Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'" Quiz

Answer: Brown

The song commences:

"All the leaves are brown..."

From this information, we could assume that the weather may be cold. That, or there has been a fire through recently!

Answer: Gray

"All the leaves are brown
And the sky is gray"

Hmmm, I'm tending towards the cold theory again!

Answer: Walking

"I've been for a walk"

FussBudget's helpful hint: Don't go swimming in New York, people!

The song was originally written by the group and was intended to be given to Barry McGuire (of "Eve Of Destruction" fame) as he had helped the group secure a recording contract. Can you imagine that gravelly voice singing this beautiful melody?

In the end, it was Barry who to take a walk!

Answer: Winter

"I've been for a walk
On a winter's day"

Ah, the clues were all there. The leaves were brown, the sky was grey, and it is a winter's day.

Answer: Los Angeles

"I'd be safe and warm
If I was in L.A."

Certainly, compared to the setting of the song, New York, Los Angeles would be a tempting destination for one attracted to warmth.

Let me tell you, the author has been to Victorville, in the middle of the day no less, and it was coooolllldddd!

Answer: A church

"Stopped into a church
I passed along the way"

According to songfacts.com, a few days before the song was written, John and Michelle Phillips had visited St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, and this was the inspiration for the line in the song.

Answer: Knees

"I got down on my knees
And I pretend to pray"

Again, with songfacts.com, there is wild conjecture about these lines. Some contributors insist regarding the line "I pretend to pray", that the reason for pretending is "Because the singer is homeless and plans on spending the night in the church. He probably feels like he has a better chance of not getting kicked out if he appears pious".

Homeless? Who said the singer is homeless? Oh! This guy does: "I'd be SAFE and WARM", otherwise, why not be safe and warm at home?"

Answer: Because the weather will encourage the singer to stay

"You know the preacher likes the cold
He knows I'm gonna stay"

Back to songfacts.com! The same guy who thinks the singer is homeless also opines: "The preacher absolutely "lights the coals", because it is obviously cold and this guy is obviously going to spend the night".

Ooh! Obviously he's going to spend the night! I am not sure whether to laugh or cry! It's good fun writing justifications, sooner or later they can fit anything!

Yet another contributor to that site also supports the "lights the coals" theory, but he thinks that is a drug reference! So this guy has the preacher smoking dope!

If you have never looked at songfacts.com, check it out sometime. Have a good laugh and make yourself feel better by realising that you are not nearly as crazy as you may have previously thought. Take solace in the fact there are a lot of people ahead of you in the queue!

Answer: Today

"If I didn't tell her
I could leave today"

Well, I guess this is true. Also true is that you could tell her and still leave. I guess running away was the easier option?

I have always been intrigued by this part of the song, it contains a slightly darker inference than the rest of the lyrics. Does the singer want to leave on his own? Or is it simply a throwaway line?

Answer: Platoon

Yes! For the uninitiated, there IS a movie called "He Died with a Felafel in His Hand"! And yes, "California Dreamin'" does appear in it - twice.

During the movie, actor Noah Taylor attempts to master the chords on his guitar, and The Mamas and the Papas' version is played during the closing credits.