There are/were at least two bands named The Paperboys:

1. a folk ban… Read Full Bio ↴There are/were at least two bands named The Paperboys:

1. a folk band from Vancouver, Canada
2. an indie band from Manchester, United Kingdom

1. The Paperboys (sometimes billed and credited as Tom Landa and the Paperboys) are a Canadian folk music band from Vancouver that formed in 1991. The Paperboys blend Celtic folk with bluegrass, Mexican, Eastern European, African, zydeco, soul and country influences. The band has had a variety of line-ups since its formation, with Landa remaining as the sole founding member, although founding banjoist/bassist Cam Salay often returns as a guest performer. Known for consistently creating pop songs with melodic hooks, their music has been called versatile, with a wide range of influences, melding diverse musical influences more successfully than some other Irish rock bands have previously.

2. The Paperboys were an indie/pop band from Manchester, U.K., fronted by singer Annette Deane.

If you are looking for the Norwegian band Paperboys, go to their last.fm page Paperboys.

California
The Paperboys Lyrics

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The road map, wrinkled up
Tucked away in the glovebox
Shows many miles left to go
Three days nonstop
Hope this engine doesn't give
Till I pass snow

I hope that I can see

Blue seas and palm trees
And the radio tuned into...

California
California
California
I think I'll stay down
I think I'll stay down for a while

One year gone by
Can't feel anything
Constant reminder in this place
We fought with everything
For one, we let her go
She kept her date with Eden's Gate

I hope that I can find
Some kind of peace of mind
And the strength to start again

(California...)
Mexican music on the airwaves
(California...)
Sunkissed with the top down
(California...)
Mission drive down to the border
I think I'll stay down, I think I'll stay down for a while

I hope that I can see
Blue sea and palm trees
And the radio tuned into....

California...
California...
California...
(California...)
Mexican music on the airwaves
(California...)
Sunkissed with the top down
(California...)
Mission drive down to the border

I think I'll stay down, I think I'll stay down,
I think I'll stay, I think I'll stay, I think I'll stay down for a while

Overall Meaning

The song "California" by The Paperboys is a tribute to the west coast of the United States, with a particular focus on California. The lyrics describe a road trip to the Golden State, with the singer hoping to see blue seas and palm trees and find a new beginning. The first verse talks about the road map, which is wrinkled up and stored in the glovebox, showing many miles left to go on the journey. The singer expresses hope that the engine will hold up until he crosses the snow, indicating that he is likely driving from a colder climate.

The chorus features the repetition of the word "California," creating a sense of longing and excitement for the destination. The second verse shifts to a reflective tone, as the singer talks about a year gone by and feeling numb in his current location. There is a reference to a lost love who has "kept her date with Eden's Gate," suggesting that she has died and gone to heaven. Despite this loss, the singer is hopeful for a fresh start in California.

The song culminates with a focus on the cultural richness of California, with Mexican music on the airwaves and a drive down to the border. The repetition of the phrase "I think I'll stay down for a while" indicates a desire to linger and fully immerse oneself in the California experience.

Line by Line Meaning

The road map, wrinkled up
The map that we have been using for our journey has been used a lot and is already rough.

Tucked away in the glovebox
We have kept the map safe and hidden in the compartment of the car.

Shows many miles left to go
The map indicates that we still have a lot of distance to cover on this journey.

Three days nonstop
We are planning to drive nonstop for three days straight.

Hope this engine doesn't give
We are hoping that the car's engine doesn't fail us during this long and tiresome drive.

Till I pass snow
We are hoping the car will hold up until we drive past the snow and get to California.

I hope that I can see
I am longing to witness for myself.

Blue seas and palm trees
The beautiful coastline with the ocean and palm trees.

And the radio tuned into...
Listening to a specific station on the radio.

California
The state which I have been dreaming of visiting.

I think I'll stay down
I have decided to stay in California for a while.

One year gone by
It has been a year since something happened.

Can't feel anything
I am numb and emotionless about what happened a year ago.

Constant reminder in this place
This place keeps reminding me about what happened a year ago.

We fought with everything
We did everything in our power to keep something, but it did not work out in the end.

For one, we let her go
One thing that we had to learn to accept was losing someone or something that was once a part of our lives.

She kept her date with Eden's Gate
The person or thing we lost found their own peace in death or some other metaphorical concept (such as Garden of Eden.)

I hope that I can find
I am searching for.

Some kind of peace of mind
I am longing to find inner peace and mental tranquility.

And the strength to start again
I am hoping to find the courage to begin a new chapter in my life.

(California...)
Same as before, this line references California state.

Mexican music on the airwaves
We are listening to Mexican music played on local radio stations in California.

Sunkissed with the top down
We are driving with the car roof down and enjoying the sunny weather.

Mission drive down to the border
We are taking a scenic route on Mission Drive to the border of California.

I think I'll stay down for a while
I have decided to extend my stay in California and not go back for a while.

California...
Same as before, this line references California state.

(California...)
Same as before, this line references California state.

I think I'll stay down, I think I'll stay down
I am seriously thinking of extending my stay in California for a longer period.

I think I'll stay, I think I'll stay, I think I'll stay down for a while
I have finally made up my mind to stay in California for an extended period and not go back for a while.

Contributed by Jonathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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