About The Song

Albert Hammond’s “It Never Rains in Southern California” is a song about the idealized version of Southern California as a sunny paradise. The song’s narrator describes the beautiful weather, the palm trees, and the beaches, and sings about how he loves living in a place where it never rains.

However, the song also has a bittersweet undertone. The narrator sings about how he misses his friends and family back home, and how he sometimes feels lonely in Southern California. He also sings about how he knows that the idealized version of Southern California is not always true, and that there is also poverty and crime in the city.

Despite its bittersweet undertone, “It Never Rains in Southern California” is a popular song that has been covered by many artists, including Elvis Costello and The Beach Boys. The song is a reminder of the power of music to evoke both joy and sadness, and to capture the complex emotions of human experience.

Video

Lyrics

Got on board a westbound seven forty seven
Didn’t think before deciding what to do
Ooh, that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies
Rang true, sure rang true

Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I’ve often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn ya
It pours, man it pours

Out of work, I’m out of my head
Out of self respect, I’m out of bread
I’m underloved, I’m underfed, I wanna go home
It never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn ya
It pours, man it pours

Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I’ve often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn ya
It pours, man it pours

Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it
Had offers but don’t know which one to take
Please don’t tell ’em how you found me
Don’t tell ’em how you found me
Gimme a break, give me a break

Seems it never rains in southern California
Seems I’ve often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California, but girl don’t they warn ya
It pours, man it pours