B-Side Guys

Some songs become more than just music – they transform into shared experiences, passed between listeners like treasured photographs. John Craigie’s “I Am California,” which has amassed nearly 27 million Spotify streams, belongs to this rare category. Enhanced by Gregory Alan Isakov’s ethereal backing vocals, the track transcends simple state tribute to become a complex character study of a place that’s equal parts paradise and cautionary tale.

The genius of Craigie’s composition lies in its anthropomorphization of California itself. Through lines like “So drink all my wine, cut all my trees/Make love on my beaches, smoke all my weed,” he gives voice to a land that has long been both sanctuary and sacrifice zone. The state becomes a knowing, willing participant in its own exploitation, delivering these lines with a mixture of invitation and resignation that cuts deeper with each listen.

Production-wise, the track maintains an understated elegance that serves its narrative perfectly. The gentle acoustic guitar work provides a foundation sturdy enough to support the weight of the lyrics while remaining light enough to let the story breathe. Having witnessed Craigie perform this song as an encore at Newport Folk Festival, I can attest to its ability to silence even the most boisterous crowd, transforming festival grounds into something approaching sacred space.

Isakov’s contribution to the track cannot be overstated. His harmonies float like Pacific fog through the chorus, adding layers of melancholy that complement Craigie’s more direct delivery. The collaboration between these two master storytellers creates a depth that honors the complexity of its subject matter, particularly in the haunting repetition of “You’ll always want me” that closes the song.

The lyrical craftsmanship shows Craigie at his most incisive. When he sings “We struggle with our lovers, we don’t know what to let in/’Cause the new ones pay for the old ones sins,” he captures both personal heartbreak and California’s broader historical struggles with immigration, development, and change. It’s this ability to weave the personal and political into a seamless whole that makes the song resonate so deeply with audiences.

The instrumental breakdown, featuring cello and harmonica, provides a moment of wordless reflection that feels essential to the song’s emotional arc. This interlude allows listeners to sit with the complexities presented in the verses, much like a meditation on the state’s breathtaking vistas might lead to contemplation of its deeper contradictions.

What makes “I Am California” particularly powerful is its refusal to judge. The song presents California as both victim and enabler, paradise and cautionary tale, in a way that feels authentic to anyone who’s ever loved a place while recognizing its flaws. Lines like “Blinded by your shadows, faded on your love” speak to this duality with poetic precision.

The track’s final verse, with its references to gold-digging and mountain-conquering, brings the narrative full circle, connecting modern exploitation to historical patterns. Yet the recurring phrase “You’ll always want me” suggests something deeper than mere criticism – it’s an acknowledgment of the state’s enduring allure despite, or perhaps because of, its complicated nature.

“I Am California” stands as both eulogy and love letter to a place that continues to capture imaginations while breaking hearts. Through masterful songwriting, sublime collaboration, and careful production choices, Craigie has created a modern folk classic that grows richer with each listen. That it’s become a consistent encore request and streaming favorite speaks to its ability to touch something universal in its deeply personal observation.