The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.
Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.
Fuck California
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're so beautiful and crystal clear
They scrape the clouds with their top
(and fuck California)
And The air's so clear
I drink it in it makes me drunk
I fall down and fall asleep
(and fuck San Fransico)
I dream of some little evil land
With twisted cragily experiences
Down below the Oregon Border
(and fuck San Bernardino)
I'm there in my dreams
I'm there in my nightmares
And I got to sing about it all day long
(and fuck Weed)
You've been naked in the sunshine
You've been buried in the sand
You've been living on the fault line
In a chemical plant
I've been pounding up and down I-5
Highway wander such a blast
If only I could erase the lips
Wish it wouldn't it so fast
This city is so beautiful
The clouds come out in the fall
And I love to see them back
(and fuck California!)
Even on a cloudy day
The sun pokes through at the end
To make a little sunset experience even though you're depressed
(and fuck Santa Cruz)
Ohh I'm in Central Oregon now
Driving my little blue tin can
And I hear green onions sing
(and fuck Yreka)
Green onions on the little stereo
And I feel like I'm going the right way
Northway North, North, North, North!
(Yeah keep goin' north boys!)
(all right!)
(Yahoo!)
Sonic cookie on the outside
Pure frosting all alone
You've been fucking Winona Ryder
And she got crabs on your bone
The only good thing about California
Is the band that I saw
They held there breath to shout out, “Supernova!�?
They were playing in a shopping mall
The song "Fuck California" by The Presidents of the United States of America is a satirical take on California culture and lifestyle. The lyrics suggest that the singer is tired of the glamor surrounding California and instead favors the natural beauty of the mountains in other states. The repeated phrase "and fuck California" emphasizes this sentiment by portraying a rebellious attitude towards the state. The song also mentions specific cities in California including San Francisco, San Bernardino, Weed, and Santa Cruz, further adding to the anti-California sentiment.
The lyrics also suggest a longing for a simpler life, away from the hustle and bustle of California. The mention of Central Oregon and the desire to keep going north, away from California, are indications that the singer prefers a more rural lifestyle. The line "You've been living on the fault line in a chemical plant" alludes to the risks associated with living in California, specifically the danger of earthquakes and pollution.
In addition, the song criticizes superficial aspects of California culture. The line "You've been naked in the sunshine, you've been buried in the sand" suggests that Californians are more concerned with appearances and fitting in than truly experiencing life. The mention of a band playing in a shopping mall further emphasizes the idea that California values materialism over substance.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the mountains
I have escaped to the mountains to enjoy the beauty and serenity
They're so beautiful and crystal clear
The mountains are picturesque and the air is fresh and unpolluted
They scrape the clouds with their top
The mountains are tall and majestic, reaching up towards the clouds
(and fuck California)
Despite the natural beauty, I still hate California
And The air's so clear
The air in the mountains is so pure that it feels intoxicating
I drink it in it makes me drunk
Inhaling the clear mountain air makes me feel drunk and euphoric
I fall down and fall asleep
The freshness of the air is so overwhelming, it makes me exhausted and I fall asleep
(and fuck San Fransico)
Despite the beauty of San Francisco, I still despise it
I dream of some little evil land
I have a recurring nightmare about a twisted, unpleasant place
With twisted cragily experiences
The place in my nightmare is full of twisted and rocky terrain
Down below the Oregon Border
The setting of my nightmare is located just below the Oregon border
(and fuck San Bernardino)
I have a particular hatred for San Bernardino
I'm there in my dreams
I constantly dream of this unpleasant place
I'm there in my nightmares
My massive dislike of the place ensures it shows up in my nightmares
And I got to sing about it all day long
I can't help but express my disdain for this place through song
(and fuck Weed)
I still despise Weed, regardless of whether it's a place or an actual plant
You've been naked in the sunshine
You have enjoyed the warm sunshine while baring it all
You've been buried in the sand
You have spent time at the beach, burying yourself in the sand
You've been living on the fault line
You have lived in California, near the infamous San Andreas fault line
In a chemical plant
You have worked or lived near hazardous chemical plants
I've been pounding up and down I-5
I have been driving on the I-5 highway, enjoying the journey
Highway wander such a blast
I find driving on the highway to be a thrilling and fun experience
If only I could erase the lips
If only I could forget the bad experiences the state has given me
Wish it wouldn't it so fast
I wish I could enjoy my time on the highway for just a little bit longer
This city is so beautiful
Despite my overall hatred for California, I can admit that this particular city is beautiful
The clouds come out in the fall
The autumn weather brings out beautiful clouds in the city
And I love to see them back
I enjoy seeing the clouds return to the city after summer
(and fuck California!)
However, I still can't help but curse California
Even on a cloudy day
The beauty of California still persists even on less sunny days
The sun pokes through at the end
The sun emerges triumphantly at the end of each day, bringing a beautiful sunset
To make a little sunset experience even though you're depressed
Even when I'm feeling down, the beauty of the sunset can still bring me joy
(and fuck Santa Cruz)
I truly despise Santa Cruz
Ohh I'm in Central Oregon now
I have now made it to Central Oregon
Driving my little blue tin can
Driving my trusty blue car
And I hear green onions sing
I hear the tune of 'Green Onions' and it brings me joy
(and fuck Yreka)
I really don't like Yreka
Green onions on the little stereo
Listening to 'Green Onions' on a small car stereo
And I feel like I'm going the right way
Hearing this tune assures me that I am travelling in the right direction
Northway North, North, North, North!
I am heading north and I can't wait to continue
(Yeah keep goin' north boys!)
I'll continue heading north, as it is where I want to be
(all right!)
I'm excited for this journey ahead
(Yahoo!)
I am thrilled about what the future has in store for me
Sonic cookie on the outside
A delicious Sonic fast-food dessert
Pure frosting all alone
I'm indulging in the sweet and creamy frosting without anything else
You've been fucking Winona Ryder
You've had sex with the famous actress, Winona Ryder
And she got crabs on your bone
You contracted pubic lice from Winona Ryder
The only good thing about California
The only redeeming quality of California is...
Is the band that I saw
The only good experience I had was seeing this particular band play
They held there breath to shout out, 'Supernova!'
This band played their music with such energy and passion that they had to catch their breath to shout 'Supernova!'
They were playing in a shopping mall
Despite their grand talents, this band could not even draw a large enough crowd to play a proper venue, playing instead in a shopping mall
Contributed by Daniel H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
FedoraHumor
I'm in the mountains
They're so beautiful and crystal clear
They scrape the clouds with their top
(and f*ck California)
And The air's so clear
I drink it in it makes me drunk
I fall down and fall asleep
(and f*ck San Fransico)
I dream of some little evil land
With twisted cragily experiences
Down below the Oregon Border
(and f*ck San Bernardino)
I'm there in my dreams
I'm there in my nightmares
And I got to sing about it all day long
(and f*ck Weed)
You've been naked in the sunshine
You've been buried in the sand
You've been living on the fault line
In a chemical plant
I've been pounding up and down I-5
Highway wander such a blast
If only I could erase the lips
Wish it wouldn't it so fast
This city is so beautiful
The clouds come out in the fall
And I love to see them back
(and f*ck California!)
Even on a cloudy day
The sun pokes through at the end
To make a little sunset experience even though you're depressed
(and f*ck Santa Cruz)
Ohh I'm in Central Oregon now
Driving my little blue tin can
And I hear green onions sing
(and f*ck Yreka)
Green onions on the little stereo
And I feel like I'm going the right way
Northway North, North, North, North!
(Yeah keep goin' north boys!)
(all right!)
(Yahoo!)
Sonic cookie on the outside
Pure frosting all alone
You've been f*cking Winona Ryder
And she got crabs on your bone
The only good thing about California
Is the band that I saw
They held there breath to shout out, Supernova!
They were playing in a shopping mall
æœæœ
look at those dislikes, they must be from san francisco. sink cali sink
æœæœ
you seem a bit Mad Online© https://youtu.be/2goYYhxAzCA
Barry Schoolcraft
Never heard this one before, and it is the perfect song with a 100% true and 100% perfect message.
Manila Toaster
as a california expat i absolutely love this song
RedBaron 71
Can we just throw california back another 150 years when it was still pretty damn cool
stevobell
Can we compromise on 300 years honey?
Hotdog Auri
This song applies to this day and age
Ginger Powder
i live in santa cruz, but when he whispered fuck santa cruz i laughed out loud in class.
Stanley Rajnert
How can you dislike this band?
Tattooed Dragon
Been a Cali native my entire life and I have watched go down the shitter every year! Thanks for this anthem, it truly hits the mark