Introduction
“It Never Rains In Southern California” is a song by Albert Hammond, a British singer-songwriter. The song was released in 1972 and became a massive hit in the United States. The song is about the struggles of a person who moves to California to become a star but eventually realizes that success is not easy to achieve.
Verse 1
Got on a board a westbound seven forty-seven, didn’t think before deciding what to do,
All that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies,
Rang true, sure rang true.
The first verse of the song talks about the protagonist’s decision to move to California to pursue his dreams. He takes a flight to California and is full of hope and optimism. He believes that all the opportunities that he has heard about will come true for him.
Chorus
It never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn ya,
It pours, man, it pours.
The chorus of the song talks about the irony of the situation. California is known for its sunshine and warm weather, but the protagonist realizes that it can rain heavily in California too. The metaphorical rain is a symbol of the difficulties and challenges that he faces in his pursuit of success.
Verse 2
Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?
Had offers but didn’t know which one to take,
Please don’t tell them how you found me,
Don’t tell them how you found me,
Give me a break, give me a break.
The second verse talks about the protagonist’s disappointment and frustration. He has had some offers, but he doesn’t know which one to take. He doesn’t want to disappoint his family and friends back home, who are rooting for his success. He asks for a break, a chance to figure things out.
Chorus
It never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn ya,
It pours, man, it pours.
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the irony of the situation.
Verse 3
Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?
I had offers but didn’t know which one to take,
Please don’t tell them how you found me,
Don’t tell them how you found me,
Give me a break, give me a break.
The third verse is the same as the second, with some minor variations.
Chorus
It never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn ya,
It pours, man, it pours.
The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the metaphorical rain and the difficulties that the protagonist faces.
Bridge
Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?
I had offers but didn’t know which one to take,
Please don’t tell them how you found me,
Don’t tell them how you found me,
Give me a break, give me a break.
The bridge is the same as the second and third verses.
Chorus
It never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn ya,
It pours, man, it pours.
The chorus repeats for the final time, bringing the song to a close.
Conclusion
“It Never Rains In Southern California” is a poignant song about the struggles of pursuing one’s dreams. The metaphorical rain in the song represents the difficulties and challenges that one faces in life. The song’s popularity endures to this day, and it continues to inspire people to pursue their dreams despite the obstacles in their way.
