After the darker sounds of Rihanna's previous album Rated R, Loud generally has more upbeat sounds. However, this is one of the slower tracks the Bajan singer recorded for the album. Rihanna explained to UK radio station 95.8 Capital FM: "The ballads on this album are really special. I didn't want to just put a bunch of ballads on the album, I actually wanted to keep it minimal with slow records. But there are really two powerful ballads. One is called 'Straight Up Beautiful' and the other one is called 'California King Bed,' which is one of my favorite songs on the album. It's probably going to be the biggest song on the album."
Rihanna explained the meaning of the song to Capital FM: "It's talking about being this close to someone yet feeling so far away, like falling out of love."
At the beginning of March 2011, Rihanna asked fans to help her select her fourth single from Loud via twitter. They were requested to choose from "California King Bed," "Cheers (Drink To That)," Man Down or "Fading". The most popular choice proved to be this ballad, which was then released as the next single from the album.
The Nivea company helped pay for the video in exchange for using the song in its commercials.
The song's music video was shot in one day on a Hollywood stage in West Hollywood and is set mainly in a bedroom, but also on a tropical sandy beach. The director was Anthony Mandler, who is a regular collaborator of Rihanna. He told MTV News: "I think the song and the theme of this song, she wanted to obviously show a softer side, a lighter side, one that's caught in maybe a tumultuous relationship. But not let the tumultuous relationship dominate the visual, really counterbalance it with tension-filled chaotic beauty."
California King Bed
Rihanna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nose to nose (nose to nose)
Palm to palm
We were always just that close (just that close)
Wrist to wrist (wrist to wrist)
Toe to toe (toe to toe)
Lips that felt just like the inside of a rose
It feels like more than distance between us?
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
Eye to eye (eye to eye)
Cheek to cheek (cheek to cheek)
Side by side
You were sleeping next to me (next to me)
Arm in arm
Dusk to dawn
With the curtains drawn
And a little last night on these sheets
So how come when I reach out my finger
It seems like more than distance between us?
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
Just when I felt like giving up on us
You turned around and gave me one last touch
That made everything feel better
And even then, my eyes got wetter
So confused, wanna ask you if you love me
But I don't wanna seem so weak
Maybe I've been California dreaming
Hey, hey, hey, hey
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
Been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
My California king
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
"California King Bed" by Rihanna is a song about the longing and emotional pain experienced when a relationship becomes physically and emotionally distant. The opening verse describes the physical intimacy that the couple has shared in the past, as they were always close - from their chest, nose, and palms down to their toes and lips. Rihanna questions why, despite how close they were, reaching out now makes it seem like they are ten thousand miles apart. It is clear that a distance has grown between them, symbolized by the California king bed.
In the second verse, Rihanna reflects on the emotional intimacy they once shared, from being side by side and arm in arm till dawn. She wonders why reaching out still makes her feel like they are oceans apart. The chorus repeats the theme of distance, craving for the love of her partner to bring them together again. However, Rihanna seems unsure if talking about her feelings will make her appear weak or desperate, hence the line "So confused, wanna ask you if you love me, but I don't wanna seem so weak." The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the pain of the physical and emotional distance the couple is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
Chest to chest (chest to chest)
We were physically close, our chests touching each other's.
Nose to nose (nose to nose)
Our noses were touching each other's.
Palm to palm
We were holding hands with our palms touching.
We were always just that close (just that close)
We were consistently and intimately close to each other.
Wrist to wrist (wrist to wrist)
We were holding each other's wrists.
Toe to toe (toe to toe)
Our toes were touching each other's.
Lips that felt just like the inside of a rose
Our kisses were gentle and sweet, like the inside of a rose.
So how come when I reach out my finger
Despite our closeness in the past, when I try to make contact now...
It feels like more than distance between us?
...it seems like we are separated by more than just physical distance.
In this California king bed
Despite sharing a large bed...
We're ten thousand miles apart
...we feel far apart from each other.
I've been California wishing on these stars
I've been hoping and wishing for you to love me as deeply as I love you.
For your heart for me
I want your heart to be solely for me.
My California king
You are my partner, my lover, my everything.
Eye to eye (eye to eye)
We made eye contact, looking into each other's eyes.
Cheek to cheek (cheek to cheek)
Our cheeks were touching each other's as we slept together.
Side by side
We slept next to each other, side by side.
You were sleeping next to me (next to me)
You were sleeping close to me through the night.
Arm in arm
We slept with our arms around each other.
Dusk to dawn
We were together from sunset to sunrise.
With the curtains drawn
We were alone together, with the curtains closed for privacy.
And a little last night on these sheets
We shared physical intimacy and love while lying together in bed.
Just when I felt like giving up on us
When I was considering ending our relationship...
You turned around and gave me one last touch
...you showed me love and affection, reminding me of why we are together.
That made everything feel better
Your touch reassured me and made everything seem okay.
And even then, my eyes got wetter
I was emotional and started to cry because of your impact on me.
So confused, wanna ask you if you love me
I am unsure of your feelings towards me and want to ask if you truly love me.
But I don't wanna seem so weak
I am hesitant to ask this question because I fear appearing vulnerable and weak.
Maybe I've been California dreaming
Perhaps my dreams of a perfect relationship have blinded me to the challenges in our own.
Hey, hey, hey, hey
A vocal expression of Rihanna's emotions.
My California king
Repetition of the refrain, enforcing that you are her everything.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alex Delicata, Andrew Harr, Jermaine Jackson, Priscilla Renea Hamilton, Robyn R. Fenty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robithsyarif4828
"California King Bed"
Chest to chest
Nose to nose
Palm to palm
We were always just that close
Wrist to wrist
Toe to toe
Lips that felt just like the inside of a rose
So, how come when I reach out my finger
It feels like more than distance between us?
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
Eye to eye
Cheek to cheek
Side by side
You were sleeping next to me
Arm in arm
Dusk to dawn
With the curtains drawn
And a little last night on these sheets
So, how come when I reach out my fingers
It seems like more than distance between us
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
Just when I felt like giving up on us
You turned around and gave me one last touch
That made everything feel better
And even then my eyes got wetter
So confused wanna ask you if you love me
But I don't wanna seem so weak
Maybe I've been California dreaming
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
Been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
My California king
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I've been California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
@aaronsude8221
LYRICS
Chest to chest
Nose to nose
Palm to palm
We were always just that close
Wrist to wrist
Toe to toe
Lips that felt just like the inside of a rose
So how come when I reach out my finger
It feels like more than distance between us
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I'll be California wishing on these stars
For you're heart on me
My California king
Eye to eye
Cheek to cheek
Side by side
You were sleeping next to me
Arm in arm
Dusk to dawn
With the curtains drawn
And a little last night on these sheets
So how come when I reach out my finger
It seems like more than distance between us
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I'll be California wishing on these stars
For you're heart on me
My California king
Just when I felt like giving up on us
You turned around and gave me one last touch
That made everything feel better
And even then my eyes got wetter
So confused wanna ask you if you love me
But I don't wanna seem so weak
Maybe I've been California dreaming
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I'll be California wishing on these stars
For you're heart on me
My California king
My California king
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I'll be California wishing on these stars
For you're heart on me
My California king
@arifftengku4016
Chest to chest
Nose to nose
Palm to palm
We were always just that close
Wrist to wrist
Toe to toe
Lips that felt just like the inside of a rose
So how come when I reach out my finger
It feels like more than distance between us
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I'll be California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
Eye to eye
Cheek to cheek
Side by side
You were sleeping next to me
Arm in arm
Dusk to dawn
With the curtains drawn
And a little last night on these sheets
So how come when I reach out my finger
It seems like more than distance between us
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I'll be California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
Just when I felt like giving up on us
You turned around and gave me one last touch
That made everything feel better
And even then my eyes got wetter
So confused wanna ask you if you love me
But I don't wanna seem so weak
Maybe I've been California dreaming
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I'll be California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
My California king
In this California king bed
We're ten thousand miles apart
I'll be California wishing on these stars
For your heart for me
My California king
@lmPeely
Its April 2024, let's see how many legends are listening to this incredible song⤵⤴
@Ganna0509
I am here ❤
@saw6553
Rihanna навсегда ❤
@ArianaGonzalez-qm3rw
Here😂 and I seen you on the last music video I watched(Take a Bow)
@eliezerescano1970
of course include me
@kaseyevans605
Hereeee
@Lucas-tn1vx
I hate how most people forgot about this masterpiece. It's one of her best songs ever.
@lolmcswagger7247
Because they lost their memory from pissing off a blind girl.
@sonthisak4208
Ture
@TUZOIVAN16
Well, that's how this STAND works.