Walking In L.A.

Album

Spring Session M

Label

Capitol Records

Genre

New wave

Media Type

45s

Duration

3:59

Composer(s)

Terry Bozzio

Entered Chart

Mar 12, 1983

Peak Date

Mar 26, 1983

Released

February 1983

Recorded

1982

Catalog #

Capitol B-5212

"Walking in L.A." is a song by American new wave band Missing Persons. It was written by Terry Bozzio, with production by Ken Scott at Chateau Recorders, in Los Angeles, California. The song appeared on their debut studio album Spring Session M in 1982 and has been described as the pivotal song on the album. It was released as a single in February 1983. A live version of the song (recorded in 1981) was released as a CD bonus track on Missing Persons' 1984 album, Rhyme & Reason. The song peaked at number 70 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March 1983, spending six weeks on the chart. It is still recalled occasionally today for its comical portrayal of Hollywood culture and its wry observations on getting around in Los Angeles (“Nobody walks in L.A.!”). Songwriter Terry Bozzio has said that he was inspired to write the song by comedians making jokes about driving everywhere in the city

Look ahead as we pass, try and focus on it
I won't be fooled by a cheap cinematic trick
It must have been just a cardboard cut out of a man
Top forty, cast off from a record stand

Walkin' in LA
Walkin' in LA, nobody walks in LA
Walkin' in LA
Walkin' in LA, nobody walks in LA

I don't know could've been a lame jogger maybe
Or someone just about to do the freeway strangler baby
Shopping cart pusher or maybe someone groovy
One thing's for sure, he isn't starring in the movies
'Cause he's walkin' in LA
Walkin' in LA, nobody walks in LA
Walkin' in LA
Walkin' in LA, only a nobody walks in LA

Walkin', walkin', walkin'
Nobody's walkin', walkin', walkin'
Nobody's walkin', walkin', walkin'
Nobody's walkin', walkin', walkin'

You won't see a cop walkin' on the beat
Nobody's walkin', walkin', walkin'

You only see 'em drivin' cars out on the street
Nobody's walkin', walkin', walkin'

You won't see a kid walkin' home from school
Nobody's walkin', walkin', walkin'

Their mothers pick 'em up in a car pool
Nobody's walkin', walkin'

Walkin' in LA
Walkin' in LA, nobody walks in LA
Walkin' in LA
Walkin' in LA, nobody walks in LA

Could it be that the smog's playing tricks on my eyes
Or is a roller skater some kind of headphone disguise
Maybe somebody who just ran out of gas
Making his way back to the pumps the best way he can

Walkin' in LA
Walkin' in LA, nobody walks in LA
Walkin' in LA
Walkin' in LA, nobody walks in LA
Walkin' in LA
Walkin' in LA, nobody walks in LA
Walkin' in LA
Walkin' in LA, only a nobody walks in LA

Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin'
Walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin'
Walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin'
Walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin'
Walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin', walkin'

Nobody walks in LA