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California, Here I Come




The song was a frequent candidate for the official State Song of California until 1988 , when that title went to " I Love You, California ".

According to legend, the song was played by the ship's band of the aircraft carrier USS ''Yorktown'' (CV-5) as she steamed to meet her destiny at the Battle Of Midway .

It was popularly used in Warner Bros. Cartoon s, typically in an instrumental version, whenever a character was going somewhere in a hurry. The classic example would be in '' Hair-Raising Hare ''. When the mad scientist (a Peter Lorre caricature) introduces Bugs Bunny to his monster (later dubbed " Gossamer "), Bugsy beats a hasty retreat, in cadence with the song's chorus. On his way out, he tells the scientist, "And don't think it hasn't been a little slice of heaven... 'cause it ''hasn't!''"

Richard Nixon , in a set of instructions he left in case he were to die in office, directed that "California, Here I Come" should be played "softly and slowly" at his funeral.


LYRICS


When the wintry winds are blowing,

And the snow is starting in to fall,

Then my eyes turn westward,

Knowing that's the place

I love the best of all.

California, I've been blue,

Since I've been away from you,

I can't wait 'til I get going,

Even now I'm starting in to call:


Chorus:

California here I come,

Right back where I started from,

Where bowers of flowers bloom in the sun,

Each morning at dawning

Birdies sing an' ev'rything:

A sun-kiss'd miss said, "don't be late,"

That's why I can hardly wait,

Open up that Golden Gate ,

California here I come


Repeat chorus

The Phantom Planet song " California " (the Theme Song to '' The O.C. '') uses a modified version of the first two lines of the chorus, changing "I" to "we".