I Am California
John Craigie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴You tried to drown your sorrows
You shouldn't have taught them how to swim
And now you are right back where you began
Winter sky's approaching
all along in the wasteland
Alone is the only way
that they let you in
[Chorus] So drink all my wine
Cut all my trees
Make love on my beaches
Smoke all my weed
I am califonia
Can't you see
Wherever you roam
you'll always want me
We struggle with our lovers
Don't know what to let in
cause the new ones pay for the old ones sins
Blinded by your shadows
Feeding on your love
You don't know how deep you are
Till you get pulled back up
[Chorus]
[Chorus]
Yeah dig all my gold
Soak in my springs
Conquer my mountains
If that's what you need
I am califonia can't you see
Wherever you roam
You'll always want me
You'll always want me
You'll always want me
You'll always want me
You'll always want me
You'll always want me
You'll always want me
You'll always want me
You'll always want me
Overall Meaning
The song is a tribute to California, using personification to describe the state as a lover, with complexities and flaws that the singer is drawn to despite knowing the downside. The opening lines, "You tried to drown your sorrows, you shouldn't have taught them how to swim," suggest that the state has its struggles and has perhaps tried to turn to alcohol or other vices to deal with them, but instead of overcoming them, has simply learned to cope. The line "And now you are right back where you began" implies that this cycle of struggle and coping is perpetual.
The second verse explores the idea of struggling with past relationships and the difficulty of moving on. The line "Don't know what to let in cause the new ones pay for the old ones sins" reflects a common theme of baggage and emotional wounds being carried from one relationship to the next. The singer recognizes the depths of these struggles, acknowledging that "You don't know how deep you are till you get pulled back up." Despite this, the singer still feels drawn to the state, recognizing its beauty and allure.
The chorus repeats the singer's love for California, asking the listener to indulge in all that the state has to offer: "Drink all my wine, cut all my trees, make love on my beaches, smoke all my weed." While the lyrics paint a picture of a state that's both troubled and captivating, the main takeaway is that California is uniquely special and always on the singer's mind.
Line by Line Meaning
You tried to drown your sorrows
You attempted to forget your troubles and pain
You shouldn't have taught them how to swim
However, in doing so, you gave your troubles strength and resilience
And now you are right back where you began
As a result, you find yourself in the same place as before
Winter sky's approaching
The long, dark, and cold season is approaching
all along in the wasteland
You find yourself wandering through a desolate and barren landscape
Alone is the only way
Being isolated is the only way to be accepted
that they let you in
And to have access to California's desirable traits
So drink all my wine
Enjoy everything California has to offer, like its wine
Cut all my trees
Take advantage of the resources, even if it's at the expense of nature
Make love on my beaches
Enjoy the beautiful coastline and beaches
Smoke all my weed
Indulge in marijuana, which is legal in California
I am California
All these aforementioned traits and experiences belong to the iconic state of California
Can't you see
It's incredibly obvious and enticing
Wherever you roam
No matter where you go or what you do
you'll always want me
You'll always have a desire to return to California
We struggle with our lovers
Relationships can be challenging
Don't know what to let in
It's hard to know what to allow and give to your partner
cause the new ones pay for the old ones sins
Because current relationships are often tainted by the negatives of past experiences
Blinded by your shadows
Sometimes, we're blinded by our own flaws or inadequacies
Feeding on your love
We crave love from our partners and feed off of it
You don't know how deep you are
It's hard to realize how invested or ingrained we are in a relationship
Till you get pulled back up
Until something or someone pulls you out of it
Yeah dig all my gold
Explore and take advantage of California's wealth
Soak in my springs
Enjoy the mineral hot springs
Conquer my mountains
Brave the formidable mountain ranges
If that's what you need
If that's what it takes for you to find satisfaction or contentment
You'll always want me
California will always have a pull on you, no matter what you do or where you go.
You'll always want me
California will always have a pull on you, no matter what you do or where you go.
You'll always want me
California will always have a pull on you, no matter what you do or where you go.
You'll always want me
California will always have a pull on you, no matter what you do or where you go.
You'll always want me
California will always have a pull on you, no matter what you do or where you go.
You'll always want me
California will always have a pull on you, no matter what you do or where you go.
You'll always want me
California will always have a pull on you, no matter what you do or where you go.
You'll always want me
California will always have a pull on you, no matter what you do or where you go.
Contributed by Jordyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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