# Songs about California **URL:** \ **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:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/21 "2013-04-22T23:56:04Z")
“Born in East LA” by Cheech Marin ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/22 "2013-04-22T23:56:09Z")
[All I Wanna Do](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dGGFpeQNfY), Sheryl Crow (a personal favorite). [Lullaby](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG9C0VwruXE), Shawn Mullins [So Long San Francisco](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9llv9IBzAvc), Glen Yarbrough ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/23 "2013-04-22T23:57:59Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Love that song. But the guy missed out since Pico crosses Figueroa. Pico crosses a lot of streets, including Sepulveda. I drive through Pico & Sepulveda every day. However, there’s not anything interesting at Pico & Sepulveda. I don’t think there’s ever been anything interesting there. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/24 "2013-04-22T23:58:46Z")
[I Remember California](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CD8QtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dr-QDmnIkw_c&ei=n811UYCLGaPa2AXc4YHoAQ&usg=AFQjCNED2BiWOK2X89R1LHJWfyJu7Gs4_g&sig2=gONIDdhGTfMj2lcZnQIsKA&bvm=bv.45512109,d.b2I) by R.E.M. [Sweet Home San Diego](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDMQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DzKQQelE9fVs&ei=Qs51UYqQFYem2gWMmYHoCg&usg=AFQjCNE-_FKwzcYH7bNGykDcBaAgRxwTHw&sig2=HPTiUxm5sZlwoH6d5s_htg&bvm=bv.45512109,d.b2I) by Sprung Monkey and … _Route 66_, by Bobby Troup (and many others) spends some of its time in California. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/25 "2013-04-23T00:00:16Z")
Valley Girl by Frank and Moon Unit Zappa I’d like to go with the Big Valley theme song, but there aren’t any words. I don’t know if it even has a title. ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/26 "2013-04-23T00:00:47Z")
Tom Lehrer’s [Hannukah in Santa Monica](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LslsgH3-UFU) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/27 "2013-04-23T00:01:18Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > …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! 🙂 **Creeque Alley** : …“And California Dreamin’ is becoming a reality” (as well as “McGuinn and McGuire just are catchin’ fire, in L.A. you know where that’s at.”) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/28 "2013-04-23T00:05:12Z")
**Streets of Bakersfield** : Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens **Kern River** : Merle Haggard ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/29 "2013-04-23T00:05:41Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Pico crosses a lot of streets, including Sepulveda. I drive through Pico & Sepulveda every day. > > However, there’s not anything interesting at Pico & Sepulveda. I don’t think there’s ever been anything interesting there. I meant it because the guys last name was Figueroa. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/30 "2013-04-23T00:07:48Z")
Wang Chung - [To Live and Die in L.A.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf4x36XKhsM) ---
**Author:** ![panaccione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/31 "2013-04-23T00:08:30Z")
[The only place](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJW00gx4wvE) by Best Coast ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/32 "2013-04-23T00:13:49Z")
Do You Know the Way to San Jose? I Left My Heart in San Francisco (The Streets of) Bakersfield (Buck Owens) The Little Old Lady from Pasadena Surfin’ USA and other surfing-era songs are replete with California-specific references (My Darling) Clementine ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/33 "2013-04-23T00:16:38Z")
Exquisitely Bored – Pete Townshend \*I take a drive up to L.A. In my gas guzzling limousine There’s a whole lot of crazy people up there Living out a life in sweet ennui Exquisitely bored in California We take our trouble to the crest Exquisitely bored in California Exquisitely bored, Just like all the rest\* ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/34 "2013-04-23T00:18:50Z")
[I Left My Heart in San Francisco](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ZkMUv3_5U) [San Francisco](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvK_gD3ulaw) [San Francisco Bay Blues](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4KfO4ewwjo) [Sitting on the Dock of the Bay](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCmUhYSr-e4) [Valley Girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-LArv-sEQU) [Hollywood Swinging](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD-VvbGa8H4) [Hooray for Hollywood](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9N8aHgCrQs) [Streets of Bakersfield](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=holBS44V5gU) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/35 "2013-04-23T00:24:19Z")
From Counting Crows, there’s [A Long December](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D5PtyrewSs) and [Come Around](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD4YWZpic1w). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/36 "2013-04-23T00:30:48Z")
_Midnight Train to Georgia_, Gladys Knight (“L.A. proved to be too much for the man. . .”) _Please Come to Boston_, Dave Loggins > [@](#): > > Please come to LA to live forever > California life alone is just too hard to build > I live in a house that looks out over the ocean > And there’s some stars that fell from the sky > Livin’ up on the hill > Please come to LA > She just said “no, Boy, won’t you come home to me” _This Land Is Your Land_, Woody Guthrie _Oh My Darling Clementine_, Percy Montrose (mentions 49ers: hey, you said obscure) _Oh! Susanna_, Stephen Foster (I’m bound for California with my banjo on my knee) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/37 "2013-04-23T00:32:32Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > [California Love](http://youtu.be/uWbXQQG9B6c) not mentioned yet?! My favorite cover: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OfCLzOIiCvI/hqdefault.jpg "California Love (South Park Version) w/ lyrics") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfCLzOIiCvI) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/38 "2013-04-23T00:33:30Z")
[California](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwaqK84CoE4) by Debby Boone. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/39 "2013-04-23T00:34:03Z")
Tom Petty’s [Free Fallin’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lWJXDG2i0A) and [Into the Great Wide Open](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqmFxgEGKH0) both take place in and around LA. And there’s Bob Seger’s [Hollywood Nights](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H0ma6BQa-w) ---
**Author:** ![Marlonius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Marlonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlonius)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440/40 "2013-04-23T00:41:39Z")
Neil Diamond - “I am, I said” [Neil Diamond "I Am... I Said" - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhEaHcQgyLs) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-california/656440.md?page=3)