All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
He knows I'm gonna stay (knows I'm gonna stay)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
If I didn't tell her (if I didn't tell her)
I could leave today (I could leave today)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
He knows I'm gonna stay (knows I'm gonna stay)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray)
I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)
On a winter's day (on a winter's day)
If I didn't tell her (if I didn't tell her)
I could leave today (I could leave today)
California dreamin' (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day (California dreamin')
On such a winter's day
Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit
California Dreamin' Lyrics as written by Michelle Gilliam Phillips John Edmund Andrew Phillips
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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But this song completely changed for me the day I was driving along with my 24 year old daughter and when the song came on the radio she told me how much the song meant to her.
You see, I live in southern California now and my daughter was born and raised here. She had just returned from a year in Afghanistan and she proceeded to tell me how the song spoke to her during her deployment.
It gave the line, "I'd be safe and warm, if I was in LA" a whole new meaning for me.
Glad she's safe.
Afgan wont be safe for yrs.
i personally like rain a lot and prefer cold to hot but hey thats just me.
I also think it's a metaphor for some other dreams . for love and fulfillment and success. "the preacher likes the cold" suggests this to me because a preacher is somebody who gives up the "sunshine" for the "cold" of self restraint and self denial.
To me, its has mostly a literal meaning - dreaming of socal in a cold, wintery place. This is quite true of those who grow up in socal (KVet's post reflects that). And it captures that feeling so well, that it applies here in Indiana today, as the snow flurries outside my window.
But perhaps there is a bit more. Notice the leanings toward deception. Is it possible that the socal lifestyle is that different from those in the seasonal areas that deception comes so easily? ("pretend to pray", "If I didn't tell her, I could leave today"). Don't take it too far, just a thought.
I adore this song. So simple yet sooo effective :)
All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk on a winters day
I'd be save and warm if I was in L.A.
California dreaming on such a winters day
- dreaming about getting away from where she is, thinking the grass is greener somewhere else
(parts are written by Michelle Phillips)
Stepped into a church I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees and I began to pray
You know the preacher likes the cold he knows I'm gonna stay
- since it's "cold" outside the preacher knows he/she will stay in there for a while
All the leaves a brown and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk on a winters day
If I didn't tell her I could leave today
- if he doesn't have to face her, he could leave, but he loves her too much so he has to stay and just keeps on dreaming about leaving
However, I think this song can be for anyone who is somewhere else and misses their hometown. L.A. natives like me, we're just able to take it literally, but I think it can be just as relevant to say, a Chicago transplant to Atlanta or wherever.
Me, I'm California Dreamin'...
This song is very catchy I'd have to say