# Songs about California
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 22, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440 "2013-04-22T23:03:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/1 "2013-04-22T23:03:49Z")
From “California Here I Come” to “Hotel California”, from “Do you know the way to San Jose?” to “L.A. Woman”, what songs specifically refer to the Golden State by name, city, county, landmark, or historical event?
The more diverse and/or obscure, the better–but be sure to post the obvious ones, too.
Thanks! 🙂
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/2 "2013-04-22T23:07:49Z")
Our state song, “I Love You California”: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjaSPPb81jQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjaSPPb81jQ)
“De Hamborger Veermaster” (aka "On the Banks of Sacramento): [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URLSS04p2ho](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URLSS04p2ho)
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### Author:  [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/3 "2013-04-22T23:10:52Z")
I think “California Dreaming” is one of the all-time greats.
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### Author:  [@Pops\_Negro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pops_Negro)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/4 "2013-04-22T23:11:08Z")
Eric Burdon’s _San Francisco Nights_ and Scott MacKenzie’s _If You’'re Going to San Francisco_ to name two of the best.
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### Author:  [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/5 "2013-04-22T23:11:28Z")
Led Zep, of course [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luDgb5vVHuA)
Everclear’s “Santa Monica” [Everclear - Santa Monica - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHLAAFIg7oM)
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/6 "2013-04-22T23:15:30Z")
[Ventura Highway](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5J54RVZjYs), America
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### Author:  [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/7 "2013-04-22T23:15:31Z")
“The Promised Land” by Chuck Berry
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/8 "2013-04-22T23:17:44Z")
Benny Goodman et al., with the greatest anthem to California’s most famous city: [Hooray for Hollywood](http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/277117/Hollywood-Hotel-Movie-Clip-Hooray-For-Hollywood-.html)
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### Author:  [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/9 "2013-04-22T23:17:51Z")
Ventura Highway by America.
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### Author:  [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/10 "2013-04-22T23:19:24Z")
Dead Kennedys _California Uber Alles_
The Beach Boys _Surfing USA_ name drops many California surf spots.
Sublime _April 29, 1992_ is about the 1992 Rodney King verdict riots.
The Move / Cheap Trick _California Man_
Hole _Malibu_
Randy Newman _I Love L.A._
The Kinks _Celluloid Heroes_ is about the Hollywood Blvd. walk of fame.
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### Author:  [@Pops\_Negro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pops_Negro)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/11 "2013-04-22T23:29:23Z")
_It Never Rains in California. . . ._
But girl don’t they warn ya? It pours, man. it pours!
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/12 "2013-04-22T23:43:16Z")
[Los Angeles](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUiZHt6sqg4) by _X_.
[Californication](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlUKcNNmywk) by RHCP.
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### Author:  [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/13 "2013-04-22T23:43:34Z")
Felix Figueroa: [Pico and Sepulveda](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D98BR1DYrkg)
The Rivieras: California Sun
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Lodi
…also by CCR: Porterville
John Mayall: California
Low hanging fruit: Beach Boys, California Girls
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### Author:  [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/14 "2013-04-22T23:45:45Z")
[Los Angeles, I’m Yours](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRHgf1LPIe0) by The Decemberists.
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### Author:  [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/15 "2013-04-22T23:47:17Z")
[California Love](http://youtu.be/uWbXQQG9B6c) not mentioned yet?!
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### Author:  [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/16 "2013-04-22T23:48:46Z")
Michelle Shocked’s _[I’ve Come a Long Way](http://www.myspace.com/video/michelle-shocked/michelle-shocked-come-a-long-way-michelleshocked-com/106484903)_ mentions a lot of spots in L.A. that don’t usually get mentioned.
Bad Religion’s _[Los Angeles is Burning](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxoD9zWY9Rg)_
Courtney Love’s _[Sunset Strip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy1A0MNn-to)_
Freddy Martin’s _[Pico & Sepulveda](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D98BR1DYrkg)_
You could make a huge list of songs just about L.A. … .
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### Author:  [@Seren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seren)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/17 "2013-04-22T23:50:57Z")
[California](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jet8J_aBxA0) by the Milk Carton Kids
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### Author:  [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/18 "2013-04-22T23:52:01Z")
[California](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q4foLKDlcE), by Joni Mitchell
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/19 "2013-04-22T23:52:44Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#):
>
> Felix Figueroa: [Pico and Sepulveda](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D98BR1DYrkg)
Love that song. But the guy missed out since Pico crosses Figueroa.
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### Author:  [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)
#### Post date: [April 22, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/20 "2013-04-22T23:53:31Z")
**This Land Is My Land** and **Do-Re-Mi** by Woody Guthrie.
And it seems to me that most of the songs by Tom Petty I’ve heard make a reference to California. I figure because it’s important to him that people know he’s from California.
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