I've never been to California
But I know soon I will go there
Beneath those blue, blue skies
Below her blackened eyes

This is all that's left of San Francisco
She met some people at the fair
When they saw her blue jean eyes
Well, she rode some horse's ride

California
She was dying to go there
California
Didn't care

So I talk about you all the time now
The way she drove, was bound to crash
And she tried to do the right thing
She let her girlfriend sing

California
She put lemon in her hair
In her wide open dress
She didn't care

So I find the way to
California
It was your last great shot
When you're on your way to kingdom come
California was as close as you got


Lyrics submitted by polkablues

California Lyrics as written by Clint Moffatt Bob Moffatt

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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California song meanings
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    General Comment

    David Poe is one of my favorite singer/songwriters, especially for his lyrics. I met him in London and asked him about some of his songs. He said then this one was inspired by a girl he knew from New York who moved to California and sadly overdosed on heroin, and that he never had been to California at the time he wrote it. But then I asked him about it later when I saw him play it San Francisco and he said the whole thing was made-up, but I think he was just embarassed or trying to be mysterious. By the way, the lyric in the second chorus is definitely "wide open DRESS," not drug. Too bad he doesn't play this one live very much anymore.

    Mockstaron March 13, 2005   Link

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