California Goths
Wavves Lyrics


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I'm getting high
To pass the time
No reason why,
Was my reply.

Well, well, well, well, well, well, well. (x4)

When I die. (x4)

Well, well, well, well, well, well, well. (x4)
(Whose looking out for you?)

When I die. (x4)

The sun will always shine
? my mind
?
?
?
When I die
When I die
When I die
When I die





Well, well, well, well, well, well, well. (x4)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Wavves's song California Goths are a reflection of the ennui that comes with a nihilistic lifestyle. The first verse "I'm getting high to pass the time, no reason why, was my reply" suggest that the singer has lost all sense of purpose in life and is resorting to escapist means to cope with their meaningless existence. The repetition of "well, well, well" throughout the song can be interpreted as a sarcastic comment on the singer's lack of agency in their own life. The repeated utterance of "when I die" also highlights the theme of mortality, suggesting that the singer knows that their lifestyle is ultimately unsustainable.


The following verse "The sun will always shine (?), my mind (?), (?), (?), (?)" is harder to decipher, but it still maintains the overall sense of nihilism and hopelessness. The singer is suggesting that even when they are gone, life will go on as usual, the sun will keep shining, and nobody will be looking out for them. This signals a lack of support system in the singer's life which might have contributed to their despair. In conclusion, California Goths by Wavves is a haunting meditation on the meaning of life and death, and the futility of trying to escape the existential dread that comes with it.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm getting high
I'm using drugs to kill the time


To pass the time
To kill the boredom of my long hours


No reason why,
I don't have a particular reason for using drugs


Was my reply.
That was my answer when asked why I use drugs


The sun will always shine
The actual and metaphorical sunny California will always be here


? my mind
With various pleasant emotions on my mind


?
The lyrics are inaudible, so there is no clear meaning to this line


?
The lyrics are inaudible, so there is no clear meaning to this line


?
The lyrics are inaudible, so there is no clear meaning to this line


When I die
When I'm no longer alive


When I die
When I'm no longer alive


When I die
When I'm no longer alive


When I die
When I'm no longer alive


Well, well, well, well, well, well, well.
This line does not have a distinct meaning, but it is an expression of dissatisfaction or surprise by the singer.




Contributed by Skyler O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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