Santa Monica

Everclear

I am still living with your ghost
Lonely and dreaming of the west coast
I don't wanna be your downtime
I don't wanna be your stupid game

With my big black boots and an old suitcase
I do believe I'll find myself a new place
I don't wanna be the bad guy
I don't wanna do your sleepwalk dance anymore
I just wanna see some palm trees
I will try and shake away this disease

We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die

I am still dreaming of your face
Hungry and hollow for all the things you took away
I don't wanna be your good time
I don't wanna be your fall-back crutch anymore

Walk right up into a brand new day
Insane and rising in my own weird way
I don't wanna be the bad guy
I don't wanna do your sleepwalk dance anymore

I just wanna feel some sunshine
I just wanna find some place to be alone

We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die
We can live beside the ocean
Leave the fire behind
Swim out past the breakers
Watch the world die

Yeah, watch the world die
Yeah, watch the world die
Yeah, watch the world die
Yeah, watch the world die


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Santa Monica Lyrics as written by Craig Montoya Art Alexakis

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Santa Monica song meanings
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66 Comments

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  • +7
    General CommentI think this song is about loving someone so much, but knowing that everyday life is taking its toll on the relationship. It's about wanting to go to a beach, which I think represents anywhere that keeps you happy, and living there, leaving behind your troubles and just relaxing. Knowing that the world is fucked up and wanting to swim out past the breakers to watch it detroy itself, knowing you are safe with the one you love.
    VullNoidon June 06, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General CommentYeah! You tell em Mr T!!
    Apploon August 01, 2002   Link
  • +3
    My InterpretationHe rejected her drug addict ways and wanted to start a new life without her. He was tired of being a fall back crutch and doing her sleep walk dance. He took his big black boots and an old suitcase and left her to find a new place.
    I think he was willing to risk it all. To swim out past the breakers and watch his old world die. He would swim and survive or live his life in a white trash hell.
    Art chose to bail out and survive. Fuck that junkie bitch.
    dirkmancheston December 17, 2014   Link
  • +2
    General CommentSanta Monica's not a cover foo !! Stop yo jibba jabba !!
    Evergleamon July 24, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Commentthis song seems to be about letting go and leaving. the world is falling apart and everything reminds him of what he's trying to forget. it's an affirmation of all the stuff that was wrong with the relationship, the self destructive nature of it all.
    rosyquillon October 14, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General CommentThis is Everclear's best song ever...anthemic and endlessly singable...catchy as bloody anything. love it.
    Cherub Rockon June 24, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General CommentIt's about suicide.
    ZEROpumpkinson October 17, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General CommentIt always pisses me off when you look at the posts under the songs here and someone says "Who cares what the song means? It sounds great!"

    Most people come to SongMeanings to find out... what is it again? Oh yeah. THE MEANING OF A SONG.

    Anyway, the comments about the relationship seem accurate, but the chorus makes me think about how watching the world get fucked up to the point of corruption and chaos with a friend is much better than witnessing it alone.
    The Honest Liaron January 20, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Commentback when he was younger his brother died of a heroin overdose. a few months later, his young girlfriend commited suicide. resulting in him attempting suicide, filling his pockets with sand and lead weights, and jumping off the Santa Monica Pier. he says, that the vision and voice of his brother George compelled him to survive

    so, my guess is that its more about perhaps his feelings about that moment.
    thecowboyclicheon October 19, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General CommentArt's had some mental problems as a lot of people know (look at Normal Like You, Amphetamine, etc...), and this song is (i think anyway) about his suicide attempt when he was living in Santa Monica. Just look:

    I don't wanna be your downtime: I don't want to annoy you anymore

    With my big black boots and an old suitcase I do believe I'll find myself a new place: Not taking much with him, he's leaving this town (life).

    I just want to see some palm trees/Try and shake away this disease: Take me to paradise, I'm sick of being sick.

    Live beside the ocean: Heaven

    Leave the fire behind: Turbulent life

    Watch the world die: see what he left behind all go wrong

    Etc. I hope this makes sense. This is just what I think, anyway.
    Apploon June 11, 2002   Link

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