You might not recognize, the truth gets colored by
Wrong things, bad things do disguise
Afraid you might despise the real thing
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh

Down in southern cal we don't wear shoes
We lay it way back
When someone with charisma tells me "Don't wear shoes"
I tell them "Go back where did you get that?"
You might not recognize, the truth gets colored by
Wrong things, bad things do disguise
Afraid you might despise the real thing
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh

Down in Africa they beat the drum
They like the big beat
White man through the P.A. says "Don't beat that drum"
They tell him "Go back, where does it say that?"
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh

Down at the little church they all wear hats
They feel they're doing right
Over at the big church they hate those hats
It get's them uptight now is that right?

You might not recognize, the truth gets colored by
Wrong things, bad things do disguise
Afraid you might despise the real thing
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh
The real thing whoa-oh