The song is about a man who doesn’t feel good enough and has distant dreams… Read Full Bio ↴The song is about a man who doesn’t feel good enough and has distant dreams of leaving to start fresh somewhere different. Maybe one day he’ll move on to live a more exciting life. Wilbur has constantly said how he was unsatisfied with his life living in London, and how it influenced his mental and physical health. He hopes for a place where everything feels perfect.

La Jolla
Wilbur Lyrics

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You know it takes a lot to move me
So if you figure it out
Tell me
I'll trace figures on your smile lines
Work out formulae to cure me
And I'm lonely
There I said it
Nine million people

I always seem to add them up
I could go away
I could pack my things and be gone before you wake
You know I've tried hard to love me too
It always seems to fall in, through
Maybe one day I'll live in La Jolla
Drinking cocktails out over the water
My own personal sunset
To give each day it's own diploma
But you know it's funny?
In midnight backseat taxi jaunts

I'm trying to ignore the skyline
So I don't figure out where you-

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Wilbur's song "La Jolla" seem to explore the theme of loneliness and the desire for an escape. The opening line "You know it takes a lot to move me" suggests that the person singing is not easily swayed or impressed. They challenge the listener to try and figure out what can move them. They express a willingness to work things out, offering to trace "figures on your smile lines" and "work out formulae to cure me." However, despite their willingness to work things out, they still feel lonely and admit it saying "And I'm lonely, there I said it."

The lyrics hint at a feeling of being lost in the crowd, adding up to "nine million people." The singer expresses a desire to escape from it all and start anew, admitting to having tried to love themselves but still feeling unfulfilled. The idea of a paradise-like escape is presented in the lines "Maybe one day I'll live in La Jolla, drinking cocktails out over the water, my own personal sunset, to give each day its own diploma." The song ends with the singer trying to ignore the city skyline during a late-night taxi ride.

One interesting aspect of the song is the mention of La Jolla, a coastal city in California known for its beautiful beaches and upscale living. The song speaks to the universal human desire to escape and find a place that feels like paradise. Additionally, the lines "You know I've tried hard to love me too, it always seems to fall in, through" may suggest a deeper self-discovery journey for the singer. The mention of formulae suggests a scientific or mathematical mindset, possibly hinting at a struggle with finding balance in their life.

Line by Line Meaning

You know it takes a lot to move me
It's difficult to impress me

So if you figure it out
If you can impress me, let me know how

Tell me
Share the secret with me

I'll trace figures on your smile lines
I'll examine your face for clues

Work out formulae to cure me
I'll try to find a way to be happy

And I'm lonely
I feel isolated

There I said it
I admit my feelings

Nine million people
The population of my city

I always seem to add them up
I'm constantly reminded of how many people there are

I could go away
I could leave this place

I could pack my things and be gone before you wake
I could leave without saying goodbye