Segall began his recording career as a part-time musician in various underground bands in Orange County and the San Francisco Bay Area, before beginning a solo career in 2008. Segall's first solo release was the cassette Horn The Unicorn released on the Wizard Mountain label (later re-released by HBSP-2X on vinyl record). Around the same time, Wizard Mountain also released a split cassette featuring Segall and the band Superstitions entitled Halfnonagon.
In 2012, Segall released three LPs: His solo album, Twins; a collaboration with White Fence titled Hair and Slaughterhouse, an album with the Ty Segall Band.
Californian Hills
Ty Segall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met the court, they're so mean
Sound the Dionysus bell
Send them all back to hell
American nightmare
Guilty generation
Fingers on the pulse of their parents' alienation
Ah
The gift of affluent life
Was wasted on the fickle wife
Who slept in Californian news
And gave herself the sleeping pills
And waits for the dollar bills
The papers say we're going to hell
The song Californian Hills by Ty Segall talks about the singer's longing for the past and their bitterness towards the present. The lyrics "I miss the candy queens" suggest a nostalgic longing for a time in the past when things were better, more colourful and life was easier. However, the court mentioned in the next line is a harsh reminder that things have changed. The court may represent the brutality of adulthood, and the "so mean" implies that the singer has been treated unfairly.
The third line "Sound the Dionysus bell," is a call to action, a demand to take a stand and fight against the harshness of reality. Since Dionysus is the god of wine and celebration, this reference could be interpreted as a call to party and celebrate life despite the difficulties. In contrast, the next line "Send them all back to hell" implies that the singer believes that the only solution is to escape from reality altogether.
The second verse of the song talks about the "guilty generation." This line may allude to the idea that people are to be blamed for their current situation. The singer suggests that this generation has let their parents down in some way, hence "Fingers on the pulse of their parents' alienation." The generation is guilty of not fulfilling the expectations of their parents, leading to their alienation from them. The line "From the history, histories of Western civilization" implies that this guilt is not just about their own situation, it reaches further back to the history of their civilization. Overall this song is a commentary on the disillusionment of the singer with the present state of America.
Line by Line Meaning
I miss the candy queens
I am longing for the innocence and sweetness of my youth
I met the court, they're so mean
I have had experiences with authority figures who were harsh and unfair
Sound the Dionysus bell
Let's celebrate through music and embrace our wild sides
Send them all back to hell
Those who have wronged us should be punished and banished
American nightmare
The dark and frightening aspects of life in the United States
Guilty generation
The feeling of being responsible for the problems of our time
Fingers on the pulse of their parents' alienation
We are in tune with our parents' feelings of being disconnected and dissatisfied
From the history, histories of Western civilization
Our understanding of the past is shaped by the dominant narratives of Western culture
Ah
An expression of resignation or acceptance
The gift of affluent life
The advantages that come with wealth and prosperity
Was wasted on the fickle wife
A woman who cannot appreciate or be satisfied with what she has
Who slept in Californian news
She was consumed by the shallow and superficial aspects of California culture
And gave herself the sleeping pills
She used medication to escape her problems and reality
And waits for the dollar bills
She is motivated by money and material possessions
The papers say we're going to hell
The media is predicting doom and gloom for our future
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: TY SEGALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Backy Mellon
I saw Ty two weeks ago, I was up front. I told him I love him and he was my hero. he smiled pointed at me and said I was his hero. lol. greatest moment ever
tyler Oneill
Who would have thought I’d find you here😂, I remember you put me onto this about 4 years ago.
Andrew Wabik
Bet you'll never forget that.
Dan Skellington
Lmfao I told him the same like 4 years ago, and he told me I was a Mad men , while laughing. Still greatest moment though
Franco Perez
hulk hogan is my hero
Dude Dashman
Dope! He's totally my hero as well. Im so glad you got to have that experience with him and his band
OdotheDoll2
I just remembered this song and album while drawing so I put it on while I was coloring and have created the most unhinged drawing I’ve ever done.
billie
Love this! Video's like a compilation of dreams/nightmares I've had!
Vinny The bird
I watched this on an acid trip because ty Is one of my favorites and I was vining to the core I felt the colors and sounds pulsing through my body and I was watching the craziest video ever while listening to one of the best songs ever. 100 out of 10 I recommend and will definitely be doing this again and maybe watch this sober because it’s badass
uh loco
this goes amazingly well with burn the witch from radiohead