This was written both as a pastiche and a serious outlook on the film industry, particularly in Hollywood during the Golden Age. Songwriters and bandmates Kevin Godley and Lol Creme would later become successful music video directors in the 1980s.
[Verse 1: Kevin Godley]
Down on the casting couch
A star is gonna be born
A star with the stature of a Harlow
Who's doomed
And groomed to enrapture
All her co-stars, and stuntmen, the co-stars
[Refrain: Kevin Godley]
Oh, let there be lights, action, sound
Lights, action, sound - Roll 'em!
[Verse 2: Kevin Godley & Lol Creme]
Out in the mezzanine
On the arm of a dumb marine
Her beauty looks out like a trailer
Norman Mailer
Waits to nail her
He's under the bed
And he's waiting for her to be dead
He's out on the patio
With his polaroid and scenario
And he's armed and he's dangerous-
[Verse 3: Kevin Godley]
-ly close was the weather
When I was a kid
She gave me a feather from her gown
To cool me down, to cool me down
And I was the galley slave
Who lost his heart when the ship went down
[Refrain: Kevin Godley]
Lights, action, sound
Roll 'em
[Verse 4: Kevin Godley]
I had a part in the talkies
When you were a little girl
I've taken Lassie for walkies
When she was the pup
That Vaudeville threw up
And destiny led her
Hand in paw to
Somewhere in Hollywood
That's crazy
A dog up in Beverly Hills
Crazy, crazy
[Outro: Group]
La, la, la, la, la la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la la, la, la, la, la
You better lie low
Somewhere in Hollywood was written by Lol Creme & Kevin Godley.
Somewhere in Hollywood was produced by 10cc.
10cc released Somewhere in Hollywood on Tue May 28 1974.