Going Back to California is an unreleased song by the Mountain Goats. A version of it was posted on Tumblr by John Darnielle on March 17, 2016 as part of a fundraiser for the Carolina Abortion Fund.[1]
Lyrics[]
Parked by a mansion with an airstrip Sun rising up so crisp and bright Old dudes holed up in their bunkers Chasing down the light Faster than a speeding bullet Smart as a whip Dead in a parking lot in Leesburg This is it Going back to California Going back to California Burned up jewelry at the inquest Cold now to the touch Last time I ever saw him He told me how I drink too much Feel like I'm gonna crumble What will become of us? Take two weeks to think about it Get right back on the bus Feel so bad, so afraid Of the road up ahead Going back to California Going back to California
Comments by John Darnielle About this Song[]
- "But I wrote to Scott Solter and I said, hey man, remember those songs about Ozzy and Black Sabbath we recorded last year, is it cool with you if I give one away? Because I have a whole crop of new songs now, the album of songs about Ozzy is probably gonna cobweb on my hard drive for a while. Scott said 'sure' so here... 'Going Back to California,' a song about the plane crash that killed Randy Rhoads, which happened right in the middle of a tour.... I’m very fond of these sad songs about Ozzy which will probably never see formal release, and am so happy to give this one a home in the world." -- John's Tumblr
Things Referenced in this Song[]
- Randy Rhoads was a guitarist for Black Sabbath; he died in a plane crash in Leesburg, Florida at age 25.
- Other songs about Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath include Song for Black Sabbath's Second North American Tour and Passaic, 1975.
Live Shows this Song Was Played at[]