1) - The Generators was a punk rock band from Los Angeles, started in 1997.… Read Full Bio ↴1) - The Generators was a punk rock band from Los Angeles, started in 1997. they have recorded 9 studio albums. Lyrical themes: right-wing, nationalism, football, beer, girls... some members came from: Doug & The Slugz and Street Dogs .

2) - Kix originally called themselves "The Shooze" before changing that to "The Generators" (and, for a couple of weeks, "The Baltimore Cocks") before finally settling on "Kix".

City of Angels
The Generators Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

From the mountains to the sea
Walkin' in the suburban inner city
From those downtown city lights
To the uptown Hollywood Blvd. Nights
Diversity runs deep in the faces
Everybody in their own rat races
But you always know where you are
You gotta scorching in sunset

Over Santa Monica

City of angels
City of angels
Under the western sun
City of angels
City of angels
At the ocean front
City of angels
City of angels
Under the western sun

Down in Soto
In east Los
To the ports of San Pedro
Angelinos know what it means
They got their own kind of culture
The heart of the city proudly beats
Another heat wave in the Valley

Another hypersuit freeway bank robbery
Tinsletown's got their head in the clouds
Everybody hurry home
Before the city burns itself down

City of angels
City of angels
Under the western sun
City of angels
City of angels
At the ocean front
City of angels
City of angels
Under the western sun

Another meltdown in LA town
Meltdown
Down on these busy streets
There's a city watching over me

City of angels
City of angels
Under the western sun
City of angels
City of angels
At the ocean front
City of angels
City of angels
Under the western sun

You are the only one!

Overall Meaning

The Generators' song "City of Angels" is an ode to Los Angeles, the sprawling metropolis on the west coast of the United States. Through vivid imagery and descriptive language, the lyrics capture the essence of the city as experienced by its residents. The opening lines hint at the diverse geography of Los Angeles, from the nearby mountains to the expansive coastline. The song then delves into specific neighborhoods and locations, highlighting the different cultures that make up the fabric of the city. The central idea of the song seems to be that despite the challenges of living in such a massive city, its residents feel a sense of connection and loyalty, as demonstrated by the refrain "City of angels, under the western sun."

The song also touches on some of the more negative aspects of life in Los Angeles, specifically the constant threat of natural disasters like heat waves and wildfires, as well as the popularity of crime and corruption. However, these darker elements do not detract from the overall love and appreciation for the city that shines through in the lyrics. The final line, "You are the only one!", can be interpreted as a message of devotion to Los Angeles as a unique and irreplaceable place.

Line by Line Meaning

From the mountains to the sea
The song's starting point is from the mountains and stretches towards the sea, where suburbs and inner city areas reflect different worldly perspectives.

Walkin' in the suburban inner city
People observe the world on foot in suburban inner cities.

From those downtown city lights
Downtown areas are bustling with city lights.

To the uptown Hollywood Blvd. Nights
From busy downtown areas, the song then transitions into the lavish Hollywood Boulevard at night.

Diversity runs deep in the faces
People from all types of backgrounds and races contribute to the diverse population of Los Angeles.

Everybody in their own rat races
Each person has their own ambitions and movement towards certain goals or competition, which comprehends their own versions of 'rat races'.

But you always know where you are
Amid busy streets and diverse people living different 'rat races,' everyone knows exactly where they are- the City of Angels, Los Angeles.

You gotta scorching in sunset
The song mentions the beautiful sunset blazing over Santa Monica, a result of the sunny climate characteristic of LA's setting.

City of angels
The refrain is the reminder that the song is about Los Angeles, the city of angels.

Under the western sun
This line emphasizes that the song is about Los Angeles and its location, beneath the hot western sun.

Down in Soto
The song mentions Soto St, located in the city's East Los Angeles area.

In east Los
East Los Angeles is an area of the city distinguished by rich cultural heritage and traditions.

To the ports of San Pedro
The song refers to the ports near San Pedro, a coastal city located in the South Bay region of LA.

Angelinos know what it means
The people of Los Angeles or Angelinos comprehend their city well enough to discern what it means to them.

They got their own kind of culture
Los Angeles is a cultural melting pot boasting its own unique culture.

The heart of the city proudly beats
The song highlights the city's lively and beating heart, which makes it vibrant and unique.

Another heat wave in the Valley
The lyrics note the recurring heatwaves characteristic of the different seasons experienced in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.

Another hypersuit freeway bank robbery
Los Angeles is known for occasional robberies in its freeway banks.

Tinsletown's got their head in the clouds
A reference to the escapism and dare-devil nature of Hollywood's glamour and luxury celebrities.

Everybody hurry home
People living in the city with towering dreams and their own individual hustle return home as it grows dark.

Before the city burns itself down
The song mentions the impending doom of possible riots and destructive behavior observed in such urban areas, which could have detrimental effects on the monumental Los Angeles landmarks.

Another meltdown in LA town
The song portrays the city's vulnerability and sensitivity to relapse into chaos and unrest occasionally or metaphorically referred to as 'meltdown.'

Down on these busy streets
The song mentions the busy streets of Los Angeles, full of people and their endless aspirations.

There's a city watching over me
Los Angeles has its eye on everyone and constantly adds experiences and memories to one's life, effortlessly surpassing many other cities in the world.

You are the only one!
An intermission that doesn't relate to any particular lyric is a common feature of many songs and reflects the artist's mood statement towards the end.

Writer(s): Filip Rutkiewicz, Bartosz Hamerlinski

Contributed by Olivia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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