Jamie's in the corner with a wire and a light He's got his shaking fingers hard pressed, Yeah he's leaving tonight And momma's in the back, She's got her fists down at her side So long as she doesn't exhale She knows that it'll be alright
And he walks out into the road And he lets out a sound like a howl at the moon Try though we may to keep him We know he's leaving here soon
Yeah he's been talking 'bout California He's been tracing maps in the night He says if we want we can join him, We can, yes we can, yes we can, yes we can And he'll meet us by the oceanside
A day or two, a week or three A month and then one more I am standing by the telephone I am waiting at the door
And every little thing I see I read it as a sign I wonder if he's wondering too I know he's out there somewhere, I am sure
And I feel a pull to the west Like invisible tides dragging out to the sea A wind murmurs low through the window He said he'd wait there for me
He talked a lot about California Said he could make it there if he tried I know that he will if he wants to He can, yes he can, yes he can, yes he can And he'll meet me by the oceanside
The days are getting shorter now A movement's on the rise I swear that I can see his face If I just close my eyes
And I carve a trail in my palm Of the possible ground where he's already been I swear on the sun I'll go join him Yeah, I'll go find him but when?
Now I been dreaming 'bout California Been tracing maps in my mind I know if I want to I'll join him I can, yes I can, yes I can, yes I can
And he was talking 'bout California He was tracing maps in the night I swear that someday I'll go join him I can, yes I can and he'll meet me by the oceanside