The Mamas and Papas: California Dreamin' Meaning

Song Released: 1965

Covered By: Hollywood Undead (2017)

California Dreamin' Lyrics

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
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...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Nov 2nd 2018 !⃝

   This story could have taken place anywhere: New York, Washington, D.C. or in the mid-west of the United States; or even in a European city. A native Californian man has been lured by the quickened love and infatuation, and what he thought to be the love of a woman who vacationed in Los Angeles California. Quickly he decides he cannot live without her and wants to continue his life with her, and he follows her to her home, hoping to build a beautiful and loving life together. And although he believes it is real he learns that she is not what he thought she was. The dreams of love begins to fade as he realizes things are not as he hoped they would be and the love bubble bursts, though he is still very much in love with this woman.
   
   He finds the need to take a walk to collect his thoughts. The winter afternoon is cool and brisk. The winter's day is filled with gray skies. He notices that everything is dead in all of the green leaves are now brown and blowing in the wind. He stops in a Church to warm up and in order not to be thrown out he pretends to pray. But the Preacher knows better and that he is going to stay a while to get warm.
   
   The warmth of the Church brings to mind the warmth of the California sun and home. He thinks about how his life has been since leaving California. Dreams of being in the safe comforting bosom of his home in Los Angeles would be so much better for him as opposed to this dark, cold and unfriendly city. Thinking about a resolution to his dilemma and predicament he considers taking what he has and leaving without telling his woman. But it is only a day dream of going home because he cannot leave, he has obligations and he deeply loves his woman. Continuing his brisk walk he comes out of his day dream and he stays.
2. anonymous

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   Oct 17th 2020 !⃝

   The protagonist is miserable, both in the dreadfully cold place he is living as well as his relationship. “I’d be SAFE and warm if I was in L.A.” indicates he is in some sort of danger. He stops into a church to warm up, pretending to pray, perhaps fearing he might have to leave otherwise. The preacher is like the cold, ( not very friendly, maybe?) but he does let the guy stay. Finally, we hear the singer apparently lament something he told “her” which has given her power over him. If only he hadn’t told her he could leave today.
3. anonymous

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   Sep 9th 2020 !⃝

   It was/is about Gold Prospecting.... And the prospectors life within the winter... Read this up on a whole manifesto of their lives... Interesting to say the least..
4. anonymous

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   Aug 31st 2020 !⃝

   It’s just about dreaming of warm California when you’re freezing your ass off in New England in wintertime lol. That’s all.
5. anonymous

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   Feb 8th 2020 !⃝

   He’s dreaming in California
6. anonymous

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   Feb 7th 2019 !⃝

   Its all about the fun times of California and them having fun most of the time. Sometimes its bad sometimes its good,
7. anonymous

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   Nov 2nd 2018 !⃝

   Is this the song I call Hotel CALIFORNIA? My interpretation of Hotel California is that it is Hell. Altho the writers have stated they didn't mean that when they wrote it if u listen carefully to the words it is about how people can get lured in but once there they can't get out. They can stab the beast but he never dies ..etc
8. Hay_Hay91

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   Mar 26th 2018 !⃝

   People Dream of going to LA (Hollywood) thus the name of the song "California Dreaming". The song is about the lifestyles one faces while in the music industry. It's also about how the fast paced lifestyle, if you choose to live it, can and will chew you up and spit you out. That's what I get from this song.
9. Hay_Hay91

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   Mar 26th 2018 !⃝

   What I get from this song is People love dreaming about going to Hollywood thus the name "California Dreaming". it's talking about the lifestyle of the music industry in LA (Hollywood) and about how that type of fast paced lifestyle can chew you up and then spit you out. I mean I could be wrong, but that's what I'm getting from this song.
10. anonymous

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    Feb 13th 2018 !⃝

    This song explains how the artist feels he is nothing and is only dreaming of being a star. It also explains how other people try to stop the artist from dreaming, and have hurt him many times and still think they are good people.
11. anonymous

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    Oct 21st 2017 !⃝

    Id like to think it is about a revolt against the system but i very much doubt it although HU is one pf those bends that doesnt recpect the law and had in the past some of the songs that talk about the problems in the world

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
12. anonymous

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    Sep 9th 2017 !⃝

    It's basically Been To Hell pt. 2 if you actually watch the video you can tell that it takes place in California and they have protesters and if you look Shady Fizz smokes crack too but there is a video on YouTube about the meaning of it

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