L.A. Songs: Santa Ana Winds
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (89015)
United States
October 17, 2026 10:58am CST
Good morning! It’s time to hop aboard the musical plane and head to Los Angeles. Some unfortunate timing with this one, but that’s the way things go. Here is today’s song.
Santa Ana Winds - Steve Goodman
We have an El Niño pattern right now, and that means the Santa Ana winds are kicking up out in Southern California. I saw on the news last night that a number of homes have been burned by a wildfire. 
Steve Goodman probably figured that winds were no problem out in California, given that he was born and raised in Chicago. He moved out there in the early 80s for his health, hoping the warmer climate would keep him from getting sicker because of his immunocompromised condition brought on by leukemia. It didn’t. This album shipped to record stores the day after Goodman died in 1984. 
Despite the sad lyrics about a lost love, which would be more at home in a country song, this has a nice jazzy swing to it. You certainly can’t tell that Goodman knew he was dying in this song.
Santa Ana Winds
Written by Mary Gaffney, Mike Jordan, and Steve Goodman
Recorded by Steve Goodman
From Santa Ana Winds, 1984
L.A. LYRICS:
L.A. weather, hot and hazy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukq82CHkWn0
Steve Goodman probably figured that winds were no problem out in California, given that he was born and raised in Chicago. He moved out there in the early 80s for his health, hoping the warmer climate would keep him from getting sicker because of his immunocompromised condition brought on by leukemia. It didn’t. This album shipped to record stores the day after Goodman died in 1984.
Despite the sad lyrics about a lost love, which would be more at home in a country song, this has a nice jazzy swing to it. You certainly can’t tell that Goodman knew he was dying in this song.
Santa Ana Winds
Written by Mary Gaffney, Mike Jordan, and Steve Goodman
Recorded by Steve Goodman
From Santa Ana Winds, 1984
L.A. LYRICS:
L.A. weather, hot and hazy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukq82CHkWn07 people like this
7 responses
@JohnRoberts (107499)
• Los Angeles, California
3h
It was mild Santa Ana's yesterday morning but none today. They can be fierce nearly knocking you down. Deadly with brush fires.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (89015)
• United States
2h
I saw something come up in my news feed about a “Notre fire” in San Luis Obispo yesterday.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (89015)
• United States
2h
Me too, hate fire season in California…even though I don’t live there and haven’t been there in 40 years.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (89015)
• United States
4h
We don’t get any specific winds here in the Midwest. Unless a hurricane comes through.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (89015)
• United States
4h
My whole guess lies waiting behind door number three. 
1 person likes this
@LooeyVille (71)
• United States
3h
Hubby kinda sorta got it. Artist, not song. I did not good either. He only really knows Steve Goodman as a songwriter.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (89015)
• United States
2h
That’s true of a lot of people that I listen to…him, JD Souther, John Hiatt, etc. All better known as songwriters.
1 person likes this
