Andrew McMahon wrote on andrewmcmahon.com:

“This song was written towards the end of my time in Topanga Canyon. I wanted to have something on the album with a real California flavor that spoke to the throwback qualities of living in the canyon. I remember going into the session with Kevin and Sam with California Dreamin as a reference track. Canyon moon is a story about a girl who loses herself in this idyllic, west coast fantasy world and has to get out. The theme of escape is one I’ve always enjoyed writing about and there is something haunting about this track and it’s lack of resolution that I find really charming.”