California dreaming

[Nefertiti]

Hi there.

"California Dreaming"
1. Does it mean the writer is dreaming about California so the fact is that he is not in California?
2. Is it OK to say, "Alberta dreaming" meaning I'm dreaming about Alberta?

"I passed along the way"
3. Does it mean 'I walked along the hallway'?

"You know the preacher likes the cold"
4. I wonder why the preacher likes the cold weather?

"If I didn't tell her, I could leave today."
5. What does the quote above mean? Is it a subjunctive mood?


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The Song California Dreaming lyrics - California Dreaming

[Anglika]

Originally Posted by Nefertiti

Hi there.

"California Dreaming"
1. Does it mean the writer is dreaming about California so the fact is that he is not in California? Yes - that is made clear with "If I was in LA".
2. Is it OK to say, "Alberta dreaming" meaning I'm dreaming about Alberta? You could - it wouldn't have the same emotional appeal.

"I passed along the way"
3. Does it mean 'I walked along the hallway'? I walked down the street.

"You know the preacher likes the cold"
4. I wonder why the preacher likes the cold weather? I think this is a line put in to fill a metrical need and to emphasise the singer's sense of longing for the warm climate of California.

"If I didn't tell her, I could leave today."
5. What does the quote above mean? Is it a subjunctive mood? I would be able to leave today if I didn't tell her I was going.


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The Song California Dreaming lyrics - California Dreaming

3.

[mykwyner]

1. Yes, the writer is dreaming about California because he is not there.

2. Sure, you could put any location in the title, but the lyrics might not make sense.

3. "[I] stopped into a church I passed along the way."

As I was walking, I saw a church and I stopped in there.

4. The writer assumes that the preacher likes the cold because he (the preacher) is living in a cold climate.

5. Here the assumption is that the writer has moved away from California to be with the woman he loves who lives somewhere cold. The writer is saying that if he could sneak away without saying goodbye to his girlfriend, he could move back to California; however, if he had to face her and tell her that he was leaving, he couldn't do it.

This is one of my favorite songs, you can find the lyrics here:California Dreamin' - Mamas and Papas Love Song Lyrics It was released in 1966

[goingtocalifornia]

"the writer is dreaming about California because he is not there."

...Made up my mind to make a new start, Going To California with an aching in my heart...
Led Zeppelin

Some people are dreaming, some are going.
Greetings for everyone in this thread.

[Nefertiti]

Hi, folks.

re 5. It is subjunctive.

Fact: He did tell his girlfriend. He did not leave. (Past Tense)

More grammatical structure: If I hadn't told her, I could've left today.

Another more grammatical structure in lyrics must be: If I were (not was) in LA.


Thanks for the great comments.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Nefertiti

Hi there.

"You know the preacher likes the cold"
4. I wonder why the preacher likes the cold weather?

Many people like cold weather, N. Now it's -20C, -30C with wind chill and I love it. It's been about like this all week; earlier in the week it was in the hi -20's with wind chill taking it to -mid 30's.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Nefertiti

Hi, folks.

re 5. It is subjunctive.

Fact: He did tell his girlfriend. He did not leave. (Past Tense)

More grammatical structure: If I hadn't told her, I could've left today.

From a reading of the lyrics, it's not clear if he has said anything to "her" or not. But ENLs do use the simple past sometimes where Standard English would expect the past perfect FORM.

Another more grammatical structure in lyrics must be: If I were (not was) in LA.


This isn't true, Nefertiti. The use of 'was' is exceedingly common as a substitute for the subjunctive 'were'. The subjunctive is a moribund form in English and every form that still exists has at least one other way to express it.

Thanks for the great comments.

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[Ouisch]

Originally Posted by mykwyner

This is one of my favorite songs, you can find the lyrics here:California Dreamin' - Mamas and Papas Love Song Lyrics It was released in 1966

Since you like this song, you might enjoy this.

[curmudgeon]

The preacher likes the cold because it makes people stay in church longer as it is warm in there

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by curmudgeon

The preacher likes the cold because it makes people stay in church longer as it is warm in there

I guess that's why I never had any time for it. The great outdoors is the best church goin'!