Song Lyric Sunday: Chicago, “South California Purples”

Song Lyric Sunday, Song of the Day 1 Minute

Jim got this week’s prompt from Greg over at Greg’s Blog, who suggested “Underrated Deep Album Cuts.” For mine, I’m going back to the first Chicago album, The Chicago Transit Authority, the original name of the band until the actual Chicago Transit Authority (the people who run the buses and rapid-transit trains) objected legally. They pared their name back to just Chicago, and so far no one has complained.

This cut is the second track on the third side (record 2, side 1) of this double album, “South California Purples.” It was written by keyboardist Robert Lamm, who also sings lead on the track. It’s a standard blues, at its base, and features an organ solo by Lamm and a guitar solo by Terry Kath.

Cloudy every morning
Sun don’t never shine
Cloudy every morning
Sun don’t ever shine
Oh whoa oh whoa oh

Since I lost my baby
I been losing my mind

I thought this was a warm place
I must be in the wrong place
Thought this was a warm place
I must be in the wrong place
And I don’t know where I’m going

Since my lover left me
No smile on my face
Hm hm hm hm

I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together,
whoa whoa

Buddy, ain’t this LA?
I’ve travelled such a long way
Buddy, ain’t this LA?
I’ve travelled such a long way
And I still don’t know where I’m going

But without my baby, yeah
I better not stay hey hey

I better not stay, no oh whoa no

Lyrics from AZLyrics

That’s Song Lyric Sunday and Song of the Day for August 21, 2022.

Published by John Holton

Internet disc jockey, lover of old TV (especially the commercials), inveterate wise guy.

Published

14 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday: Chicago, “South California Purples””

  1. Pingback: The End Of Summer 2022 Week That Was – The Sound of One Hand Typing

    1. There are some real beauties on that album. My favorite album side is side 2 of record 1, with “Questions 67 and 68,” “Listen” (which I would have used if I hadn’t used it twice already), and “Poem 58,” that starts with an incredible jam between Terry Kath, Peter Cetera, and Dan Seraphine (I almost used that one). I’m surprised they didn’t release “South California Purples” as a single. It’s a little long for a 45, but they could have edited it….

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