Everclear: Santa Monica Meaning

Song Released: 1995

Santa Monica Lyrics

I am still living with your ghost
Lonely and dreaming of the west coast
I don’t want to be your downtime
I don’t want to be your stupid game

With my big black boots and an old suitcase
I do believe I’ll find myself a new place
I don’t...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   May 9th 2010 !⃝

   It's about being in a relationship that's somewhat one sided. The girl isn't as serious about him as he would like. ("I don't want to be your downtime/I don't want to be your stupid game---I don't want to be you good time/I don't want to be your fall back crutch anymore/I don't want to play your stupid games")
   He wants to say F-it all and leave ("With my big black boots and an old suitcase/I do believe I'll find myself a new place")
   He wants to get away to see some sunshine and palm trees.
   
   In the chorus he is dreaming about the way things could be in the relationship. They could have each other and that's all that really matters. They could swim out past the breakers (crashing waves) and watch the world go down the sh*#ter. That's my interpretation. A songs meaning is unique to each, based on their life experiences and their current mood. I'm really feeling this song right now.

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   Surfer_Coyote

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   Oct 12th 2007 !⃝

   I actually think this song hints at an incident in Art Alexakis' life where he was suicidal and jumped off the Santa Monica Pier. He was high at the time and tried to weigh himself down. While he was struggling, he saw a vision of his dead brother who convinced him to live.
3. anonymous

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   Aug 28th 2020 !⃝

   Freedom from abuse. Starting a new life away from the abusers. Letting go of the pain from past mistakes and moving on to a better place.
   
   
   
   
4. Reymantic1977

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   Jun 11th 2011 !⃝

   Songs almost always have a duality in meaning. One which is the literal and the second a more artistic figurative meaning which can be deciphered using symbolism or literary terms.
   
   I believe this songs symbolic meaning has to do with the singers battle with alcoholism. Santa Monica is one of the havens for rehab especially for celebrities.In addition, 12 step programs in Santa Monica are some of the highest per capita of any city in America. Knowing from experience, I noticed that the AA programs in Santa Monica are different then in other cities. It seems as if many people go there more for the social aspect then the therapeutic aspect.
   
   In terms of references to his alcoholism the line "I don't want to be the bad guy....I don't want to do your sleep walk dance anymore". This is evidence that his alcoholism has led to fighting and not remembering what had occurred the night before. But the most striking evidence that this song has to do with his drinking problem is evident in the line "I will try to shake away this disease".
   
   Personification is used widely in much of our society. For instance, how often have we seen "Death" personified as a man in a black robe holding a reaper. Or a man washing his car and referring to it as his "baby". So it's important to understand that non human objects or concepts are frequently given human characteristics. This is also common in novels and movies. So alcohol is being compared to as an ex-girlfriend. So when he says "I am still dreaming of your face" he is referring to in sobriety that he still desires a drink. but at the same time "He is hungry and hollow for all the things you took away". He feels that he doesn't want to go back to drinking when things in his life go bad, this evident in the line "I don't want to be your fall back crutch more". He wants inner sanctity and "feel some sunshine"
5. anonymous

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   Jun 20th 2009 !⃝

   His girlfriend killed herself, he tried to follow suit by jumping off the Santa Monica pier.
6. anonymous

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   Jun 13th 2009 !⃝

   His brother is the ghost he is still living with he is haunting him now and he wants to go burn it down jump off the pier swim out to his brother and watch everything die
7. JazzyPepper

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   Mar 2nd 2009 !⃝

   The song is about Art Alexakis' brother who died of an overdose and afterward Art tried to commit suicide by jumping of the Santa Monica bridge.
8. anonymous

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   Jul 2nd 2008 !⃝

   Its obviously about him setting his house by the beach on fire "leave the fire behind" then jumping off the pier, swimming away "swim out past the breakers" and drowning himself "watch the world die"
9. angelsonthesideline

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   Nov 16th 2006 !⃝

   The lead singer, art alexakis, is from santa monica, ca and is a known heroin user, "I will try to shake away this disease." this song represents a relationship that was bad but that a person misses and wants to be back to whats familiar. That why he wants to see some palm trees.
10. anonymous

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    Nov 3rd 2006 !⃝

    Not exactly clear on the meaning, seems to being hinting about wanting to leave and old life in exchange for a life of luxury near the ocean along with a girl, presumably a wife or a girlfriend. Please add-on.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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