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Songs About California


DrCowbell

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Hollywood Nights! Good one!

I had forgotten how much I loved "Santa Monica" when it first came out.

(By the way I am totally ignoring the fact that most of these songs share the whole "Going to California for a better life to chase my dreams and wind up fasiling miserably and becoming jaded in the process" storyline.)

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  • 1 year later...

Then there's always Don McLean's. "Magdalene Lane".

The angels are lost in the city of stars

the wise men are down on their knees.

And the fruitman of freeway will sell you his cars

when he's sure that you can't find the keys.

And the ladies on Magdalene lane

all worship the sun and the sand.

And the migrants who come can't complain

for this is their promised land.

La la la la la la la la la,

la la la la la la la.

La la la la la la la la la,

la la la la la la la.

MGM studios can't make the nut

they're auctioning Dorothy's shoes.

Gable is gone, the good witch is a slut

and I've got the parking lot blues.

The wizard brought benzadrine smiles

and he never let Dorothy doze.

She died as she walked down the aisle

and all that remains is her clothes.

Over the rainbow a Kansas tornado

can twist up a little girl´s head.

Aunt Em's on relief and the tinman's a thief

and even the wizard can't wake the dead.

La la la la la la la la la,

la la la la la la la.

The prophet has come to this kingdom of lights

but there's no one to listen or learn.

And the savior performs for the prophet's delight

while dissenters are banished or burned.

And the heretics beg to be heard

but the savior's on tour for the week.

Salvation is found in his word

if only he'd learn how to speak.

And Lincoln is laughing with Amos 'n' Andy

concerning the Great Civil War.

And Paul Revere sleeps with the worst looking creeps

while revolution's knocking at his door.

La la la la la la la la la,

la la la la la la la.

Magdalene Lane is the red light domain

where everyone's soul is for sale.

A piece of your heart will do for a start

but you can send us the rest in the mail.

For we have our own families to feed

and we can't let them starve just for you.

Well, we'd rather not watch while you bleed

so come back in an hour when you're through.

It's just another city full of sorrow,

it makes no difference why I came.

I only know I'm leaving here tomorrow

and only the motel man knows my name.

My, my...someone's awfully bitter isn't he?

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You're right SoulGirl; this very question has been asked before (and for much the same reason, as I recall). It was quite soon after I arrived here. I remember recommending "California Uber Alles" by the Dead Kennedys, but also an excellent cover of it by The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. Also I may have mentioned Ritual Tension's splendid cover of "Hotel California", which I sadly no longer possess, since some twat nicked it many years ago.

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This list is from Trees Lounge, which compiled lists of songs about all 50 states.

Billy Bragg and Wilco - California Stars

Low - California

2Pac and Dr Dre - California Love

The Decemberists - Los Angeles, I'm Yours

Arctic Monkeys - Fake Tales of San Francisco

Tom Waits - California Here I Come

Beulah - Gene Autry

Arlo Guthrie - Coming into Los Angeles

Neko Case - In California

Mason Jennings - California Pt 2

The Magnetic Fields - Come Back from San Francisco

Elliott Smith - Angeles

Death Cab for Cutie - Gridlock Caravans

Death Cab for Cutie - Why You'd Want to Live Here

Atmosphere - Los Angeles

Gypsy Kings - Hotel California

Led Zeppelin - Going to California

Bad Religion - Los Angeles is Burning

Dead Kennedys - California Uber Alles

Frank Black - Los Angeles

John Lennon - San Francisco Bay Blues

Kings of Leon - California Waiting

Mamas and the Papas - California Dreamin'

Roy Orbison - California Blue

Rufus Wainwright - California

Ryan Adams - My California Love

Ryan Adams - California

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SoulGirl,

Here are a few songs that haven't been suggested yet:

"Say Goodbye To Hollywood" ~ Billy Joel

"Country Boy (You Got Your Feet In L.A.)" ~ Glen Campbell

"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" ~ Green Day

"Heads Carolina, Tails California" ~ Jo Dee Messina

"(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" ~ Otis Redding

"Fallen Angel" ~ Poison

"Into The Great Wide Open" ~ Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

"Beverly Hills" ~ Weezer

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