A very simple, yet effective song. There's not much debate about the subject matter as the lyrics are pretty much a straight narrative story - not a lot of euphemisms or puns to sort through or ponder.
I always liked this song as a kid, but did really understand it until I got older. As a native Californian, I can relate to the mystique of Hollywood and how different California can be from the Heartland (or just about anywhere else in the country).
I like the comment about how the young man ends up in limbo between two worlds, as I think this is very much the case. He is young and naive, still has the Midwest in his blood & his mindset, but has now seen a completely different world. He may return home, but his experience in California has changed him, thus, home will never seem quite the way it did before. Hence, "He spent all night staring down at the lights of LA, wondering if he could ever (figuratively) go home."
@Epiphany2000 I used to think these were pretty straightforward, and for the most part, they are.
@Epiphany2000 I used to think these were pretty straightforward, and for the most part, they are.
Lately I've been wondering about these, though:
Lately I've been wondering about these, though:
"He stood all night staring down at the lights of LA
Wondering if he could ever go home."
"He stood all night staring down at the lights of LA
Wondering if he could ever go home."
That could be the midwestern guy looking at the view and considering going home and back to the slow, small twin life, or it also could mean he's the midwestern guy out on a high ledge thinking about jumping because the fast life has wrecked and ruined him, but he can't imagine living any other way anymore.
That could be the midwestern guy looking at the view and considering going home and back to the slow, small twin life, or it also could mean he's the midwestern guy out on a high ledge thinking about jumping because the fast life has wrecked and ruined him, but he can't imagine living any other way anymore.
A very simple, yet effective song. There's not much debate about the subject matter as the lyrics are pretty much a straight narrative story - not a lot of euphemisms or puns to sort through or ponder.
I always liked this song as a kid, but did really understand it until I got older. As a native Californian, I can relate to the mystique of Hollywood and how different California can be from the Heartland (or just about anywhere else in the country).
I like the comment about how the young man ends up in limbo between two worlds, as I think this is very much the case. He is young and naive, still has the Midwest in his blood & his mindset, but has now seen a completely different world. He may return home, but his experience in California has changed him, thus, home will never seem quite the way it did before. Hence, "He spent all night staring down at the lights of LA, wondering if he could ever (figuratively) go home."
@Epiphany2000 I used to think these were pretty straightforward, and for the most part, they are.
@Epiphany2000 I used to think these were pretty straightforward, and for the most part, they are.
Lately I've been wondering about these, though:
Lately I've been wondering about these, though:
"He stood all night staring down at the lights of LA Wondering if he could ever go home."
"He stood all night staring down at the lights of LA Wondering if he could ever go home."
That could be the midwestern guy looking at the view and considering going home and back to the slow, small twin life, or it also could mean he's the midwestern guy out on a high ledge thinking about jumping because the fast life has wrecked and ruined him, but he can't imagine living any other way anymore.
That could be the midwestern guy looking at the view and considering going home and back to the slow, small twin life, or it also could mean he's the midwestern guy out on a high ledge thinking about jumping because the fast life has wrecked and ruined him, but he can't imagine living any other way anymore.