CALIFORNIA – English Lyrics

• By: Jessie J

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Jessie J's 'CALIFORNIA,' a vibrant pop-R&B track that beautifully captures the essence of chasing dreams and navigating life's challenges. Through its compelling lyrics and Jessie J's powerful vocals, you can explore expressions of resilience, self-belief, and the bittersweet reality behind a 'picture-perfect' facade. This song offers a unique opportunity to learn English vocabulary related to aspiration, perseverance, and emotional honesty, all while enjoying a catchy, soul-infused melody.

[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
California /ˌkæl.ɪˈfɔːr.njə/ A1	noun (proper) - a state on the west coast of the United States
highway /ˈhaɪ.weɪ/ B1	noun - a main road, especially one connecting cities
aeroplane /ˈeə.rə.pleɪn/ B2	noun - an aircraft that is heavier than air and propelled by engines
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun (plural) - experiences of images or thoughts during sleep; aspirations
fireplace /ˈfaɪəplaɪs/ B2	noun - a space for a fire, usually inside a house, for heating
ride /raɪd/ A2	verb - to travel on or be carried in a vehicle or animal
ups /ʌps/ B1	noun (plural) - increases, upward movements
downs /daʊnz/ B1	noun (plural) - decreases, downward movements
skin /skɪn/ A2	noun - the outer covering of a human or animal body
diamonds /ˈdaɪ.məndz/ B2	noun (plural) - precious stone made of carbon, often used in jewelry
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star at the center of the Solar System
hills /hɪlz/ A2	noun (plural) - naturally raised areas of land, lower than mountains
climb /klaɪm/ B1	verb - to go up or ascend, especially by using the hands and feet
magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ A2	noun - the use of supernatural powers to influence events
bills /bɪlz/ B1	noun (plural) - statements of money owed; invoices
stay /steɪ/ A2	verb - to remain in a particular place
quit /kwɪt/ B1	verb - to stop doing something; to give up
burnin' /ˈbɜːr.nɪŋ/ B1	verb (present participle) - to be on fire; to feel intense heat

Key Grammar Structures

• Said I wanna be somebody

  ➔ Informal contraction "wanna" = want to

  ➔ The verb "wanna" is a colloquial contraction of "want to". → "I **wanna** be"

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

  ➔ Negative contraction "ain't" = is/are not (non‑standard)

  ➔ "Ain't" replaces "is not" or "are not" in informal speech. → "they **ain't** coughin'"

• I've been low on the highway

  ➔ Present perfect continuous "have/has been + -ing"

  ➔ "I've been" = "I have been" indicating an action that started in the past and continues. → "**I've been** low"

• Higher than the aeroplane

  ➔ Comparative adjective + "than"

  ➔ "Higher" is the comparative form of "high" followed by "than" to compare two things. → "**Higher** than the aeroplane"

• Dreams so big, burnin' hotter than the fireplace

  ➔ "so + adjective + that" omitted (intensifier) and comparative "hotter than"

  ➔ "so" intensifies "big" and the clause "burnin' hotter than the fireplace" uses the comparative "hotter than". → "Dreams **so** big, burnin' **hotter** than the fireplace"

• at least I did it my way

  ➔ Idiomatic expression "my way" (possessive + noun) after verb "did"

  ➔ "my way" means "in the manner that belongs to me". → "I did it **my way**"

• I'll stay on my shit

  ➔ Future simple with modal "will" contracted to "'ll"

  ➔ "I'll" = "I will" expressing a future intention. → "**I'll** stay"

• my skin be thick like diamonds

  ➔ Zero‑copula / verbless clause common in informal/rap speech

  ➔ In informal rap, the verb "be" is often omitted. → "my skin **be** thick" (understood as "is")