☝️ Key Points
- The song addresses the struggles and challenges of an aspiring artist who moves to California to pursue their dream.
- California is portrayed as a perfect place where the sun always shines, but the reality is much harsher, symbolized by 'it pours, man it pours'.
- The protagonist of the song ends up unemployed and poor, despite the initial hopes and dreams they had.
- The singer hides their difficulties and failures from people back home to avoid the image of the unsuccessful artist.
- The song reflects on the reality of the 'American Dream' and the challenges that come with pursuing big goals and dreams.
Interpretation
The song 'It Never Rains in Southern California' by
Albert Hammond is about the challenges and struggles of a young man who moves to California to pursue his dreams. The title and chorus of the song, 'Seems it never rains in southern California', is used metaphorically to paint the image of California as a place where the sun always shines and everything seems perfect. However, it quickly becomes clear that this is not the reality.
The singer sings about his journey westward and how he was lured by the prospect of 'TV breaks and movies'. These lines convey the idea that he moved to California to become a star, perhaps in the film or music industry.
However, when he sings 'But girls, don't they warn ya, it pours, man it pours', it becomes clear that his dreams were not as easy to achieve as he thought. 'It pours' is another weather metaphor used to describe tough times or difficulties. The singer describes how he's 'out of work' and 'out of bread', meaning he is unemployed and broke.
Finally, he asks that people back home don't find out how he's really doing. He doesn't want them to see how hard he's struggling and that he has failed. Overall, the song is a thoughtful reflection on the reality of the 'American Dream' and the challenges that come with pursuing big dreams.