In San Diego from THE NEW CITIZEN KANE, lyrics create an intensely emotional portrait of love and desire inseparable from location. The artist does not simply tell us of a love affair — instead, they add their own memory and emotional investment to the city and transform San Diego into setting and participant. The result is a lyrically sweeping voyage simultaneously intimate and universal.

Here, the artist’s own treatment of love is close and understated. The other person is referred to by name and with affection. There are brief powerful statements to access the effect this person had — on the artist’s heart, and on his overall perception of reality. There’s an emphasis on eyes and smile and silence on both sides of words, all pointing to something deep beyond. The artist talks about falling for someone with an air of relaxation and ease.

The repetition, “I got lost in San Diego, I fell in love in San Diego, You broke my heart in San Diego,” becomes an emotional anchor for the song. Each repeated utterance is imbued with increasing resonance, adding to the experience. The city becomes symbolic — a city of love, heartbreak and memory. Albeit the affair was ended, neither can the artist break free from the city. It is this connection of place and emotion which gives the lyrics their specific emotional hold.

There is a strong theme of being overwhelmed by forces beyond control — sun, moon, and love are all framed here as something which can drive an individual crazy. It’s an artistic description of how overpowering feelings can become, especially when coupled with something beautiful and fleeting. These lines set an otherworldly, mystical tone for this song and give the listener a glimpse of just how deeply moving it was for the artist.

Contrasts in lyrics render them rich. Love is warm and light, but also painful and confusing. The city is sweet and home, but inescapable. Emotional contradiction renders a story plausible. It’s not only heartbreak and solely happiness — it’s about how precisely the two so frequently go hand in hand.

The vocabulary is simple and uncluttered, yet emotion is present within every line. There’s no need for flowery words; the emotional content is enough. Each repetition, each rhythm, and each image reaffirms others to create a mood which pervades a listener’s brain. It is easy to see yourself driving along the Californian beach with this song on your car stereo, hair blowing freely and memories pouring in. 

THE NEW CITIZEN KANE has written something personal-sounding, yet something we all know from one point of view or another. San Diego is when a place becomes greater than a place — it becomes part of your history. Something about the lyrics catches and conveys both the loveliness of lost love and heartache for losing it, veiled with an understated longing. It’s a sad reminder that some places stay with us just because we were someone else when we were there, and we can never quite abandon the feelings we have for them.