V1 When I was a child, I loved my state There were plenty of places to roam Open fields, full of oranges and dates California is always my home V2 I'd rollerblade along the boardwalk And listen to the seals sing their tunes I had plenty of time for small talk Days in the sun and long afternoons Chorus There is a cool rhythm and a gentle sway From the sounds of the beat that fills the air Warm breezes blow and soft mists gently spray From the oceanfront that is ever near Those are the memories from back in the day No stopping the future, it's already here V3 In time, lots of people came to live here Valleys grew into high tech business It became the land of engineers Many orchards are gone and seen much less Prechorus It's a long time ago, but I still care Chorus There is a cool rhythm and a gentle sway From the sounds of the beat that fills the air Warm breezes blow and soft mists gently spray From the oceanfront that is ever near Those are the memories from back in the day No stopping the future, it's already here Bridge Thinking back, thinking back, thinking back, thinking back V4 That's the California I recall It's still there underneath the chaos Looking beyond the urban sprawl I don't focus on the hype and gloss Outro Thinking back, thinking back