In my opinion, this song is about the so-called "rock n roll lifestyle" and how fame was making Caleb and the rest of the Followill boys (or really anybody that gains some sort of fame) lose touch with their former lives, as well as the music industry itself. So let's break this down:
"Little Mona Lisa layin' by my side" - This line sets a scene. Here he is with his girlfriend, one that he cares very much about and perhaps had even before the band got famous. She's asleep and he's awake thinking what's happening in his life. By calling her Mona Lisa, I assume all he means is that she's beautiful and is a masterpiece, like the Mona Lisa.
"Crimson and Clover pullin' overtime" - You say 'Crimson And Clover' was the first song that really wowed Caleb. Assuming that's true, this line probably means that he's been listening to the song a lot in order reconnect with how his life used to be and how this (his life as a musician) all got started. Therefore, he's likely nostalgic for the good old days of his younger years.
"Seem too close to be losing touch" - These things (girlfriend, his true passion for music, family, childhood, etc.) are very close to his heart and he seems to be afraid that he will lose them as his band becomes more and more famous.
"By givin' in, what am I givin' up?/Am I losin' way too much?" - Once again, fearful and nervous about what he will lose when he gives in to fame and the music industry.
"Hey, California waiting" - Where do people go to get famous? That's right kids, California! So basically, this line means it appears fame, fortune, and L.A. are all staring him in the face and waiting for him to accept them. He doesn't seem to like that fact.
"Every little thing's gotta be just right" - The industry wants perfection of him and his band. They want to change them so that they are a sleek, polished, and stylish band that is easy to accept for the mainstream. They want to make every little thing just right so that they can cash in.
"Say, while you're tryin' to save me/Can I get back my lonely life?" - These businessmen think they're saving him from some sort of terrible, small-town commoner life (GOOD GOD! The horror of being...gasp...a regular person!). Really though, he just wants his life to be, y'know, normal and not crowded by bigwigs and groupies and all the shit that comes with rock stardom.
"I'm goin' so fast that I can't slow down" - Fast forward. His life has become hectic now that he's a big rockstar. He's out there living the party life and he can't seem to get back to how life used to be, which is what he really wants.
"It's hard to get up when you're spinnin' round and round" - He's confused and dizzy from this rush of fame and stardom. He feels like he's been knocked down and he can't get up because his life is going too fast for him.
"I'd tell you the news, but nothin's changed" - Here, it turns out this big, grand life of a rockstar is not as great as anybody made it out to be. His family and friends ask what everything's like, but really he's just the same old guy. Now he's just stuck in this frantic and fast-paced rock 'n' roll life. He doesn't seem to like this either.
"I'd sing you a song, but they blew it away" - The record company could not give less of a damn about his music and what it's trying to say, they just want him for the money he'll make them. If his band were to lose their popularity, they'd probably be dropped in a split second. His songs don't even seem to have meaning anymore.
"All wrapped up in this stupid ass game" - Pretty self-explanatory.
The first time I heard this song, I thought it sounded very optimistic and fun, kinda like "California Sun" (The Ramones version moreso than any other for sound). Then, after taking a closer look st the lyrics, turns out it's quite the opposite. Anyway, there it is folks. Hope my interpretation helps clear up any confusion. See you all on the net. Remember to rock to the rhythm and bop to the beat of the radio.
In my opinion, this song is about the so-called "rock n roll lifestyle" and how fame was making Caleb and the rest of the Followill boys (or really anybody that gains some sort of fame) lose touch with their former lives, as well as the music industry itself. So let's break this down:
"Little Mona Lisa layin' by my side" - This line sets a scene. Here he is with his girlfriend, one that he cares very much about and perhaps had even before the band got famous. She's asleep and he's awake thinking what's happening in his life. By calling her Mona Lisa, I assume all he means is that she's beautiful and is a masterpiece, like the Mona Lisa. "Crimson and Clover pullin' overtime" - You say 'Crimson And Clover' was the first song that really wowed Caleb. Assuming that's true, this line probably means that he's been listening to the song a lot in order reconnect with how his life used to be and how this (his life as a musician) all got started. Therefore, he's likely nostalgic for the good old days of his younger years. "Seem too close to be losing touch" - These things (girlfriend, his true passion for music, family, childhood, etc.) are very close to his heart and he seems to be afraid that he will lose them as his band becomes more and more famous. "By givin' in, what am I givin' up?/Am I losin' way too much?" - Once again, fearful and nervous about what he will lose when he gives in to fame and the music industry.
"Hey, California waiting" - Where do people go to get famous? That's right kids, California! So basically, this line means it appears fame, fortune, and L.A. are all staring him in the face and waiting for him to accept them. He doesn't seem to like that fact. "Every little thing's gotta be just right" - The industry wants perfection of him and his band. They want to change them so that they are a sleek, polished, and stylish band that is easy to accept for the mainstream. They want to make every little thing just right so that they can cash in. "Say, while you're tryin' to save me/Can I get back my lonely life?" - These businessmen think they're saving him from some sort of terrible, small-town commoner life (GOOD GOD! The horror of being...gasp...a regular person!). Really though, he just wants his life to be, y'know, normal and not crowded by bigwigs and groupies and all the shit that comes with rock stardom.
"I'm goin' so fast that I can't slow down" - Fast forward. His life has become hectic now that he's a big rockstar. He's out there living the party life and he can't seem to get back to how life used to be, which is what he really wants. "It's hard to get up when you're spinnin' round and round" - He's confused and dizzy from this rush of fame and stardom. He feels like he's been knocked down and he can't get up because his life is going too fast for him. "I'd tell you the news, but nothin's changed" - Here, it turns out this big, grand life of a rockstar is not as great as anybody made it out to be. His family and friends ask what everything's like, but really he's just the same old guy. Now he's just stuck in this frantic and fast-paced rock 'n' roll life. He doesn't seem to like this either. "I'd sing you a song, but they blew it away" - The record company could not give less of a damn about his music and what it's trying to say, they just want him for the money he'll make them. If his band were to lose their popularity, they'd probably be dropped in a split second. His songs don't even seem to have meaning anymore. "All wrapped up in this stupid ass game" - Pretty self-explanatory.
The first time I heard this song, I thought it sounded very optimistic and fun, kinda like "California Sun" (The Ramones version moreso than any other for sound). Then, after taking a closer look st the lyrics, turns out it's quite the opposite. Anyway, there it is folks. Hope my interpretation helps clear up any confusion. See you all on the net. Remember to rock to the rhythm and bop to the beat of the radio.