California, California Know I love you, California When I leave, I know you wait for me 'Cause in the sun and in the weather No one else has loved me better California you're the place for me
Los Angeles, Los Angeles My heart goes out to you and if I make it back I'd love to drive around Cause your streets are wide and dirty You'd have raised me in a hurry You're the city with the angels, yes indeed
San Francisco, San Francisco Always busy, you're always pretty I can see you just across the bay Your red bridge over the sea Keeps me safe and warm and free On a clear day, there's no place I'd rather be
In the mountains, in the mountains No one knows you like I do And summer streams are knee deep in the snow Just like the giving tree, you have made a man of me Well, everyone needs someplace beautiful I think everyone needs someplace beautiful
California, California Know I love you, California When I leave, I know you wait for me 'Cause in the sun and in the weather No one else has loved me better California, you're the place for me
In the valley, in the valley Give me life and cradle me The sun is setting as I drive ahead So keep us and sustain us Give us food and love, and I trust That without you we'd all soon be dead
In the forest, all the trees You make a little child of me How I long to know what you have seen All the people who are gone And all the ones who once were strong Oh, won't you keep their fate from claiming me
In the oceans, in the sea We have seen eternity How can I tell when you really end? I imagine that you lead to other worlds entirely Where we can save ourselves and start again Yes, we need to save ourselves and start again
California, California Know I love you, California When I leave I know you wait for me 'Cause in the sun and in the weather No one else has loved me better California, you're the place for me
So, nurse me like a mother Raise me strong just like my father Let me wander off, discover who I am I'll have learned your deepest lessons Gathered up your finest blessings Return to California once again Yes, I'll come home to California once again
California, California Know I love you, California When I leave, I know you wait for me 'Cause in the sun and in the weather No one else has loved me better California, you're the place for me Yes, California, you're the place for me California, won't you save a place for me?