John Craigie - I Am California - Westy Sessions (presented by GoWesty) 

"Because the new ones pay for the old ones sins"

Quite possibly one of my favorite songs, ever. He did such a beautiful job writing this song. It's very moving! I had the pleasure of hearing it live this past week and got to hear the story behind it. I could never get tired of hearing this song.

You tried to drown your sorrows You shouldn't have taught them how to swim And now you are right back where you began Winter sky's approaching All along in the wasteland Alone is the only way That they let you in So drink all my wine Cut all my trees Make love on my beaches Smoke all my weed I am califonia Can't you see Wherever you roam You'll always want me We struggle with our lovers You don't know what to let in Cause the new ones pay for the old ones sins Blinded by your shadows Feeding on your love You don't know how deep you are Till you get pulled back up So drink all my wine Cut all my trees Make love on my beaches Smoke all my weed I am califonia Can't you see Wherever you roam You'll always want me So drink all my wine Cut all my trees Make love on my beaches Smoke all my weed I am califonia Can't you see Wherever you roam You'll always want me Yeah dig all my gold Soak in my springs Conquer my mountains If that's what you need I am califonia can't you see Wherever you roam You'll always want me You'll always want me You'll always want me You'll always want me You'll always want me You'll always want me You'll always want me You'll always want me You'll always want me

When I heard this song I was driving south along the coast from half moon bay to santa cruz. I had to pull over. Very powerful.

lived in the heart of northern california my whole life. this made me cry, cause we're lucky to live among this beauty and have diversity of natural beauties miles away instead of states away. This song captures the essence.

i love this song! i am Bavaria, can't you see? best regards from Landshut..

Watched twice this morning, and so absorbed by the song, watching John, I didn't realize it was videotaped 1/2 mile from my Los Osos home; his van parked where I've parked dozens and dozens of times, Cuesta Inlet, where I walk my dogs. It's next to the Morro Bay Estuary (Estero Bay) ; overhead shot of it at 2:06 and 3:37 shows the snakelike rivlets at low tide. A sandspit separates the march from the Pacific Ocean. At 1:08 and 2:56 and 4:40 is waves crashing on rocks at Montana de Oro, about 5 miles west, just south of the sandspit.

my soul has been touched...

Got to see him live last week in Grass Valley at The Center for the Arts and he was mind-blowing! My 11 year old and I loved his stories and music. Wanted to see Craigie and ALO again at Harlow's in Sacramento but it was +21 only....so bummed! He played I Am California and WoW! It touched my soul. After the show I didn't know what CD to buy and Craigie suggested Capricorn In Retrograde Live In Portland since I mentioned I loved his stories in between songs. Cool dude and amazing musician. Thank you John Craigie! May your music touch many more souls.

I'm not even from California, but man the lyrics to this song make me feel like its my home and where I'm supposed to be! Love it!

That opening lyric.. WOW!

this guy is beautiful in every way

... my friend told me, you need this song today, oh my what a gift, I did need this. X ...

I just saw him in Sacramento last night- so amazing and funny.

Beautiful song, man. To say that I can relate to these poignant lyrics is an understatement...

I like 2016 craigie

I have to admit, this is really a great song. It's very deep in meaning and a beautiful melody and voiced in wonderful chords that make it a classic to me. I wished I would of found him earlier.

Been hearing this gorgeous, heartbreaking song past year on radio station KPYG/KPIG (San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz) and it knocks me out every time. Unique perspective, from the state's point of view. Shades of a mother's selfless, sacrificial love; Reminds me somewhat of Shel Silverstein's children's book"the Giving Tree." Finally looked for it on RU-vid, and learned that a business here in my little town of Los Osos , GoWesty, is sponsor. Wow! I've lived in California, born and raised, 3/4 of a century. So yes, these lyrics cover it all, this long, geographically diverse state and the changes it has undergone, is undergoing.. Since I usually hear on car radio after the song has started, I finally caught the opening lyrics the other day, "You tried to drown your sorrows, you shouldn't have taught them how to swim" and made me think of friends, current, past, dead, alive, that struggle(d) with alcohol.

For once I am left completely speechless.

Beautiful and moving! I just started crying and smiling at the same time :)

I saw him live at The Reverb Lounge in Omaha Nebraska with Samuel Scott McCumber, by far the best show I have ever been to!

Just found you, now my life is better! Such a great song

ORO!

Absolutely love the melody, the lyrics, and his voice. When I get homesick, I just listen to this song and I get all warm and fuzzy inside.

*STUNNING*

Living in Cali my entire life this song haunts me. Conquer them mountains.

This such a great song.

"...Where ever you roam, you'll always have me!" Solid and genuine love to our state and way of life. A lyrical gift to a fellow traveller and no longer so recent immigrant. So happy I have found you, courtesy of my daughter who works at Soho in Santa Barbara and where I'm looking forward to experiences you live in November.

great musician great lyricists glad I discovered him

The video.. blends perfectly with the song and with my heart s beat

All the feels. It was so amazing seeing him perform with the Rainbow Girls in Sacramento last week- goosebumps.......

Tears...♡

Can never get enough of this! 👌

So peaceful !

I love this

Love song!

Hell yeah, John! I'm a new fan.

What an amazing song!

Really authentic Soul music right there

Beautiful JC

This is great!

Unbelievable, what a song what

Great song John. Can't wait til you come back!

love

Lovely lovely songwriter!

This song's lyrics played a chord in me as deep as any I have felt. John Craigie, your intent is true, your heart matching the beat of the land's. I love seeing true art. True bliss. True-ness. Thank you for sharing with the world. May all your blessings be multiplied, and cubed.

Please come to Valencia, Spain. Thanks for your music. Cheers me Up !

Lovely song.

still listening to this

He reminds me of Bryan John Appleby in all of the best ways....

Americans in australia here ud love to travel in 4x4s here. We love it

dang bro. just saw him in concert like last month. according to him, Europeans don't take sarcasm well. we will stand with you in this trying time john. now to conclude my message, tortilla baby.

Awesome

Ok, I'm interested. Came here to see/hear John's music because he is the opening act for another artist I am going to see in March 2018. I like to do my research before seeing a new to me performer. I will definitely check into his music more!

Great job Westy Or GoWesty. I like John Craigie. Come visit us in South Africa.

lovely song brother..

Mmm so good

very authentic!!

I like your words

Westy Sessions, how do you go about producing the audio for this video/ your videos in general? I'm trying to understand the logistics of how you are getting such a professional sound, while maintaining the feeling that John could be in the same room as I am, performing. It is truly amazing how you accomplish this, and I applaud you for creating such an aesthetic piece of art. The audio alone is amazing, and then adding in the aerial shots, it's so soothing and makes me feel as though I'm floating. Please keep doing what you are doing!

The good love

I fucking love this song, the harmonica is just shduifshdluivnqsudvn

You have a Hungarian fan :)

anyone know where i can find the harmonica tabs to this??

Anyone know what harmonica he’s using???

How do I get on Go Westy or The Van Sessions?

Does anybody know what key the harmonica is?

VW Combi. Check die cool song uit!

chords/tabs anywhere?

Anyone know what key the harmonica is?

Does anyone know which harp He uses ? Maybe A ?

Does anyone know the chords of the song?

I forgot what graffiti video brought me here. Anyone know what im talking about?

HI JOHN, moerse nice song! As jy ooit in Suid Afrika kom kuier, kom kuier by my , my vriend!