Lecrae - California Dreamin Lyrics
Released: 19 Jul 2019
Lyrics
Intro: Lecrae
Zaytoven
Yeah
What up West Coast?
Verse 1: Lecrae
What up Southeast? (Daygo)
Raised me to be a lil' beast (Yeah)
Caught a couple fades in the streets (What?)
Played on the beach (Huh)
Playin' records with my Uncle Keith
I hit the fam all for the beats (Yeah)
I'm rollin' down Imperial (Imperial)
Old school in my stereo (Woo)
From Skyline, you don't hear me, though (Skyline)
I took a road trip to Long Beach, hit the wrong street
And they bang on you, but I'm good, I know Mozzy ("Where you from?")
Got a cousin off of Wilmington and El Segundo
Yeah, that's Compton, where it get hotter when the sun low
Visit greats down in South Bay (What up, Steve?)
Ate good, thank God for my people in the hood
I grew up in the '90s ('90s)
Peter Pan Ave., you could find me (Yeah)
Posted with my cousin right behind me (Huh)
Every single summer I was lookin' for the come up in that Southern California sun bright enough to blind me (Bling!)
California dreamin'
Pre-Chorus: John Givez
Where they throw hands in the back alley, ooh
Wakin' up police, yeah, that's how we do
Gotta stay up out the way, yeah
Young hitters outside everyday, yeah
Chin up, chest up, can't let 'em see you break down
Fiends on the corner, it's the Devil's playground
Beautiful, but dangerous
Prolly why they always out there dreamin', like
Chorus: John Givez
Cali dreamin'
Cali dreamin'
Cali dreamin'
Cali dreamin'
Verse 2: Lecrae
It was all a dream, Southern California's the real thing (West Coast)
That's when I saw some people turn into real fiends (Whoa)
Helicopters in the sky, put that light off in yo' eye
I was just a teen doin' my lil' thing (Yeah)
And Mexicanos got them hydros on the low-lows
They was so dope and I was sold on
Couldn't wait 'til I could roll on, ha (Woo)
I was doin' out there doin' dirt all by my lonesome (Lonesome)
Stealin' candy from the store, I'd let you hold some (Ayy, whatchu want, fool?)
Granny havin' Sunday service in the back room (Hallelujah)
I was runnin' from it, but I guess she prayed me back to Him (Yeah)
Palm trees, sea breeze, BCs, BGs to the OGs sippin' on a OE (OE)
H-Town made a screw-up (Screw-up)
And Cali showed me gang signs that I threw up (What up?)
The hood called me OG 'cause I blew up
It's all God if you knew the way I grew up (Yeah)
California dreamin'
Pre-Chorus: John Givez
Where they throw hands in the back alley, ooh
Wakin' up police, yeah, that's how we do
Gotta stay up out the way, yeah
Young hitters outside everyday, yeah
Chin up, chest up, can't let 'em see you break down
Fiends on the corner, it's the Devil's playground
Beautiful, but dangerous
Prolly why they always out there dreamin', like
Chorus: John Givez
Cali dreamin'
Cali dreamin'
Cali dreamin'
Cali dreamin'
Video
116 & Lecrae - California Dreamin feat. John Givez (Official Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on September 27, 2019, by 116 and Lecrae, "California Dreamin'" featuring John Givez arrives as a poignant exploration of aspiration and reality, particularly through the lens of faith in a culture often defined by fleeting success. This track isn't just background noise; it's an invitation to look deeper at the shiny veneer of worldly ambition and question what lies beneath. The "California Dreamin'" motif serves as a potent symbol for any pursuit of external validation, wealth, or fame, suggesting the popular narrative of finding paradise or ultimate satisfaction in a physical location or material achievement. However, the song subtly reveals the potential hollowness behind this pursuit, hinting at the internal struggle and disillusionment that can accompany reaching such goals if they are not grounded in something eternal. It speaks to the tension many feel between the outward appearance of success and the internal longing for true peace and belonging.
Musically, the song crafts an atmosphere that supports this introspective theme. The production feels both layered and reflective, creating a soundscape that complements the lyrical narrative. John Givez's contribution adds another dimension, his voice blending with Lecrae's to create a dialogue or perhaps different perspectives on the central theme. The rhythm and melody contribute to a mood that is both yearning and slightly melancholic, capturing the complex emotions tied to chasing an ideal that may ultimately disappoint. It’s a track designed to make you think, the sonic elements working in harmony with the words to stir a sense of contemplation about life’s true prizes.
The profound spiritual weight of "California Dreamin'" emerges as it implicitly contrasts the "dream" of the world with the enduring reality found in Christ. The pursuit of worldly success, symbolized by the California ideal, often aligns with the warnings found in Scripture about setting our hearts on earthly treasures. Matthew 6:19-21 tells us not to store up treasures on earth, where they are subject to decay and theft, but to store up treasures in heaven, for where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. This speaks directly to the fragile nature of dreams built on material foundations, suggesting that even if the "California Dream" is achieved, its value is ultimately perishable. The song echoes the sentiment of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon, having experienced ultimate worldly success, wisdom, and pleasure, declared much of it "vanity" or "meaningless, a chasing after the wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:11). The drive to attain a certain status or lifestyle, as depicted in the song, can lead to the same emptiness if it becomes the ultimate goal, lacking eternal significance.
Furthermore, the song's underlying questioning of whether the dream is worth the cost or if it truly satisfies points toward humanity's inherent longing for a true home and lasting security, which Scripture identifies as being found not on earth, but in relationship with God. Hebrews 11:13-16 speaks of faith as living like strangers and exiles on earth, looking for a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Philippians 3:20 reminds believers that their citizenship is in heaven, from which they await a Savior. The restless pursuit or eventual disillusionment portrayed in "California Dreamin'" can be interpreted as a reflection of this innate human condition – seeking permanence and fulfillment in temporary things, when true rest and belonging are promised in eternity with Christ. The song thus serves as a powerful, modern parable, using a widely understood cultural symbol to illuminate timeless biblical truths about the deceptive allure of worldly success and the enduring value of investing in what truly lasts, encouraging anyone grappling with ambition and purpose to consider where their true dreams should lie.