California Sober

Album: F-1 Trillion (2024)
Charted: 34
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Imagine, if you will, a road trip along California's Highway 1, that impossibly scenic route where the Pacific Ocean crashes against cliffs that seem precariously glued to the continent by nothing more than a prayer and some wildflowers. It's along this winding stretch of Americana that Post Malone and Chris Stapleton find themselves in "California Sober," a track from Malone's debut country album, F-1 Trillion.

    The song tells the story of Malone and Stapleton's encounter with a bewitching hitchhiker described as "trouble in some daisies." She promptly takes these two for a ride in every sense of the word, relieving them of their wits, wallets, and possibly their better judgment.
  • The term "California sober" refers to a lifestyle choice where one uses weed but abstains from other drugs and alcohol. This is, of course, a lifestyle choice that has gained traction in recent years, especially among those who prefer a softer landing than total abstinence.

    Post Malone has been candid about his alcohol dependency - his song "Love/Hate Letter to Alcohol," for instance, details his struggles with booze. The song's lyrics suggest that Malone has experimented with different approaches to recovery, including "California sober."
  • Musically, "California Sober" is a heady blend of bluegrass, country and rock. Malone and Stapleton penned it with Malone's longtime partners in musical crime, Louis Bell and Charlie Handsome, alongside Nashville songwriter Mark Holman ("Cole Swindell's Single Saturday Night," Morgan Wallen's "Don't Think Jesus").
  • The musicians are:

    Aaron Sterling: drums
    Craig Young: bass
    Derek Wells: electric guitar
    Todd Lombardo: acoustic guitar
    Paul Franklin: pedal steel guitar
    Dave Cohen: keyboards
    Larry Franklin: fiddle
    Wes Hightower: background vocals
  • Post Malone kicked off the 2024 CMAs in full cowboy regalia with a high-energy rendition of "California Sober" alongside Chris Stapleton.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.