In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Goodbye to my Santa Monica dream
Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine
You tell me stories of the sea
And the ones you left behind
Goodbye to the roses on your street
Goodbye to the paintings on your wall
Goodbye to the children we'll never meet
And the ones we left behind
And the ones we left behind
I'm somewhere, you're somewhere
I'm nowhere, you're nowhere
You're somewhere, you're somewhere
I could go there but I don't
Rob's in the kitchen making pizza
Somewhere down in Battery Park
I'm singing songs about the future
Wondering where you are
I could call you on the telephone
But do I really want to know?
You're making love now to the lady down the road
No I don't, I don't want to know
I'm somewhere, you're somewhere
I'm nowhere, you're nowhere
You're somewhere, you're somewhere
I could go there but I don;t
Goodbye to my Santa Monica dream
Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine
You will tell me stories of the sea
And the ones you left behind
And the ones we left behind
Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine
You tell me stories of the sea
And the ones you left behind
Goodbye to the roses on your street
Goodbye to the paintings on your wall
Goodbye to the children we'll never meet
And the ones we left behind
And the ones we left behind
I'm somewhere, you're somewhere
I'm nowhere, you're nowhere
You're somewhere, you're somewhere
I could go there but I don't
Rob's in the kitchen making pizza
Somewhere down in Battery Park
I'm singing songs about the future
Wondering where you are
I could call you on the telephone
But do I really want to know?
You're making love now to the lady down the road
No I don't, I don't want to know
I'm somewhere, you're somewhere
I'm nowhere, you're nowhere
You're somewhere, you're somewhere
I could go there but I don;t
Goodbye to my Santa Monica dream
Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine
You will tell me stories of the sea
And the ones you left behind
And the ones we left behind
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I believe this song talks about a lost love and a bitter separation, regardless of the fact that this love was once sweet. In the first lines of the song, she begins with her goodbyes to her warm past: The city she used to live in with her lover(Santa Monica)and its details, like the flowers and the painting on the wall of this city. Then we notice the idea of a lost love in the second verse ,as the second verse means that first they were always together, when she was somewhere he was with her, when she wasn't somewhere, he wasn't too! but then in the last two lines of this verse we see that he was somewhere and she was nowhere, so this pretty much tells that they are not together anymore.
"I'm singing songs about the future, Wondering where you are", she wanted this relationships to work, but he's not much into relationships, we the lyrics say "And the ones you left behind", which means he just does what he does and then leave girls behind.
Although she wants him so much, she won't do any move like calling him or such.
Such an amazing song!
I think this song is about a separation, perhaps a bitter one, but I think she's singing about the future they had always talked and dreamed they'd have. I think Santa Monica Dream refers to not just the place they wanted to be but everything else they'd share, such as 'fifteen children, drinking wine in the backyard, talking of the sea, etc.' So, now that they've separated, she's saying goodbye to the significant other and the future they could've had or dreamed they would have together. It's such a beautiful song. I like this song best along with Big Jet Plane and Yellow Brick Road.
I agree with you guys. Definitely a reflection of what "could have been" with her past lover.
I wonder, though, who is Rob? Her lover...a mutual friend? Hm.
Santa Monica dream (Santa Monica, California) is possibly the place they used to live at together and all the dreams they've shared together Now she isn't there anymore, he isn't there anymore. They've separated. The lyrics describes what should've, could've, and would've happened. Now they're moving on, even if they could get back together.
Santa Monica is a famous holiday resort in California with a beach and a huge entertainment park. I suppose Angus and Julia Stone uses this place as the title of the song because of the entertainment park, which symbolizes the innocent and carefree dream of children. In their childhood dreams, they don’t need to worry about anything other than “stories of the sea,” “the roses on your street,” and “the paintings on your wall.” It’s the purest dream they could ever have. Here's my interpretation of the song: en.lineday.co/angus-julia-stone-santa-monica-dream-lyrics-meaning/
Magnificent, moving and brilliant :)
Though I agree with you guys, I don't think the "fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine" bit means her and her lover's kids. I think instead it points to a certain memory she has, maybe how she and her boyfriend met etc., that happened during a small party with fifteen people drinking wine.
Yet another magical love song by the Aussie siblings....beautiful....