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.
Well, East coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there
The Midwest farmer's daughters really make you feel alright
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night
I wish they all could be California (girls)
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
The West coast has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a French bikini on Hawaiian island
Dolls by a palm tree in the sand
I been all around this great big world
And I seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the States
Back to the cutest girls in the world
I wish they all could be California (girls)
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there
The Midwest farmer's daughters really make you feel alright
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night
I wish they all could be California (girls)
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
The West coast has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a French bikini on Hawaiian island
Dolls by a palm tree in the sand
I been all around this great big world
And I seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the States
Back to the cutest girls in the world
I wish they all could be California (girls)
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
I wish they all could be California girls
(Girls, girls, girls, yeah I dig the)
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
A long long time ago, back in the stone age, when Napster was still going, I dug up an a cappella version of this track. Turned out that you could still hear the instruments in the background. Versions such as those are the real ones which expose the brilliance of the harmonies on this track.
As I remember, about this track, Bruce had just come into the band, and, within about ten minutes, had this thrust underneath his nose... though I can't remember all the details about this song that I should.