| She came from Providence, the one in Rhode Island | 
| Where the old world shadows hang heavy in the air. | 
| She packed her hopes and dreams like a refugee, | 
| Just as her father came across the sea. | 
| She heard about a place people were smilin', | 
| They spoke about the red man’s way, how they loved the land. | 
| And they came from everywhere to the Great Divide | 
| Seeking a place to stand or a place to hide. | 
| Down in the crowded bars out for a good time, | 
| Can’t wait to tell you all what it’s like up there. | 
| And they called it paradise, I don’t know why. | 
| Somebody laid the mountains low while the town got high. | 
| Then the chilly winds blew down across the desert, | 
| Through the canyons of the coast to the Malibu | 
| Where the pretty people play hungry for power | 
| To light their neon way and give them things to do. | 
| Some rich man came and raped the land, nobody caught 'em, | 
| Put up a bunch of ugly boxes and, Jesus, people bought 'em. | 
| And they called it paradise, the place to be, | 
| They watched the hazy sun sinking in the sea. | 
| You can leave it all behind and sail to Lahaina | 
| Just like the missionaries did so many years ago. | 
| They even brought a neon sign 'Jesus is Coming', | 
| Brought the white man’s burden down, brought the white man’s reign. | 
| Who will provide the grand design, what is yours and what is mine? | 
| 'Cause there is no more new frontier, we have got to make it here. | 
| We satisfy our endless needs and justify our bloody deeds | 
| In the name of destiny and in the name of God. | 
| And you can see them there on Sunday morning | 
| Stand up and sing about what it’s like up there. | 
| They called it paradise, I don’t know why. | 
| You call some place paradise — kiss it goodbye. |