Oh Los Angeles we leave you now
At the setting of your skies
As we leave the comfort of your ground
With your angels we will fly

Well you carried us in broken dreams
Like a mother does her sons
We were scattered 'cross your dirty streets
We were dying one by one

And you held us in your city lights
When our eyes had lost the stars
And we made our peace with lonely nights
And you healed our broken hearts

Well they say the big one's gonna come
And you'll fall into the sea
But we will know that then your work is done
And your angels will go free

And your angels will go free
And your angels will go free
And your angels will go free


Lyrics submitted by SUNSHiN3

Los Angeles Lyrics as written by Adam Duritz Ryan Adams

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Los Angeles song meanings
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    My Interpretation

    This is such a beautiful song. I think that the "angels" he mentions are all of the people who traveled to LA in the hopes of achieving fame or some other unreachable dream. Some of them made it, but some of them became discouraged. Some of them even fell prey to the harsh lifestyle that accompanies fame.

    Los Angeles is characterized as a benevolent force that looks after these lost, discouraged angels.

    I think that the last line is particularly interesting: "your angels will go free".

    I believe that he is referring to all of the victims of Hollywood, both the living and the dead. When LA falls into the sea, it won't be a catastrophe because all of the people who are stuck in the glamorous purgatory of Hollywood will finally be free and at peace.

    This may be a decidedly metaphysical/supernatural interpretation of the song, but I couldn't help but picture the ghosts of tragic figures like Brittany Murphy, River Phoenix, and Heath Ledger all being set free from the simultaneously thrilling and terrifying city of Los Angeles.

    It was a beautiful image. :)

    chrysalison January 05, 2010   Link

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