“Lorde – California Lyrics”
[Verse 1]
Once upon a time in Hollywood
When Carol called my name
I stood up, the room exploded, and I
Knew that’s it, I’ll never be the same
That’s when the doors swung open
And the voice said, “We’re glad you came”
Now I’ve spent thousands on you, darling
Oh, the hotels and the jets and I’d pay it all again
To have your golden body back in my bed
But I don’t miss the poison arrows aimed directly at my head
[Pre-Chorus]
Goodbye to all the bottles, all the models
Back to the clouds in the skiеs in a whole new way
[Chorus]
Don’t want that California love
Don’t want that California lovе
Don’t want that California love
[Verse 2]
Oh, once upon a time the Canyon store
Was where my world began
All that mystery and beauty gleaned from desert flowers and gifted children
But it got hard to grow up with your cool hand around my neck
Now in my hometown, sunbathing
My girlfriends and my baby
But every time I smell tequila
God, it goes up in my mind again
[Pre-Chorus]
Goodbye to all the bottles, all the models
Back to the kids in the lines for the new Supreme
[Chorus]
Don’t want that California love
Don’t want that California love
Don’t want that California love
Don’t want that California love
Don’t want that California love
[Outro]
(Hmm) It’s just a dream
(Hmm) It’s just a dream
(Hmm) Said it’s just a dream
(Hmm) I wanna wake up, I wanna wake up
California and LA are places I have a huge amount of affection for. I find it really alluring and mystical and kind of dreamy, but it also totally freaks me out.
It isn’t where I am supposed to be right now, so I’ve tapped out. I’ve been listening to a lot of The Mamas & The Papas, so that was a melodic reference.
There’s kind of an eeriness to this song, and a lot of people have tried to get at that when capturing LA in movies and in music. I love the line about the kids in the line for “the new Supreme.”
It’s a classic me thing to say something that is modern, but could sound classic.