| 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. |