Going to California needs to be listened to sandwiched between Four Sticks and Levee. It's like the perfect palate cleanser between two incredibly heavy tracks.
Zeppelin loved Boston, New York, and Chicago, but LA (and Hollywood) was their hands down favorite place to hang and play in the US. In 7 years Zep played the LA Forum 16 times and most of the shows were killer. Two of their absolute best boots (Live on Blueberry Hill - 1970 and Listen to this Eddie - 1977) are from the Forum.
They were also HUGE HUGE fans of Joni Mitchell and had hung with her at her place in Laurel Canyon. GTC was written while Page and Plant were staying at a cottage in Wales that had no electricity or running water. Plus, flower power was still a big thing back in 1970.
Joni Mitchell + no plumbing or electricity + out in the sticks + longing to be back in LA + acoustic instruments = Going to California. Maybe the most organic and naked tune the band ever recorded.
Quote:
Spent my days with a woman unkind
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine.
Made up my mind to make a new start
Going To California with an aching in my heart.
Someone told me there's a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.
Took my chances on a big jet plane
Never let them tell you that they're all the same.
The sea was red and the sky was grey
Wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today.
The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake
As the children of the sun began to awake.
Seems that the wrath of the Gods
Got a punch on the nose and it started to flow;
I think I might be sinking.
Throw me a line if I reach it in time
I'll meet you up there where the path
Runs straight and high.
To find a queen without a king;
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings. (nod to Joni)
La la la la
Side a white mare in the footsteps of dawn
Tryin' to find a woman who's never, never, never been born.
Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams,
Telling myself it's not as hard, hard, hard as it seems
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