I was born in the badlands, honey
Strange place for a boy to drown
Spent my days on a mountain, baby
Twelve miles north of Sofiatown

You've been gone away, I've been riding around
Running out the days, writing out a song
On my daddy's guitar
Did you find your way? Skip another town?
Said I couldn't stay but it's different now
Yippee ki yi yay, I’m always down
For hanging around

Left to borrow, gone tomorrow
Baby, there ain't a trail to follow
Better off alone if you ask me
Travel lucky, Kawasaki
Maybe, next time I'll take you with me
And I still hear the sound
The wind come up, Kalahari down
Kalahari down

Polish in your whip, never drove it far
Circling the veld, spittin' in the jar
On your Daddy's farm
You say you're afraid, tell me not to frown
Play a song, you dance around
Yippee yo ki yay, we'd hit the ground
Still tumbling down

What do I know? Buncha sorrow
Promises of a desperado
Through the rusty sky I feel the breeze
Where do we go? Mendocino?
Maybe some day I'll get to see all
The places like Torino's never been
And I still hear the sound
Wind come up, Kalahari down
Kalahari down

Left to roam on a reckless wander
Raising sand on the setting sun
Keep an eye on that dusty highway
Tell my mother I'm nearly done
And I still hear the sound
Wind come up, Kalahari down
Kalahari down