"Santa Monica" is a single by Theory of a Deadman

Theory of a Deadman

Theory of a Deadman is a Canadian rock band from Delta, British Columbia, formed in 2001. The band is currently signed to Roadrunner Records as well as Island Records. The band also includes traits of other music styles, such as country and acoustic, as well as their post-grunge and alternative...

, featured on the Gasoline

Gasoline (Theory of a Deadman album)

Gasoline is the second album released by Theory of a Deadman on March 29, 2005. The album features four songs used in the videogame Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy, 'Santa Monica', 'No Surprise', 'Say Goodbye' and 'No Way Out'...

album. It was released as the second single in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 in June 2005, and as the fourth single in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 on August 18, 2006.

Song meaning

The song is written from the point of view of a guy who gets home from work and reads a note from his girlfriend telling him that she has left him and went to Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, to try and lead a better life. In the song, the guy is looking back on the event and seems to be referring to it in the past tense: "I remember the day when you left for Santa Monica." The video plays with the ambiguity between Santa Monica Blvd and the city of Santa Monica, but it's pretty clear it's the street in LA, known for prostitution, that is intended.
The song has no relation to the mid '90s Everclear

Everclear (band)

Everclear is a rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1992 best known for their radio hits spanning more than a decade. For most of its existence, Everclear has consisted of Art Alexakis , Craig Montoya , and Greg Eklund . Eklund replaced original drummer Scott Cuthbert in 1994...

 song of the same name.

Music video

In the music video, a girl is writing a note to give to her boyfriend before she leaves. When he gets home, she's gone and he's left with the note. He sometimes gets letters and post cards from her about her trip to Santa Monica, while he's home wishing she was with him. While in Santa Monica the girl has a tough time. She is eventually driven to stripping and prostitution. She finally gives up and the last shot in the video is her walking back into her ex-boyfriend's house after finally calling him and saying how miserable her life had become.

Canadian single

1. "Santa Monica"
2. "Santa Monica" (acoustic version)
3. "Got Me Wrong
   Got Me Wrong
   "Got Me Wrong" was a largely acoustic single by American grunge band Alice in Chains. The studio version was first featured on the band's EP Sap...
   
   " (Alice in Chains
   Alice in Chains
   Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
   
    cover)

Associates

• The drums in the song "Santa Monica" were played by Nickelback
  Nickelback
  Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
  
  's Daniel Adair
  Daniel Adair
  Daniel Patrick Adair is a Canadian drummer best known as the current drummer for Canadian rock band Nickelback and his previous work with American rock band 3 Doors Down...
  
  .
• String Arrangements in "Santa Monica" were by Suzie Katayama.

Trivia

• The song is featured prominently in the 2005 game, Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy
  Fahrenheit (video game)
  Fahrenheit, also known as Indigo Prophecy in North America, is a cinematic adventure video game developed by Quantic Dream and manufactured and marketed by Atari Europe SAS...
  
  , during the sex scene between Lucas and Tiffany and plays during the credits. It is also playable on the stereo in Lucas' apartment, and is available to be purchased with bonus points in the main menu with an account.
• In the opening lines, the lyrics are "She fills my bed with gasoline,...". This is where the band got the name for the album.