LL Cool J - Going Back To Cali
Posted by Randy Jackson at 12:00 am in Jazz, Rap

LL Cool J

I’ve always enjoyed LL Cool J. While he’s best known for his boisterous, boasting style rap, for me it’s generally been the quieter, more low-key tunes where he really shines. This is one of those songs.

The smooth jazz style of Going Back To Cali really set the song apart back when it first came out. Additionally, LL’s quietly understated rap gives a great feeling of a laid back fish out of water. The sax vs. the pounding 808 also works nicely too.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali.. hmm, I don’t think so
I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali.. I don’t think so

Going back to Cali, stylin, profilin
Growlin, and smilin, while in the sun
The top is down, on the black Corvette
And it’s fly, cause it’s sittin on Dayton’s
Laurents steering wheel, plushed out, gold-leaf phantom top
and three girls waiting
VRRRROOM engine’s blowin, the chrome, is shining
Passing all the cars on the way
Movement of the wind, back wheels spin
Pop in a cassette and push play

I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali - yea y’all, I don’t think so
I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali..

I’m going back to Cali, shakin ‘em, bakin ‘em
Takin ‘em to spots they never before hung
Takin’ ‘em to the place, on Sunset it’s a trip
Where the A.C.’s cold, and the girls still strip
The record skip, but this girl kept dancin
Prancin, grindin, grinnin, romancin
I asked her to the barn, so we could hit the hay
I wanna do this, Brutus, but I don’t wanna pay

I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali - no man I don’t think so
I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali….

I’m going back to Cali, rising, surprising
Advising realizing, she’s sizing me up
Her bikini - small; heels - tall
She said, she liked, the ocean
She showed me a beach, gave me a peach
and pulled out the suntan lotion
Now I thought that was fast, but this girl was faster
She’s lookin for a real good time
I said, “Close your eyes, I got a surprise,”
and I ran away with the bottle of wine

I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali.. I don’t think so
I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I’m going back to Cali.. I don’t think so

[saxophone solo]

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LL Cool J - Going Back To Cali has 1 Comment

  1. zuludelta wrote:
    August 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    Man, I just can’t get over how dated that song sounds now. I feel old =(

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