Love this song and the fact that Wilco has been closing shows with it on their Sky Blue Sky tour summer 2007. There isn't a lot of cryptic messaging here from Woody Guthrie. Although it is interesting to point out that since he wrote it, California Stars has lost its initial meaning: "California Stars" is actually a very complex pattern used in quiltmaking. So while the current manifestation ("California!!!" and everything that symbolizes in today's world) of the song is certainly warranted, keep in mind that Woody actually was making a much simpler point about the small things in life.
Love this song and the fact that Wilco has been closing shows with it on their Sky Blue Sky tour summer 2007. There isn't a lot of cryptic messaging here from Woody Guthrie. Although it is interesting to point out that since he wrote it, California Stars has lost its initial meaning: "California Stars" is actually a very complex pattern used in quiltmaking. So while the current manifestation ("California!!!" and everything that symbolizes in today's world) of the song is certainly warranted, keep in mind that Woody actually was making a much simpler point about the small things in life.