Her career peaked in the late 1960s with a string of pop music hits. Her best-known hit, These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - which popularized and made her synonymous with Go-Go boots - was written by Lee Hazlewood. These Boots... has been covered by many artists such as Geri Halliwell, Megadeth, Jessica Simpson, Lil' Kim, Little Birdy, Billy Ray Cyrus, Crispin Hellion Glover and KMFDM.
Nancy also co-starred in a number of films, including Roger Corman's The Wild Angels with Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern, and Speedway with Elvis Presley, made guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, and starred in a number of television specials, most notable among them the 1967 Emmy Award-winning special "Movin' with Nancy", in which she appeared with her father and his Rat Pack pals Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.. In the 1970s, she slowed down her musical activity and ceased acting in order to concentrate on being a wife and mother. She returned to the studio in 1981 to record a country album with Mel Tillis called, Mel & Nancy.
At the age of 54, she posed for Playboy in their May 1995 issue, released a new CD, One More Time, and made guest appearances on TV shows to promote the new material.
Most Recently, the song Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) (originally recorded by Cher) was used on the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's hit Kill Bill.
On July 28, 2006, for the film Another Gay Movie (2006), she released the song "Another Gay Sunshine Day" from the Another Gay Movie Soundtrack.
California Girls
Nancy Sinatra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there
The Midwest farmer's daughters
They all make you feel alright
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
The West coast has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a French bikini on Hawaii island
I'm lost by a palm tree in the sand
I been all around this great big world
And I've seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the states
Back to the cutest girls in the world
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
Nancy Sinatra's "California Girls" is a song about the different types of women across America and how they compare to Californian girls. The song's hook repeats "I wish they all could be California girls," highlighting the idea that every girl in America would be better if they were Californian.
The singer mentions different regions and their unique qualities. She likes the East Coast girls' fashion and the Southern girls' accents. The Midwest farmer's daughters make her feel alright and the Northern girls are good kissers. However, no woman compares to the laid-back and sun-kissed California girls. The West Coast's good weather and beachy vibes make the girls there the best, according to the singer.
Overall, the song comes off as shallow, emphasizing physical appearance rather than personality, intellect, or other qualities. However, it reflects the cultural obsession with California and the West Coast. The song's popularity has made it an anthem for the West Coast lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, East coast girls are hip
I appreciate the fashion and style of girls from the East Coast
I really dig those styles they wear
I find the clothing and fashion sense of East Coast girls very attractive
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
I am mesmerized by the unique way of speaking that girls from the Southern region have
They knock me out when I'm down there
I become overwhelmed with attraction when I visit the Southern regions and meet the girls there
The Midwest farmer's daughters
I have encountered the daughters of farmers from the Midwest region
They all make you feel alright
Interacting with these girls gives a sense of comfort and ease
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
I have experienced the way girls from Northern regions kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night
The Northern girls are affectionate and caring towards their partners
The West coast has the sunshine
The Western region of the United States is blessed with abundant sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
Girls from the West Coast have a tendency to get a nice tan due to the sunshine
I dig a French bikini on Hawaii island
I find a woman wearing a French bikini on the island of Hawaii very attractive
I'm lost by a palm tree in the sand
Relaxing under a palm tree on the beach feels like paradise to me
I been all around this great big world
I have travelled far and wide to different parts of the world
And I've seen all kinds of girls
I have seen women of various ethnicities, races and nationalities
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the states
Despite my travels, I longed to return to the United States
Back to the cutest girls in the world
I think California girls are the prettiest in the world
I wish they all could be California
I desire all the girls in the world to be from California
I wish they all could be California girls
I prefer the qualities and features of California girls over any other type of girl
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Douglas Wilson, Michael Edward Love
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind