California

I've beaten my brain with benzodiazepines Mama won't tell ya love is a monstrous thing The sky's a blue vapor, it's painfully true I've prayed it would rain drown all my feelings for you I drove the fire roads at night in a busted up car I searched the skyline, in vain, for one goddamn star This city's a dream, but I'm wide awake Caught up in their lights with nothing to say My soul has been bled, I don't know for sure If my heart is breaking, is yours broken too? I've heard the mission bells ring through the salty breeze I've seen politicians born on a thousand TV's There's a knife in every back, one in every hand And I swear it ain't you, it's California I can't stand Stand right there with you when the last lamp runs dry When the last hands been played When the black banners fly When the songbirds have all broken their throats When the fire of St. Joan is nothing but smoke I've seen the fog rolling in, the flashbulbs throw sparks We suffer in time, but illumine the dark There's a knife in every back and one in every hand And I swear it ain't you, it's California I can't stand