[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
John Hiatt — Adios to California
Album: Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2331









Released: 2011
Length: 3:42
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Smoky room and a thin blue light
Her arms were pale as white
Trying to outlast the night
Howling at the moon

Living in the Canyon Inn
Hang-down henna and whiskey gin
Dirty jeans and mudslide hymns
It all began with sum

So adios to California
Nothing to do but turn around
I always thought there's someone coming for you
Only way you'd leave this town

Pasadena in the rain
Eating donuts and reading Twain
How much longer can my brain
Set itself on fire?

You said that's it for me
Have a little faith, it might set you free
But your faith's no good, you see
For me and my desire

So adios to California
Nothing to do but turn around
I always thought there's someone coming for you
Only way you'd leave this town

Two cigarettes from a package gone
Must have thought about it just that long
I never knew you were so strong
I guess I never will

So adios to California
Nothing to do but turn around
I always thought there's someone coming for you
Only way you'd leave this town
Only way you'd leave this town
Comments (156)add comment
 idiot_wind wrote:

You should see him with Sonny Landreth.   Jaw dropping. 

A confluence of New Orleans and Memphis music.  



That would be rockin'. Must check that out on YouTube after I sleep. 
Damn I love this song. I got laid because of it. Played it for her. She loved it. 
Wow, always loved John Hiatt (Live shows at small venues with Sonny Landreth & the other Goners are some of my most memorable/ favorite concerts) and own many Hiatt albums but I've never heard this song. Fantastic, thanks Bill.
If this isn't great I don't know what is. 
 Jörg_Asmussen wrote:
 
Russ Pahl plays the pedal steel guitar.
 

https://www.dr.dk/musik/titel/adios%20to%20california/2370230-1-10


Thanks for supplying that info. I love pedal steel.
I'm a Californian so I will never leave my state. I love her. 

All the same, the some is a 9.
Joni Mitchell's "California (I'm coming home)" followed by John Hiatt's "Adios to California" !.  Nicely done as always Bill & Rebecca 👍
 idiot_wind wrote:

You should see him with Sonny Landreth.   Jaw dropping. 

A confluence of New Orleans and Memphis music.  


Or ANY of the other amazing artists that he has shared the stage with (many in his touring bands) over the years.  The list is l-o-n-g.
 idiot_wind wrote:

Saw him play once with Sonny Landreth...in a small venue. 

Wow. What a show. 

Except  for those screams of people sitting behind me:  "sit down", sit down". 

Geez.  




Who sits down at a concert anyways????

:)
Saw him play once with Sonny Landreth...in a small venue. 

Wow. What a show. 

Except  for those screams of people sitting behind me:  "sit down", sit down". 

Geez.  
working the California theme, can "Paradise" be far behind?
 Shmelo wrote:

Why is there more and more country trash infesting this station?

The only trash infesting this station is, uh, you.
c.


 pinto wrote:

Oh, please, spare me the drivel, Buddy.  Take your superiority elsewhere.



Your insecurity is showing.
This is a political song in 2021
 pinto wrote:

Oh, please, spare me the drivel, Buddy.  Take your superiority elsewhere.
 
Inferiority much there pinto?

Interesting segue...Joni Mitchell's "California" and now this from John Hiatt.
 radioparadise9 wrote:


Have you considered that  perhaps you don't have an inferiority complex  .... but that you  actually ARE  inferior

 
Whoa, there radioparadise9!  You and I like a lot of the same music.  You want to stoop that low?  How's that going to look on your resume'?
 pinto wrote:

Oh, please, spare me the drivel, Buddy.  Take your superiority elsewhere.
 

Have you considered that  perhaps you don't have an inferiority complex  .... but that you  actually ARE  inferior

may be my favorite John Hiatt tune - except for those I've heard others cover that I've not found out are his
 buddy wrote:
pinto wrote:

Hey, it's Bill's station so he gets to choose.  Personally, though, I cannot stand John Hiatt but there are many who do. Funny how there are certain artists who have almost a cult-like following.  You either "get" them or you don't and there's no middle ground.  John Hiatt appears to be in that mix along with, say, Grateful Dead, Todd Rundgren, Joni Mitchell. 

 
Your labeling of John Hiatt, Grateful Dead, Todd Rundgren, & Joni Mitchell as artists with "a cult-like following" betrays you to have a narrow-minded appreciation of music and an ill-informed understanding of music history. That you don't "get them" doesn't mean they are cult acts, it means you don't care for their music or know much about their following and contributions to popular music, as opposed to the millions of people worldwide who do.
 
Oh, please, spare me the drivel, Buddy.  Take your superiority elsewhere.
I want all California songs played at my funeral.  
Why is there more and more country trash infesting this station?
You should see him with Sonny Landreth.   Jaw dropping. 

A confluence of New Orleans and Memphis music.  
 the_jake wrote:

Must make a point to see him live.  One of my favorites of his. 
 

You must, you must, you must.  He can whistle too, like you wouldn't believe.  :)
I love everything by this man.  Loved him before, then saw him recently in Fort Collins with Lyle Lovett, even more by gawd!  He has a rough voice, but this song flows like ice cream.  
 pk53 wrote:


For one, Frisco is a town in Texas.  Never heard a decent explanation of Frisco as nickname/abbrv. for San Francisco.
 
And to mess with you even more, Frisco, Texas is named after the shorthand moniker of the St. Louis - San Francisco Railway:  "Frisco". The Frisco stopped a 1000 miles short of reaching San Francisco, so the hated "Frisco" nickname for the railroad and in turn the Texas town, and less likely the California city, was likely coined in Missouri by someone that never had been to the Bay Area. 
 pk53 wrote:


For one, Frisco is a town in Texas.  Never heard a decent explanation of Frisco as nickname/abbrv. for San Francisco.
 

Yeah, cuz that would make no sense.  Frisco and San Francisco... there is just NO similarity.

Urban Dictionary: Frisco - The name to use for San Francisco when you want to annoy uptight San Franciscans

Dictionary Frisco (slang) - A nickname for the city of San Francisco.  California boujee.

Both places named after Francisan monks.  Duh.
 bam23 wrote:

Among the "no ones" who are not correct, I suggest you consider self-correcting as an option. Frisco is simply NOT ACCEPTABLE for reasons I don't really get, but there it is. There are laws of nature and common laws. The latter issue falls into commonplaceness. Coining words is not all that hard. Anyway, it's always noon somewhere, on the hour (except for those time zones that use the half-hour as the break point). I hope this resolves all these issues.
 

For one, Frisco is a town in Texas.  Never heard a decent explanation of Frisco as nickname/abbrv. for San Francisco.
Surfing the right frequencies tonite here with Gods own radio....Going back to the good old days done right this time. Yahoo
Pasadena in the rain
Eating donuts and reading Twain
How much longer can my brain
Set itself on fire?
 buddy wrote:
Buy the album - not a bad song on it. And don't miss the opportunity to see Hiatt live - really an intimate, killer show.
 
Must make a point to see him live.  One of my favorites of his. 
Lyrics are wrong.  Last verse should be:
 
Two cigarettes from a package gone
You must have thought about it just that log
 
Changes everything.
Buy the album - not a bad song on it. And don't miss the opportunity to see Hiatt live - really an intimate, killer show.
 pinto wrote:

Hey, it's Bill's station so he gets to choose.  Personally, though, I cannot stand John Hiatt but there are many who do. Funny how there are certain artists who have almost a cult-like following.  You either "get" them or you don't and there's no middle ground.  John Hiatt appears to be in that mix along with, say, Grateful Dead, Todd Rundgren, Joni Mitchell. 

 
Your labeling of John Hiatt, Grateful Dead, Todd Rundgren, & Joni Mitchell as artists with "a cult-like following" betrays you to have a narrow-minded appreciation of music and an ill-informed understanding of music history. That you don't "get them" doesn't mean they are cult acts, it means you don't care for their music or know much about their following and contributions to popular music, as opposed to the millions of people worldwide who do.


 Stingray wrote:

Lovely-lovely song of Hiatt (his best?)

9



 
9 it is (and the answer is YES!)
Anybody else notice the similarity of the chords to Hotel California? ;-)
 
To me this is  7 - Quite Likeable         TY RP 
 pinto wrote:

Hey, it's Bill's station so he gets to choose.  Personally, though, I cannot stand John Hiatt but there are many who do. Funny how there are certain artists who have almost a cult-like following.  You either "get" them or you don't and there's no middle ground.  John Hiatt appears to be in that mix along with, say, Grateful Dead, Todd Rundgren, Joni Mitchell. 

 
I would have to agree with that -

I love John Hiatt, love Joni Mitchell and LOVE Todd Rundgren and just do not like the Grateful Dead. 
 lizardking wrote:

I do. I also refer to NorCal (where Frisco is) vs SoCal (where LA is) - and even better, I refer to nobody as no one, not noone, which isn't a real word.  You could use no-one if you really wanted to.

And now you know that no one is correct and noone is not. 

Adios!

PeaceLoveHappinessDrugsSex&RocknRoll 

 

 
Among the "no ones" who are not correct, I suggest you consider self-correcting as an option. Frisco is simply NOT ACCEPTABLE for reasons I don't really get, but there it is. There are laws of nature and common laws. The latter issue falls into commonplaceness. Coining words is not all that hard. Anyway, it's always noon somewhere, on the hour (except for those time zones that use the half-hour as the break point). I hope this resolves all these issues.
 RedGuitar wrote:

You must listen to RP all day, every day!  I wish I could at least hear some other songs from the CD.  I listen to RP 8-5 M-F.

 
Hey, it's Bill's station so he gets to choose.  Personally, though, I cannot stand John Hiatt but there are many who do. Funny how there are certain artists who have almost a cult-like following.  You either "get" them or you don't and there's no middle ground.  John Hiatt appears to be in that mix along with, say, Grateful Dead, Todd Rundgren, Joni Mitchell. 
 bam23 wrote:
 Of course, pretty much noone refers to California as Cali.

 
I do. I also refer to NorCal (where Frisco is) vs SoCal (where LA is) - and even better, I refer to nobody as no one, not noone, which isn't a real word.  You could use no-one if you really wanted to.

And now you know that no one is correct and noone is not. 

Adios!

PeaceLoveHappinessDrugsSex&RocknRoll 

 
What a fabulous songwriter! On this, he gets so much emotion into his distinctive voice, and his guitar work is mind-bendingly good...
 justin4kick wrote:
Is this an 8 or a 9? I can't make up my mind.

 
I think "10" is the number you are looking for.
Otis gets a pass. he could call it anything he wanted.  
WonderLizard wrote:

ESPECIALLY "Frisco," Otis Redding notwithstanding.

 


Can't overstate how much I love this track.
This entire album is a 10 IMHO.
Running strait outta time
Is this an 8 or a 9? I can't make up my mind.
 crogers wrote:
Ditto for "Frisco".
 

bam23 wrote:
 Of course, pretty much noone refers to California as Cali.

 

 
ESPECIALLY "Frisco," Otis Redding notwithstanding.
            
           Old News
   She's my new addiction
   Are you dangerous dear?
Ditto for "Frisco".
 

bam23 wrote:
 Of course, pretty much noone refers to California as Cali.

 
Today I would use this song as a big "adios" to that Eagle that contributed so much to Californian R&R/country/R&B.
RIP Glenn Frey
I came here to post this exact sentiment.  Love the slide guitar work here!

jahrap wrote:
Love this song, but it's the slide guitar that does it for me. anyone know who plays on it? BTW, Best streaming Station.....

 


 bravadodon wrote:
Not bad at all, but I'm a rock guy. And I never cared much for Cali. Sorry Cali.
  Of course, pretty much noone refers to California as Cali.


Not bad at all, but I'm a rock guy. And I never cared much for Cali. Sorry Cali.
9
This should be on every songwriter's agenda and possibly every poet's too.
Glad I got to see this guy live.  Another important dimension to who he is, what he does.

 

 

Like the way he's always mixing up his sound.

No "Typical John Hiatt" sounds... I like his music.


 Imkirok wrote:
All the Federales say they could have had him any day...

Wait, this isn't Poncho and Lefty?  Never mind.

 
...because every song that shares a similar genre and style is a shameless copy.
All the Federales say they could have had him any day...

Wait, this isn't Poncho and Lefty?  Never mind.
Pancho and Lefty in their California period?
{#Drummer}
{#Daisy}
 jahrap wrote:
Love this song, but it's the slide guitar that does it for me. anyone know who plays on it? BTW, Best streaming Station.....


Russ Pahl plays the pedal steel guitar.
 

https://www.dr.dk/musik/titel/adios%20to%20california/2370230-1-10
Love this song, but it's the slide guitar that does it for me. anyone know who plays on it? BTW, Best streaming Station.....
 junebaby65 wrote:

Talented singer?  Ah, no.

 
Ah, YES.
 ziakut wrote:
The way Bob Dylan only wished he could be. A listenable, talented singer AND a great lyricist. So far Bob only conquered the latter.

 
Talented singer?  Ah, no.
 KurtfromLaQuinta wrote:

I don't think so. {#Snooty}

 

I do!
 Cynaera wrote:
I've heard this a couple more times, and I had to give it a 10.  Hiatt may be unpredictable, but I love how he always comes through with something that can break my heart and heal it in the same CD.
 

miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...
 
Classic RP song... 
ol John, he's sure a good storyteller. 
 MojoJojo wrote:
The PSD button was made because of John Hiatt's music. It's true!.

 
nope, Squeel Young
took me 12 years to get out of Pasadena. Ca. .....{#Eyes}..{#Fever}...{#Jump}
 Stingray wrote:

A wonderful song of Hiatt - possibly his best!

Finally it has it all - something's usually missing in his music!



 
Wait...why aren't you YELLING?

It is quite good...

Today I increased my rate to a 9, since I realized that everytime I hear this song it makes me feel better! That is one of the reasons that we play and lisen to music and lirics, right?
Happy trails Bobert_!
Hey I'm pulling out of this state tomorrow and Bill played 'Goodnight Califonia' and now this today.
I thought this song might be meaningful having recently left CA for Reno but as it happens I drive the 6 miles to CA at least 2-3x a week for a variety of things.  Still a nice song and I can feign some sort of nostalgia if I need to.
outstanding
Haha, Bill, I called you John by mistake. Please play California Stars after this!!
 there you go .. took the words right out of my mouth  :-)   


coloradojohn wrote:
i
Liking this more and more...has a timeless universal quality to it...a WELL-CRAFTED song, sung and played to casual perfection (genius)...

 


Lovely-lovely song of Hiatt (his best?)

9


Love just about everything by John Hiatt.  {#Heartkiss}
Real good stuff here!!!
 
Finally a Hiatt-song where everything fits!
 MojoJojo wrote:
The PSD button was made because of John Hiatt's music. It's true!.
 
I don't think so. {#Snooty}
 xkolibuul wrote:
I'm surprised this is the only song from Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns in the RP library.  Any opinions on the rest of the album?  
 
It's very good IMHO.....5 or 6 other submissions from this album were rejected....go figure.
 jhorton wrote:
I like John Hyatt but he gets RP playtime way out of proportion to his music, he's on like, seven times a day EVERY DAY! Is he Bill's brother-in-law or soemthing?
 
You must listen to RP all day, every day!  I wish I could at least hear some other songs from the CD.  I listen to RP 8-5 M-F.
The PSD button was made because of John Hiatt's music. It's true!.
Hasspecial meaning to someone in my family!
 jhorton wrote:
I like John Hyatt but he gets RP playtime way out of proportion to his music, he's on like, seven times a day EVERY DAY! Is he Bill's brother-in-law or soemthing?
 
I've told you a million times not to exaggerate! 
This song has been played 6 times in the last 30 days.  I like John Hiatt, but this is still too often in my book.

A wonderful song of Hiatt - possibly his best!

Finally it has it all - something's usually missing in his music!


One of the few Hiatt-songs where everything fits.
 jhorton wrote:
I like John Hyatt but he gets RP playtime way out of proportion to his music, he's on like, seven times a day EVERY DAY! Is he Bill's brother-in-law or soemthing?
 
Hyperbole in assessing the playlist does no one any good here.  Please get real before complaining.
 jhorton wrote:
I like John Hyatt but he gets RP playtime way out of proportion to his music, he's on like, seven times a day EVERY DAY! Is he Bill's brother-in-law or soemthing?
 
I think you exaggerate sir. A few times a week at most. NO artist gets seven plays a day here or there would be a listener revolution. 
I like John Hyatt but he gets RP playtime way out of proportion to his music, he's on like, seven times a day EVERY DAY! Is he Bill's brother-in-law or soemthing?
The way Bob Dylan only wished he could be. A listenable, talented singer AND a great lyricist. So far Bob only conquered the latter.
I love this song.  Nice way to pull me out of a bad mood too!  {#Sunny}
Very nice. Thanks Bill.
One of the better Hiatt tunes of the past 10 years or so.
 xkolibuul wrote:
I'm surprised this is the only song from Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns in the RP library.  Any opinions on the rest of the album?  
 
Yeah, I'd be interested to hear how the rest compares to this? V tempted to purchase on the basis of this song...
Joan doing Dylan. Dylan doing Dylan.  John Hiatt doing John Hiatt.  That why I love RP!
I'm surprised this is the only song from Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns in the RP library.  Any opinions on the rest of the album?  
Lovely lyrics, but this piece seems to be in the Playlist just a little too often, imho.
and now, the real thang.
I saw/hear Hiatt at Lebanon Opera House in New Hampshire. He was awsome. Love his lyrics. iTuner wrote:
Some day I'd like to meet John Hiatt just to tell him how awesome he is.
 


 hschlossberg wrote:
This will work great when you start an eclectic Country music station.  Just not for RP.
 
I'm sure that in a discussion of classical music in another thread we decided, by consensus, that there is no, "Not for RP" music....
Anybody else notice a bunch of Exit California songs lately?
Some day I'd like to meet John Hiatt just to tell him how awesome he is.
this song is really freaking good.
{#Sunny} <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3  love it !!! make me feeling the freedom of an USA highway !!!
 onelittlemoose wrote:

I really, really enjoy this, but I have to confess that the first time I heard this, I heard Pancho and Lefty as done by Willie and Merle. Am I nuts?  My apologies if this has already been discussed here on RP.  

Have a listen:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvdmxszsDM8

I continue to hear this every time I listen to Adios to California. Would value a second opinion, not on the nuts part, but on what I think I hear. 

 
moosie, I gotta agree with you....mebbe part of the steel slide hook?

I really, really enjoy this, but I have to confess that the first time I heard this, I heard Pancho and Lefty as done by Willie and Merle. Am I nuts?  My apologies if this has already been discussed here on RP.  

Have a listen:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvdmxszsDM8

I continue to hear this every time I listen to Adios to California. Would value a second opinion, not on the nuts part, but on what I think I hear. 


This is the only album to listen to if one is heading north on Hwy 97 from Redding, California
John Hiatt and Mark Knopler would make for a good duet.
This will work great when you start an eclectic Country music station.  Just not for RP.