California, Here I Come

"California, Here I Come"
Song by Al Jolson
Released	1924
Recorded	1924
Genre	Pop standard
Length	2:26
Label	Brunswick
Writer(s)	Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Meyer

"California, Here I Come" is a song written for the 1921 Broadway musical Bombo, starring Al Jolson. The song was written by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Meyer, with Jolson often listed as a co-author. Jolson recorded the song in 1924. It is often called the unofficial state song of California.

Several attempts were made to designate "California, Here I Come" as the official state song of California, especially after a resolution passed by the California State Legislature in 1951 designated "I Love You, California" as the state song. However, these attempts proved unsuccessful, as "I Love You, California" was officially declared the state song in 1988.

"Casa Loma Stomp," recorded by Fletcher Henderson, is a set of jazz variations on the song, whose tune is clearly audible in the first few verses and gradually disappears under the increasing complexity of the variations.

Ray Charles recorded a cover of this song, which appears in his 1960 album The Genius Hits the Road.

Dutch rock band The Shocking Blue refers to Jolson's original lyric in their own song, "California Here I Come" on their 1969 album At Home.

The four future members of ABBA performed a Wild West-themed version of this song for their first joint television appearance in 1970, on the SVT program "Five Minute Saloon."

In 1977 Tom Waits released "Foreign Affairs", featuring a tribute to the song in a medley titled "Jack & Neal/California, Here I Come".

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