# Songs set in Los Angeles **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2010, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802 "2010-08-10T07:44:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/61 "2010-08-12T16:08:11Z")
I can’t believe I only just now thought of Lindsey Buckingham’s “That’s How We Do It In L.A.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/62 "2010-08-12T19:01:19Z")
> [@](#): > > L.A. is a great big freeway. > Put a hundred down and buy a car. > In a week, maybe two, they’ll make you a star > Weeks turn into years. How quick they pass > And all the stars that never were > Are parking cars and pumping gas “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/63 "2010-08-12T19:44:11Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Neil Young’s, well, [L.A.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB9pf_paEZg) Or even Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold:” > [@](#): > > I’ve been to Hollywood, > I’ve been to Redwood. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/64 "2010-08-12T19:54:42Z")
Red Hot Chili Peppers - _Under the Bridge_ a song about recovering from drug addiction in Los Angeles Jane’s Addition - _Jane Says_ is, I think, set in Los Angeles, but not so you’d notice much. A whole slew of Tom Waits songs, and Warren Zevon songs. The ones mentioned in the thread all work. But, taking Tom Waits as an example the entire album Nighthawks at the Diner takes place in Los Angeles and mentions places like The Burrito King that were sort of LA institutions back in the day, but aren’t so much any more. (Burrito King is still awesome though). ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/65 "2010-08-12T20:30:54Z")
Lyle Lovett’s “Lights of L.A. County.” “… And the lights of L.A. County / They look like diamonds in the sky / When you’re driving through the hours / With an old friend at your side …” ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/66 "2010-08-12T22:07:30Z")
There’s a surprising number of these from the country shelf; Dwight Yoakam’s _I Sang Dixie_ is another: _Way down yonder in the land of cotton Old times there ain’t near as rotten As they are On this damned old L.A. street._ ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/67 "2010-08-12T22:17:07Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > … > “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” San Jose is about 350 miles from LA, though. Or I’m being wooshed. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/68 "2010-08-13T02:17:02Z")
“Blue Jay Way” — Beatles ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/69 "2010-08-13T02:30:29Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > > … > > “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” > > San Jose is about 350 miles from LA, though. Or I’m being wooshed. Do a lyric search. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/70 "2010-08-13T02:52:23Z")
The 1971 hit for Susan Raye, [L.A. International Airport](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.A._International_Airport). According to Wikipedia it was proclaimed as the official song of LAX. What do you know - it’s on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj8f30Iguw0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj8f30Iguw0) ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/71 "2010-08-13T03:44:51Z")
Oh, I forgot Gram Parsons’ “Sin City”… > [@](#): > > This old earthquake’s gonna keep me in the poorhouse. > It seems like this whole town’s insane. > On the thirty-first floor > A gold plated door > Won’t keep out the Lord’s burning rain. ---
**Author:** ![Flip\_Pancake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f1d935/32.png) [@Flip\_Pancake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flip_Pancake)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/72 "2010-08-13T03:48:23Z")
[Come a Long Way](http://www.michelleshocked.com/chords_come_a_long_way.htm), by [Michelle Shocked](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cJZyjF9PlQ) [Out of L.A](http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/J/judelyrics/judeoutoflalyrics.htm) and [Prophet](http://www.mp3lyrics.org/j/jude/prophet/), by [Jude Christodal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsoQ5YJOCQk) (Also, a nice set of videos of his LA tour [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcqsbq1xxgU)) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/73 "2010-08-13T04:02:34Z")
[Carmelita](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugRKsG2zzZ4&feature=related) - Dwight Yoakam Mentions Echo Park and the Pioneer Chicken stand on Alvarado Street. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/74 "2010-08-13T04:04:50Z")
That’s Warren Zevon’s song, already mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/75 "2010-08-13T04:12:03Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > A whole slew of Tom Waits songs _If you want a taste of madness you’ll have to wait in line you’ll probably see someone you know on Heartattack and Vine._ ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/76 "2010-08-13T05:07:37Z")
> [@Simmerdown](#): > > How about Zappa’s _Valley Girl_? I think the San Fernando Valley could be considered a part of the greater Los Angeles area, no? As no one has addressed this, let the record now show that not only is the Valley indisputably part of the greater Los Angeles area, most of it falls within L.A. city limits, and most of the territory of the city is within the Valley. Confusion may arise because many parts of the Valley have well-established names that many residents are more likely to cite as their addresses than Los Angeles: e.g., Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Studio City, etc. Also, many residents feel ill-served by the city government and their have been serious attempts to break away. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/77 "2010-08-13T06:00:08Z")
My search of the thread didn’t show this result: [So L.A. by the Motels](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbmrZCbnBYQ). Still a favorite of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/78 "2010-08-13T06:23:23Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > “To Live And Die In L.A.” by Wang Chung (from the movie). I haven’t heard of that one, but there’s also “To Live and Die in L.A.” by 2pac. I assumed someone would have mentioned that by now, but I haven’t seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/79 "2010-08-13T07:00:21Z")
**Songs set in Los Angeles** Aw, they all suck. But [here’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfizSraPQNU&feature=related) a great one about Alabama! ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2010, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/80 "2010-08-13T07:33:01Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > …the Valley indisputably part of the greater Los Angeles area, most of it falls within L.A. city limits… Of course, and that’s why “Free Fallin’” is about L.A. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802.md?page=5)