Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “California Slang” by Never Shout Never
California Slang by Never Shout Never is a song about a person’s attempt to escape the stresses of everyday life. The chorus of the song serves as a reminder of why the protagonist is on their journey of self-discovery in the first place. The lyrics ask the listener to go beyond the ordinary and “throw away your textbooks” and “put down your phone and see the real world.” The song encourages the listener to break away from the expectations of society and to embark on a journey of self-reflection and to find their own path. The narrator speaks of how their escape from the everyday requires them to “cock their head, ask themselves why, and forget the time.”
By speaking in the slang of California, the narrator emphasizes the feeling of being disconnected from home and the comfort of familiarity. The slang acts as a metaphor for the character’s exploration of unfamiliar paths outside of their comfort zone. The speaker is saying that the only way to truly experience life and become wise is to get away from these everyday trappings and to create their own way of life.
The song is ultimately about freeing oneself from the pressures of societal norms and the restraints of other people’s opinions. The chorus questions what life would be without the stress of being judged by others. It is a reminder to the listener to take responsibility for their own life and to leave behind the worry of what everyone else thinks. It urges the listener to find their own truth out on the open roads of California and to never let anyone limit the possibilities of their dreams.