The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
California dreamer
Tell me why did you go
I carved your ever fading figure
In to the ever dying snow
I'll be around, I'll be around, I'll be around
Like a teenager in town
Where all the other young lovers are found
And I think I might have heard you on the radio
But the radio waves were like snow
And you were dreaming of Los Angeles
While I was singing songs you wrote
You quietly gave away the winter clothes I made for you
While I made angels in the snow
And I would have left if you'd just asked me to
Or come to me before the preacher
Now you're a survivor
And I just thought I might have heard you on the radio
But the radio waves were like snow
I thought I might have heard you on the radio
But the radio waves were like snow
Do the young stay pretty, do the pretty stay quick?
You know, but you never surrender
The city doesn't belong to you anymore
California dreamer
You dream of seasons that never die
You go to oceans that never touch the ice
You dream of seasons that never die
You go to oceans that never touch the ice
You dream of seasons that never die
You go to oceans that never touch the ice
Surrender the city to splendor
The creatures get younger and younger
And I think I might have heard you on the radio
But the radio waves were like snow
Oh I think I might have heard you on the radio
But the radio waves were like snow
Do the young stay pretty, do the pretty stay quick?
You know, but you never surrender
The city doesn't belong to you anymore
California dreamer
I'll be around, I'll be around, I'll be around
Like a teenager in town
With all the other young lovers their mothers may have found
California dreamer
Tell me why did you go
I carved your ever fading figure
In to the ever dying snow
I'll be around, I'll be around, I'll be around
Like a teenager in town
Where all the other young lovers are found
And I think I might have heard you on the radio
But the radio waves were like snow
And you were dreaming of Los Angeles
While I was singing songs you wrote
You quietly gave away the winter clothes I made for you
While I made angels in the snow
And I would have left if you'd just asked me to
Or come to me before the preacher
Now you're a survivor
And I just thought I might have heard you on the radio
But the radio waves were like snow
I thought I might have heard you on the radio
But the radio waves were like snow
Do the young stay pretty, do the pretty stay quick?
You know, but you never surrender
The city doesn't belong to you anymore
California dreamer
You dream of seasons that never die
You go to oceans that never touch the ice
You dream of seasons that never die
You go to oceans that never touch the ice
You dream of seasons that never die
You go to oceans that never touch the ice
Surrender the city to splendor
The creatures get younger and younger
And I think I might have heard you on the radio
But the radio waves were like snow
Oh I think I might have heard you on the radio
But the radio waves were like snow
Do the young stay pretty, do the pretty stay quick?
You know, but you never surrender
The city doesn't belong to you anymore
California dreamer
I'll be around, I'll be around, I'll be around
Like a teenager in town
With all the other young lovers their mothers may have found
California dreamer
Lyrics submitted by omegadaxer
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im pretty sure that "Of my singing summer creatures Stay forever and ever" is wrong to me it sounds like he's saying " Surrender the city to splendor The creatures get younger and younger"
also it should be "and i would have left if you just asked me too", not looked
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