This week Jim Adams has prompted us with choosing song titles starting with a “M” or a “A” for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday. This week I chose “All the Gold in California” by Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers.

Early Years

Later Years – 2018

Before you judge too hard on Larry Gatlin’s voice from when he was young until just a couple of years ago, you should know that he had cancer and underwent surgery to remove cysts from his vocal cords in June, 1991. In the second video, you may recognize members of the Oak Ridge Boys performing with him and his younger brothers, Steve and Rudy. The trio of Larry, Steve & Rudy made up Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers.

The Gatlin’s are from Texas. Larry was born in Seminole in Gaines County, Texas near the New Mexico border. His father was an oilfield worker and his family moved all over west Texas. He grew up listening to country and Southern gospel music. Larry, Steve and Rudy have been performing together since they were youngsters. They often sang in church with their sister, LaDonna.

“All the Gold in California was written by Larry Gatlin , released in August, 1979 and reached #1 on the US Hot Country Songs and #2 on the Canadian RPM Country tracks. Larry wrote this song while stuck in a traffic jam in Los Angeles. The premise of the song is that all the gold in the state of California is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills in someone else’s name. It further tells the listener that if you think you are going to California to strike it rich, you might be disappointed.

Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers performed “All The Gold in California” on January 18, 1985 for the nationally televised star studded 50th Presidential Inaugural Gala, a day before Ronald Reagan was inaugurated for his second term. Wiki states that it was January 19th and my memory won’t allow me to remember the exact date. The above video is almost 2 hours long. If you have time to watch it, it is worth it. It is when our democracy was making great strides in equality. It is filled with humor and wonderful performances.

Larry and his brothers will be performing at the Grand Ole Opry on January 22, January 30 and February 12, 2021. See other tour dates here. I’ve never seen them in concert and would love to check that off my bucket list. They are coming to Florida in December so maybe covid will be under control and I can attend that concert.

“All The Gold In California”

All the gold in California
Is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills
In somebody else's name
So if you're dreamin' about California
It don't matter at all where you've played before
California's a brand-new game
Tryin' to be a hero, winding up a zero
Can scar a man forever right down to your soul
Living on the spotlight can kill a man outright
'Cause everything that glitters is not gold
And all the gold in California
Is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills
In somebody else's name
So if you're dreamin' about California
It don't matter at all where you've played before
California's a brand-new game
All the gold in California
Is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills
In somebody else's name
So if you're dreamin' about California
It don't matter at all where you've played before
California's a brand-new game
A brand-new game
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Larry Gatlin
All the Gold In California lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group