mah puttin it down for
Californ-i-a

California...knows how to party
California...knows how to party
In the citaaay of L.A.
In the citaaay of good ol' Watts
In the citaaay, the city of Compton
We keep it rockin! We keep it rockin!

Shake it shake it baby
Shake it shake it
Shake it shake it mama
Shake it Cali
Shake it shake it baby
Shake it shake it mama
Shake it shake it baby...

Out on bail fresh outta jail, California dreamin
Soon as I stepped on the scene, I'm hearin hoochies screamin
Fiendin for money and alcohol
The life of a west side playa where cowards die and its all ball
Only in Cali where we riot not rally to live and die
In L.A. we wearin Chucks not Ballies
Dressed in Locs and khaki suits and ride is what we do
Flossin but have caution we collide with other crews
Famous cause we program worldwide
Let'em recognize from Long Beach to Rosecrans
Bumpin and grindin like a slow jam, it's west side
So you know the row won't bow down to no man
Say what you say
But give me that bomb beat from Dre
Let me serenade the streets of L.A.
From Oakland to Sacktown
The Bay Area and back down
Cali is where they put they mack down
Give me love!

Shake it baby
Shake shake it
Shake it mama
Shake shake shake it baby
Shake shake it




Shake shake it mama
Californ-i-a

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song California Love by My American Heart are an ode to the state of California and the culture that surrounds it. The song begins with a shout-out to the wild, wild west and the untouchable quality of the state, likening it to the famous law enforcement agent Elliot Ness. The beat of the song hits like a bullet and the lyrics describe the prevalence of sex in the city, urging the listener to wear protection. The song then shifts to a celebration of California's music scene, emphasizing its unique integration of rap and dance music styles. The chorus demonstrates that California knows how to party and cites specific neighborhoods including Watts and Compton. The second verse of the song highlights the dangerous and luxurious lifestyle of a west side playa, describing the prevalence of money and alcohol, as well as the threat of violence. The final lines of the song again celebrate the power and influence of California, moving from the streets of L.A. to the Bay Area, and ending with a call for love.


Line by Line Meaning

California love!
The unconditional admiration for the vibrant lifestyle and energy of California.


Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west
A warm greeting to everyone in this part of the country where anything can happen at any moment.


A state that's untouchable like Elliot Ness
California's profound impact and influence cannot be stopped or restricted, just like the infamous federal agent.


The track hits ya eardrum like a slug to ya chest
The music is so potent and intense that it impacts one's senses instantly and powerfully.


Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of sex
One must take protection to avoid dangerous and unwanted consequences while enjoying the wild and sensual environment of the city.


We in that sunshine state with a bomb ass hemp beat
The vibrant and lively state of California is known for its great music, characterized by a particular unique rhythm.


The state where ya never find a dance floor empty
The energy and love for good music in California are such that dance floors are never idle, always occupied with people shaking it to the beat.


And pimps be on a mission for them greens
California's fast-paced and competitive environment makes it the ideal spot for finding and making money, even for pimps.


Lean mean money-makin-machines servin fiends
Pimps are not wasting any time, as they work tirelessly to make as much money as they can while catering to their clientele's needs and addictions.


I been in the game for ten years makin rap tunes
The artist has been in the music industry for ten years, consistently producing rap songs.


Ever since honeys was wearin sassoon
The artist's music career began ten years ago when women were wearing a particular branded denim called Sassoon.


Now it's '95 and they clock me and watch me
The artist is now noticed and under scrutiny by others in the industry and fans, especially in 1995.


Diamonds shinin lookin like I robbed Liberace
The artist's ornate and flashy appearance, complete with shiny diamonds, is likened to the famous American pianist's flamboyant lifestyle.


It's all good, from Diego to tha Bay
The artist affirms that everything is okay and fantastic, the vibe is right all over the state, from San Diego to the Bay Area.


Your city is tha bomb if your city makin pay
A city in California can be incredible if it's yielding desirable results and producing means to support its inhabitants' lifestyle.


Throw up a finger if ya feel the same way
The artist urges anyone who shares similar sentiments to raise a finger or nod in agreement.


Mah puttin it down for Californ-i-a
The artist declares dedication to represent and sing the praises of California through their music.


California...knows how to party
The state of California has mastered the art of hosting and enjoying parties better than most places.


In the citaaay of L.A.
California's most populous city, famously known as the City of Angels.


In the citaaay of good ol' Watts
Watts is a neighborhood in Los Angeles that has historically struggled with poverty and other social issues.


In the citaaay, the city of Compton
A notorious and violent neighborhood in Los Angeles known for gang culture and poverty.


We keep it rockin! We keep it rockin!
The music scene in these neighborhoods is proud and vibrant, always providing top-notch entertainment.


Shake it shake it baby Shake it shake it Shake it shake it mama Shake it Cali Shake it shake it baby Shake it shake it mama Shake it shake it baby...
A cheerleading command to stoke up the excitement and encourage people to let loose and dance freely.


Out on bail fresh outta jail, California dreamin
The artist finds himself living in California, out of jail, and free at last to pursue his dreams.


Soon as I stepped on the scene, I'm hearin hoochies screamin
Just on arriving in California, he was welcomed with enthusiastic cries of joy from women.


Fiendin for money and alcohol
Women in California are aggressively looking for money and alcohol, the two things that enable them to have a good time.


The life of a west side playa where cowards die and its all ball
The artist's lifestyle is characterized by his playfulness and flirtations with women. However, in this part of town, any sign of weakness is potentially deadly.


Only in Cali where we riot not rally to live and die
In California, riots are preferred to peaceful rallies, this is what they are used to, and it is also what they are willing to die for.


In L.A. we wearin Chucks not Ballies
In Los Angeles, Chuck Taylor shoes are more fashionable than the more expensive Italian brand shoes.


Dressed in Locs and khaki suits and ride is what we do
Residents of Los Angeles typically dress in gang apparel and cruise around in their cars, mainly lowriders.


Flossin but have caution we collide with other crews
While being showy and flaunting their wealth, residents must be careful as it is easy to offend someone and get into a violent clash with opposing groups.


Famous cause we program worldwide
The music and entertainment from Los Angeles is enormously popular and known around the world.


Let'em recognize from Long Beach to Rosecrans
The artist wants anyone listening to the song to recognize and know the greatness of this part of California, from Long Beach to Rosecrans.


Bumpin and grindin like a slow jam, it's west side
The music scene on the west side of Los Angeles is lively, intense, and characterized by slow, sexy music.


So you know the row won't bow down to no man
The artist highlights the resilience and defiance of the people in Los Angeles, who refuse to back down from any situation.


Say what you say But give me that bomb beat from Dre
Regardless of what anyone has to say, the artist craves the funky beats and rhythms that Dr. Dre is known for.


Let me serenade the streets of L.A.
The artist wants to sing and perform on the streets of Los Angeles, serenading and entertaining the local residents.


From Oakland to Sacktown The Bay Area and back down Cali is where they put they mack down Give me love!
A homage to the Bay area and other parts of California as well, where people work tirelessly to earn a living and their reputation.




Contributed by Maria P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

A H

A+ good stuff 👏

Rafael Lima

Esse cover é mó antigão

M. D. Ytama

absolutely, my kind of music. old skool met emo kinda music.

XxTaylorFuhrmanxX

guess people don't realize this is like 6 years old and they're just rey-loading it because of the new one coming out

818CantFail

XxTaylorFuhrmanxX I knew that but this song was Ass when it first came out and remains bad 😂

XxTaylorFuhrmanxX

oh yeah for sure lol the only ones i really liked were TDWP and say anything lol

818CantFail

XxTaylorFuhrmanxX you speak for us all on that one 😂

SleepingWithPanic!AtTheDisco

They aren't releasing another Punk Goes Crunk they're releasing Punk Goes Pop 7 July 14. They're just uploading all the older Punk Goes... albums cuz Fearless Records hasn't officially released them on their YouTube channel.

Jenna xoxo

It’s crunk it’s not supposed to be amazing

SleepingWithPanic!AtTheDisco

I was watchin the new Tupac movie "All Eyez On Me" and they were playing this song in movie and all kept thinkin bout was this version. Then I came home and went straight to listening to this.

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