CALIFORNIA – English Lyrics

• By: Jessie J

Lyrics & Translation

Learn expressive English through 'California,' a song that uses emotive, conversational vocabulary to describe feelings of transition and belonging. Its clear enunciation and storytelling structure make it an excellent resource for mastering emotional storytelling in English.

[English]

Said I wanna be somebody

Not someone who said they know somebody

You know I know, you know I know I got it

Man, his feet don't quit (feet don't quit)

I see the palm trees swayin'

Picture-perfect, that's the part they're playin'

But they ain't coughin' up the bills I'm payin'

So I'll stay on my shit (on my sh-)

I've been low on the highway (highway)

Higher than the aeroplane (aeroplane)

Dreams so big, burnin' hotter than the fireplace (fireplace)

Win some, lose some, at least I did it my way (my way)

Ride them ups and downs

In California (California, California)

Ride them ups and downs in California (California, California, California, California)

Ride them ups and downs

My skin be thick like diamonds

(2-4-7) 2-4-7, that sun be shinin'

Body all my life from the hills I'm climbin'

Ain't no magic tricks (magic tricks)

I've been low on the highway (highway)

Higher than the aeroplane (aeroplane)

Dreams so big, burnin' hotter than the fireplace (fireplace)

Win some, lose some, at least I did it my way (my way)

Ride them ups and downs

In California (California, California)

Ride them ups and downs in California (California, California, California, California)

Ride them ups and downs in California

(Ooh, ooh, California)

(Ooh, ooh, California)

(Ooh, ooh, California)

(Ooh, ooh, California)

California (California, California)

Ride them ups and downs in California (California, California)

Ride them ups and downs in California

Ooh, baby, in California, Cali-California

In California, Cali-California

Ride them ups and downs

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
somebody /ˈsʌmbədi/ A1	noun - a person who is important or successful
palm /pɑːm/ A2	noun - a tropical tree with a straight stem and large fan-shaped leaves
swayin' /ˈsweɪɪŋ/ B1	verb - moving slowly or rhythmically backwards and forwards or from side to side
picture-perfect /ˌpɪktʃər ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ B2	adjective - as perfect or beautiful as a picture
highway /ˈhaɪweɪ/ A2	noun - a main public road
aeroplane /ˈeərəpleɪn/ A1	noun - a powered flying vehicle with fixed wings
fireplace /ˈfaɪəpleɪs/ A2	noun - a place for a fire in a house
diamonds /ˈdaɪəməndz/ A1	noun - a precious stone consisting of a clear and colorless crystalline form of pure carbon
shinin' /ˈʃaɪnɪn/ A2	verb - to give out a bright light
climbin' /ˈklaɪmɪn/ A2	verb - to ascend or go up
magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ A2	noun - the use of mysterious or supernatural powers
burnin' /ˈbɜːrnɪn/ A2	verb - to be on fire or produce heat

Key Grammar Structures

• Said I wanna be somebody

  ➔ Informal contraction 'wanna' (want to)

  ➔ In casual speech, 'want to' is frequently contracted to "wanna".

• Not someone who said they know somebody

  ➔ Relative clause with 'who'

  ➔ The clause "who said they know somebody" acts as an adjective to describe "someone".

• But they ain't coughin' up the bills

  ➔ Use of 'ain't' as a negative auxiliary (are not)

  ➔ 'Ain't' is a colloquial substitute for "are not" or "is not".

• I've been low on the highway

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ "I've been" (I have been) describes an experience or state continuing up to the present.

• Higher than the aeroplane

  ➔ Comparative adjective

  ➔ Adding "-er" to "high" creates the comparative form to show a higher degree.

• At least I did it my way

  ➔ Simple Past Tense

  ➔ "Did" is the past tense of "do", indicating a completed action.

• My skin be thick like diamonds

  ➔ AAVE (African American Vernacular English) habitual 'be'

  ➔ Using "be" instead of "is" indicates a permanent state or trait.

• That sun be shinin'

  ➔ Present participle as part of the progressive aspect

  ➔ The "-in'" ending represents the present participle "shining", showing an ongoing action.