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oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
this girl wore drug rags and baggy sweaters
tight neon tights, t-shirts and big letters
back at her house
was an Irish setter
with a heart shaped tag
hanging off its collar
through half the towns of arizona
i dream the dreams i have when i'm older
near palm springs we were struck by boulders
cause they look like skull and bones
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
questions i had
as i went through this
are her parents actually buddhist?
is the pool below me the bluest?
is the tv on?
through half the taquerias y fondas
half the health clubs, half of the saunas
half the barras, half of the rondas
is there something there?
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
this girl was smarter than television scripts
this girl wasn't damaged her jeans were just ripped
this girl was the girl that the girls in your world thought about
when the night was cold
how many towns have they've claimed that they know you
how many nations think that they own you
how many simple maps think the same sun don't shine on the sunglasses now
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
this girl wore drug rags and baggy sweaters
tight neon tights, t-shirts and big letters
back at her house
was an Irish setter
with a heart shaped tag
hanging off its collar
through half the towns of arizona
i dream the dreams i have when i'm older
near palm springs we were struck by boulders
cause they look like skull and bones
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
questions i had
as i went through this
are her parents actually buddhist?
is the pool below me the bluest?
is the tv on?
through half the taquerias y fondas
half the health clubs, half of the saunas
half the barras, half of the rondas
is there something there?
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
this girl was smarter than television scripts
this girl wasn't damaged her jeans were just ripped
this girl was the girl that the girls in your world thought about
when the night was cold
how many towns have they've claimed that they know you
how many nations think that they own you
how many simple maps think the same sun don't shine on the sunglasses now
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
Lyrics submitted by secondary spine, edited by calc446
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how many times they've claimed that they know you
(i like people's reference to the paparazzi here, but i think it means how many THINK they know california? people think they will see hollywood stars walking around anywhere. people think that if they visit California they will find someone shooting a movie. people think they can see parazzi in the streets. people think many things and in reality, only a true California resident knows that most of these generalizations aren't true, Most people don't know the REAL kickback feel that california really is)
how many nations think that they own you
(again, when visiting Los Angeles, you will find Little Tokyo, Little Armenia, Chinatown, Little Brazil, and many other ethnic neighborhoods. All these ethnic groups have gangs and groups of people that claim to know the "real california lifestyle". Take, for example, the "Cholo" subculture that believe the real califonia lifestyle is smoking weed, riding lowriders and cruising around with their friends. Or the Long Beach feel that says people should just kickback and relax and not worry about showing up late to work. Or take, as another example, Jeffrey Ross and other Jewish comedians that say "jews run hollywood". EVERYONE WANTS TO OWN CALIFORNIA>>how many nations THINK they own you
how many simple maps think the same sun don't shine on the sunglasses now
(this is referring to the "california sun". although we do have the best weather here, we must remember that the sun shines for everyone! and just because the weather is nice, doesn't mean it's the only place where you can have the same lifestyle. I also think it's talking about how most california residents are really proud and are really spirited about california that sometimes they are blinded by the reality that california is just another place to live.. it's not utopia or anything like that)
Here is what I think:
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
this girl's wardrobe's
wrapped in baggy sweaters
tight neon tights, t-shirts and big letters
(He is describing the heroine of the story. Average girl from the 80's. Perhaps a girl he liked.)
back at her house
was an Irish setter
with a heart shaped tag
hanging off its collar
(Again, just an average girl)
through half the towns of arizona
i dream the dreams i have when i hold her
near palm springs we were struck by boulders
cause they look like skull in bones
(Pretty much just description of their time together. But then she moved away to California)
oh california oh california oh california oh
oh california oh california oh california oh
questions i had
as i went through this
are our parents actually buddhist?
is the pool below me the bluest?
is the tv on?
(perhaps a POV change. The girl got famous in California. Shallow thoughts like is my pool the bluest become important to this girl. In Hollywood today, we see trendy changes in religion in celebs. She is questioning if her parents are really buhdist or just trendy.)
through half the taquerias y fondas
half the health clubs, half of the saunas
half the bares, half of the rondas
is there something there?
(again, trendy things. She is still questioning if they are really important or just stupid trendy things.)
this girl was smarter than television scripts
this girl wasn't damaged her jeans were just ripped
"this girl was the girl that the girls in your world thought about"
when the night was cold
(POV change back to the boy. He sees her now being stupid and trendy, and typical Hollywood celeb. He knew her before this and knows how smart she is, but she is giving into Hollywood. He can see is a mess. But he knows she’s still herself, its just her appearance…ie. Ripped jeans)
how many times they've claimed that they know you
how many nations think that they own you
how many simple maps think the same sun don't shine on the sunglasses now
(Gossip magazines and critics talk like they know the celebrities. Nations dispute over where the celebrity actually came from. Like many young kids today think the beetles were American, when in fact, they’re from the UK. I can’t figure out the last line.)
But I mean the beginning is like the life in Arizona. Or maybe in the 80's ('tight neon tights', "big letters") when this girl
he's with was growing up. Nice, you know. With happy little things like a dog. Things he's dreamed of. Then they're
going to California where they see a skull and bones which is symbolic of the negativity or foreshadows what's to come of California.
Then comes the whole sham of California controlled by the tv. You have to question everything because
it's all a big trend (buddhist) and a competition (pool the bluest).
Then just the basic culture of California and asking if there's actually anything to it.
Then I get the feeling of reality shows. How this nice girl was pulled into some sort of show but she was smarter
than the whole idea and wasn't changed but appeared to be (the whole jeans thing).
And then you know how when people watch you on tv they think they know you but really reality tv is a con and
people have this fixed idea about california and this girl and try hard to imitate it (with the shades?) and believe it's just not the same world.
I don't know. This song is hard to understand. Took a stab.
if anyone cares to listen to a recording of this song by me check it out.
purevolume.com/hakarat
cause they look like skull in bones -> skull and bones.
"Skull in bones" doesn't really make sense. Near Palm Springs means in the desert, which probably typically has skulls and bones lying around. Als "Skull and Bones" is a secret society at Yale, so it would fit with VW's Ivy League vibe.
this girl wasn't damaged her jeans were just ripped
"this girl was the girl that the girls in your world thought about"
when the night was cold
anyone else hear it that way? makes sense.
This girl's wardrobe's wrapped in baggy sweaters.