This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
He knows I'm gonna stay (knows I'm gonna stay)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
If I didn't tell her (if I didn't tell her)
I could leave today (I could leave today)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
He knows I'm gonna stay (knows I'm gonna stay)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
If I didn't tell her (if I didn't tell her)
I could leave today (I could leave today)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit
California Dreamin' Lyrics as written by Michelle Gilliam Phillips John Edmund Andrew Phillips
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Grew up listening to this song from the time I was 16. Liked the song mainly because I grew up in the cold Northeast.
But this song completely changed for me the day I was driving along with my 24 year old daughter and when the song came on the radio she told me how much the song meant to her.
You see, I live in southern California now and my daughter was born and raised here. She had just returned from a year in Afghanistan and she proceeded to tell me how the song spoke to her during her deployment.
It gave the line, "I'd be safe and warm, if I was in LA" a whole new meaning for me.
Good additional meaning.<br /> <br /> Glad she's safe.<br /> <br /> Afgan wont be safe for yrs.
This song is actually about how the mammas and the pappas moved from L.A to New York where the music scene was at during that time period. Then after a while they went on a tropical vacation to the Virgin Islands to sort out some stuff (pretty sure it had something to do with a love triangle). So when they came back the entire music scene moved to L.A. And they started to miss California and wish they were back home. Hence the "California Dreaming"
it's more than pretty it's sort of melancholoy. i think the person is in new york dreaming of sunny warm LA imagining all his/her problems would go away if he/she was there. ahhh the grass is always greener....
i personally like rain a lot and prefer cold to hot but hey thats just me.
I also think it's a metaphor for some other dreams . for love and fulfillment and success. "the preacher likes the cold" suggests this to me because a preacher is somebody who gives up the "sunshine" for the "cold" of self restraint and self denial.
@elysiarenee Hi, I’m trying to figure out why he ‘pretended to pray’ ? Any thoughts?
@elysiarenee \r\n\r\nThat is an interesting point you bring up about the preacher. I\'ve had 2nd verse stuck in my head all morning. I was thinking did the Preacher stop and talk with the person who pretended to pray? I grew up thinking and somewhat believing if you strike a prayer pose Preacher will leave you alone presuming you already believe. Thank God I found Pastors that will come, and talk with you, and see what was on your heart, so they can pray with you. I found this to be a subtle slam against the church and God myself. Prayer was banned in school a few years before, and the infamous article April, 1966 on Time magazine "Is God Dead?" It was in the air definitely, and still today 56 years later.
well, it not a hippie thing. Its about people. Its a classic folk rock tune, one of the greats, performed by some of the best vocalists of the time (and i wasn't even born then).
To me, its has mostly a literal meaning - dreaming of socal in a cold, wintery place. This is quite true of those who grow up in socal (KVet's post reflects that). And it captures that feeling so well, that it applies here in Indiana today, as the snow flurries outside my window.
But perhaps there is a bit more. Notice the leanings toward deception. Is it possible that the socal lifestyle is that different from those in the seasonal areas that deception comes so easily? ("pretend to pray", "If I didn't tell her, I could leave today"). Don't take it too far, just a thought.
I prefer to think of it as dreaming of a warmer climate or just totally different scenery in the middle of a harsh winter but, i think, its about homesickness.
I adore this song. So simple yet sooo effective :)
I think the song is about a relationship and/or homesickness.
All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey I've been for a walk on a winters day I'd be save and warm if I was in L.A. California dreaming on such a winters day
(parts are written by Michelle Phillips)
Stepped into a church I passed along the way Well, I got down on my knees and I began to pray You know the preacher likes the cold he knows I'm gonna stay
All the leaves a brown and the sky is grey I've been for a walk on a winters day If I didn't tell her I could leave today
@musikanalys I feel like you nailed it. Thanks!
it makes me think of when i was little.i remember my sister listenin to this.i've liked it for suc a long time.it makes me think of fall and winter.i really enjoyed when they showed the contestants from american idol singin it..they did it very well
I'm a 4th generation L.A. native, just moved to Seattle 6 months ago. I'm 31 years old and have never touched snow. I've never seen leaves on trees change color (palm trees don't turn red). It's been 75-85 degrees and sunny EVERY DAY my entire life. Growing up, my family would always spend Christmas day in the sun on the beach (Hermosa or Redondo). I keep thinking I'd be "safe and warm" if I was back home, in L.A.
However, I think this song can be for anyone who is somewhere else and misses their hometown. L.A. natives like me, we're just able to take it literally, but I think it can be just as relevant to say, a Chicago transplant to Atlanta or wherever.
Me, I'm California Dreamin'...
The song was written in 1963 by John and Michelle Phillips while they were living in New York, inspired by Michelle's home sickness for California. At the time, the Phillipses were members of the folk group The New Journeymen which evolved into The Mamas and the Papas.
This song is very catchy I'd have to say
It's literally about "California Dreaming." John Philips was from NY (where the skies are grey in the winter) and when he'd gone to California, he met Michelle (who he married eventually). At the time he wrote this, he was missing California. This isn't the only song he's written about California. "12:30 Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon" is another one.