CITY OF ANGELS by 24kgoldn Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Soul of LA’s Seductive Labyrinth
Lyrics
They said, “Go to hell,” but I told ’em I don’t wanna
If you know me well, then you know that I ain’t goin’
‘Cause I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna
I don’t wanna die young
The city of angels where I have my fun
Don’t wanna die young
When I’m gone, remember all I’ve done, ‘one
We’ve had our fun-un
But now I’m done-one
‘Cause you crazy (yeah), I can’t take it (no)
Just wanted to see you naked
Heard time like money, can’t waste it
What’s the price of fame? ‘Cause I can taste it
So I’m chasin’ (yeah), and I’m facin’
A little Hennessy, it might be good for me
I sold my soul to the devil for designer
They said, “Go to hell,” but I told ’em I don’t wanna
If you know me well, then you know that I ain’t goin’
‘Cause I don’t wanna, I don’t wanna
I don’t wanna die young
The city of angels where I have my fun
Don’t wanna die young
When I’m gone, remember all I’ve done-one
In a city where dreams are manufactured as easily as they’re dismantled, 24kgoldn’s ‘CITY OF ANGELS’ serves as a siren’s call to those entranced by the shimmering facade of Los Angeles. With haunting candor, the artist delves into a narrative that captures the essence of an angelic metropolis fabled for both its heaven and hell.
As a modern-day anthem for the city’s youthful revelers, the track becomes an audio confessional booth, exploring the highs and inevitable pitfalls of chasing hedonism drowned in designer dreams. The song is a juxtaposition of rapid success and the looming shadows of consequence, played out against the backdrop of LA’s palm-lined streets and neon nights.
The Designer Deal with the Devil: Fame’s Faustian Bargain
When 24kgoldn admits to selling his soul ‘for designer,’ he’s not merely referring to luxury brands, but rather to the lifestyle those brands represent — one of affluence, notoriety, and the dangerous allure of fame. At its core, ‘CITY OF ANGELS’ isn’t just a nod to temptation; it’s a raw depiction of what young artists often sacrifice in their ascent towards stardom.
The notion of a Faustian bargain is a recurring theme in art and reflects the internal struggle between the desire for material success and spiritual wellbeing. 24kgoldn’s lyrics serve as a testament to his awareness of the duality within this exchange and his determination to defy the expectations that come with such a compromise.
Escapism and Eternity: To Die Young or Live Forever in LA?
The haunting repetition of ‘I don’t wanna die young’ echoes as a chilling premonition, a stark contrast to the otherwise sunny disposition LA is known for. This line strikes a chord with listeners, reverberating with the unnerving truth that the City of Angels can also be an early grave for its dreamers.
24kgoldn’s desire to be remembered ‘when I’m gone’ is a plea for immortality through legacy—the ultimate victory in a city that forgets as quickly as it falls in love. It’s an articulation of a deep-seated need to outlast life’s fleeting moments of joy and pain, to become a permanent fixture in the shifting sands of cultural memory.
Unmasking the Toxic Fun: A Dance with LA’s Demons
As much as ‘CITY OF ANGELS’ is an ode to the nocturnal playground that is Los Angeles, it also doesn’t shy away from the toxicity that can lace its beauty. With a dismissive flick towards a relationship turned sour, ’cause you crazy, I can’t take it,’ 24kgoldn encapsulates the emotional turmoil often accompanying fast-track romances in the fast lane.
The song suggests that beneath every night of ‘fun’ lies the shadow of craziness and decay. The fleeting joy of seeing someone ‘naked’—literally and metaphorically—speaks volumes of the superficial encounters that punctuate Hollywood parties and the city’s cultural ethos.
Seductively Cynical: The Price of Fame in Memorable Lines
‘What’s the price of fame? ‘Cause I can taste it,’ is not just another memorable line; it’s a poignant musing that encapsulates the song’s thematic heart. 24kgoldn questions whether the very thing he’s chasing is worth the sacrifices he’s making, all delivered through the lens of youthful cynicism and a sense of foreboding.
And isn’t this the very essence of the LA narrative? A place where the cost of your dreams is eternally weighed against what you might lose in pursuit of them. Every taste of fame’s sweetness seemingly comes with a bitter aftertaste, a hint of something lost or compromised.
The Hennessy Healing: Liquid Solace in the City’s Arms
In a seeming nod to the tradition of singing the blues, 24kgoldn turns to ‘a little Hennessy, it might be good for me’ as a form of self-medication in a town that can often drive one to vices. It’s a confession of the need for a momentary escape, a liquid solace from the relentless pursuit of success and the evasion of premature demise.
Yet, beyond indulgence, this line also speaks to the broader cultural narrative of using substances to cope with the pressures of fame and fortune. In the city’s embrace, a sip of Hennessy becomes both a symbol of momentary victory and a tool for numbing the anxiety of an uncertain tomorrow.
