Out of Class Essay #1 (Song Analysis)

Bradford Nicholl

July 12, 2013

The California Dream in Music

California, “a region filled with promise for the future,” as Kirse Granat May describes in “Suburban Eden,” became a state in 1850. This idea attracted many to the state to live the California Dream, to gain wealth and be set for the future. Although this was possible for some, it was not as it seemed for many. As May tells us, many in search of the California Dream often found their “Edenic portrayals” to be “corrupt visions, as the California dream came into harsh contact with challenging reality.” Through a song entitled “Sinaloa Cowboys,” by Bruce Springsteen, the California Dream of two Mexican brothers is examined to demonstrate that the California Dream is not always what it appears to be. The song follows the two brothers who come to the state to find work and gain wealth; however, they learn they are working long days for little money. They enter the drug trade seeking better luck at the California Dream, until the younger brother dies from an explosion while cooking methamphetamine. The song demonstrates this misconception of the California Dream as a land of promise through various literary devices, including foreshadowing, alliteration, euphony, cacophony, and symbolism.

Foreshadowing is often used by artists to place an idea relative to the theme into the minds of the reader from early on, allowing the reader to reflect on this as they continue reading. In “Sinaloa Cowboys,” foreshadowing is used to bring forth the concept that the California Dream may not be what it seems, and that it may have a “catch.” This comes into play when the father of the two brothers advises them, “for everything the north gives, it exacts a price in return.” The father gives us the idea of a risk of traveling to California, and that something may go wrong. The father is foreshadowing the younger brother's death. The brothers had improved their income after entering the drug trade, but ultimately, the price they paid was death. This foreshadowing initially brought forth the idea that the California Dream may not be as they perceived it to be.

Alliteration is the use of of multiple nearby words with a repeated sound at the beginning of the words, and it can be used to bring attention to a matter. There are two major occurrences of alliteration in the song. The first instance occurs when describing a possible disaster that can happen during the creation of the methamphetamine that the brothers were involved in. The lyrics read, “But if you slipped, the hydriodic acid could burn right through your skin.” These three words, slipped, acid, and skin, in this phrase bring out the “s” sound. This attribute attracts attention quite well; see what I did there? By repeating this “s” syllable sound, the artist places emphasis on the issue and its negativity. This helps to reveal that the reality of the California Dream is not as it appears to be, and may involve negativity. It shows that the California Dream is not as achievable as one thinks, for the two brothers ended up gambling their lives to obtain it.

The second instance of alliteration occurs after the death of the younger brother. The older brother went to gather their wealth that they had collected, and, “there in the dirt he dug up ten thousand dollars that they'd saved.” These three words, dirt, dug, and dollars, repeat the “d” sound. This practice emphasizes their reward of wealth, but brings out the risk they took to reach it, the life of the younger brother. The California Dream that the two brothers once dreamed of was not the life that came true, and alliteration helps to bring forth this idea that the California Dream that people have in their minds is not always the reality they experience.

Similar to alliteration, euphony and cacophony can be used by artists to increase emphasis on matters. This is the use of applying language that is pleasant or harsh, respectively. There is one major case of each in “Sinaloa Cowboys,” occurring in the last stanza after the death of the young brother. It begins with euphonious language as the older brother transports the dead, younger brother, in his truck for burial “where the sunlight fell on a eucalyptus grove.” We can imagine the older brother driving to somewhere pleasant, relaxing, and beautiful, emphasized by the euphonious language. The cacophonous language is then introduced as the older brother “placed him in his grave,” reminding the reader of the disturbing thought that the younger brother had died as a result of the wealth earned. The euphony and cacophony helps to bring out the concept that the California Dream may appear to be great, but in reality, it is filled with misconception, and it can result in something unfavorably different. 

Symbolism is a great device used by artists to convey ideas and bring emphasis to them. Symbolism occurs near the end of the song, during the death of the younger brother. The song describes his death, “when the shack exploded lightning up the valley night, Miguel carried Louis' body over his shoulder down a swale.” The latter clause of the quote, going down the swale, symbolizes the death of the younger brother as he dies. It represents the fall of the younger brother. In fact, the full quote symbolizes the entire song, in that their lives appeared to improve, or went “up,” but in the end, it was at an all time low, or went “down,” with death. This quote symbolizes how the California Dream is misconceived as a place of gaining wealth for a promised future, but in reality, holds no future for many.

The song, “Sinaloa Cowboys,” entails the story of two brothers in search of the California Dream to gain wealth and be set for the future. As the lyrics explain through foreshadowing, alliteration, euphony, cacophony, and symbolism, the California Dream is filled with the misconception of promises, but it is not so obtainable in reality. It is important for readers to understand that the California Dream is a great misconception before migrating to the state in search of a better life. As Kirse Granat May warns: “Despite gold rush lore and the claims of boosters, California did not always inspire the stuff of dreams. Counter to the golden promise ran a current of negative imagery, a recognition that all was not sunny or bright.”