Greenbaum was born in Malden, Massachusetts. He was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household and attended Hebrew school at Congregation Beth Israel. His initial interest in music was sparked by southern blues music and the folk music that was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He performed with various bands in high school and studied music at Boston University for two years. In college he performed at local coffeehouses but eventually dropped out and moved to Los Angeles in 1965.
Greenbaum is best known for his song "Spirit in the Sky". The song, with its combination of 'heavy' guitar, hand-clapping, and spiritual lyrics, was released by Reprise Records in 1969. It sold two million copies in 1969 and 1970, and received a gold disc from the R.I.A.A. It has subsequently been used in many films, advertisements, and television shows.
Although "Spirit in the Sky" has a clear Christian theme, Greenbaum was and remains an observant Jew. Greenbaum says he was inspired to write the song after watching country singers singing a song on television. In an interview Greenbaum stated that western movies were the real inspiration for "Spirit in the Sky".
Though Greenbaum is generally regarded as a one-hit wonder, several of his records placed prominently in the charts, including "Canned Ham" in 1970, which reached number 46 on the Billboard pop chart. In 1966, under the name Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band, he recorded the novelty hit "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago". In the 1960s Greenbaum also performed under the name Bruno Wolf with the Jim Kweskin Jug Band.
Greenbaum has been a long-time resident of Santa Rosa, California. He was critically injured when the car in which he was a passenger made a left turn in the path of a motorcycle on Occidental Road on March 28, 2015, killing the motorcyclist and also injuring the motorcycle passenger. Greenbaum has since gone back to performing.
California Earthquake
Norman Greenbaum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Writing home to everyone
Six in the morning and here it comes
It come and hit ya
Don't let that California earthquake scare you away
Don't let that California earthquake scare you away
You try to stand up but have rubber for legs
Earthquakes just ain't good for your head
Especially when they hit ya
Don't let that California earthquake scare you away
California earthquake, don't let it scare you away
My advice to you is to keep your feet off the ground
As long as you're flying you won't tumble down
California's still the best place around
Don't let that California earthquake scare you away
California earthquake, don't let it scare you away
California earthquake, don't let it scare you away
The song "California Earthquake" by Norman Greenbaum was released in 1971 and is an upbeat, catchy tune with a cautionary message about the dangers of living in California, where earthquakes are a frequent occurrence. The lyrics describe the experience of being caught in an earthquake, with the opening lines painting a picture of someone enjoying the sunny Californian climate and writing home to loved ones before disaster strikes. The line "Six in the morning and here it comes, it come and hit ya" suggests that earthquakes can strike at any time, without warning, and can be a terrifying and disorienting experience.
The chorus of the song offers words of encouragement to those who might be scared of living in California because of the risk of earthquakes. The repeated refrain "Don't let that California earthquake scare you away" is a way of saying that while earthquakes may be a hazard of living in California, it's still worth staying there and making the most of all the state has to offer. The second verse of the song offers a more detailed description of what it's like to experience an earthquake, with the lines "The ceiling came down and knock you out of bed, You try to stand up but have rubber for legs, Earthquakes just ain't good for your head, Especially when they hit ya".
In conclusion, "California Earthquake" is a catchy and mildly humorous song that offers a nod to the risks and hazards of living in California. The lyrics encourage listeners not to be scared off by the possibility of earthquakes, acknowledging that this is a part of living in this beautiful and vibrant state.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you're out in California digging the sun
You're in California enjoying the sunny weather and atmosphere.
Writing home to everyone
You're communicating with everyone back home about your experiences in California.
Six in the morning and here it comes
An earthquake is occurring at six in the morning.
It come and hit ya
The earthquake has struck and you are experiencing its effects.
Don't let that California earthquake scare you away
Despite the earthquake, don't let fear discourage you from staying in California.
The ceiling came down and knock you out of bed
The earthquake caused the ceiling to fall and you were knocked out of bed.
You try to stand up but have rubber for legs
The earthquake has made it difficult for you to stand up and move around normally.
Earthquakes just ain't good for your head
Earthquakes can negatively impact your mental wellbeing.
Especially when they hit ya
The effects of an earthquake can be particularly problematic when you experience it firsthand.
My advice to you is to keep your feet off the ground
To minimize the impact of an earthquake, stay in the air or off the ground.
As long as you're flying you won't tumble down
If you're in the air, you won't be affected by any shaking or movement on the ground.
California's still the best place around
Despite the risk of earthquakes, California is still considered to be a great place to be.
California earthquake, don't let it scare you away
Continuing to live in California despite the risk of earthquakes is still a good idea.
Writer(s): Norman Greenbaum
Contributed by Jack H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
WeaponOfChoice
If this came first, history would have been different.
danime2003
You right is great😀
trfesok
Mama Cass recorded an entirely different song with the same title.
THEMUSICBOXX
Didn't know that thanks for the info! She had a beautiful voice.
R.I.P. Mama Cass 🌹