CALIFORNIA'S PASSING
Melody and Lyrics by Tommy Hills
OH IT WAS HER LAST DECEMBER
AND IT WAS HER LAST JULY WITH CALIFORNIA'S PASSING
SHE SIGHED AND SAID GOODBYE
WE'LL MISS HER MIGHTY REDWOODS
AND WE'LL MISS HER ARBOR VINES
WE'LL REMEMBER SNOWY MOUNTAINS
AND THE FRAGRANCE OF HER WINES
YOU WARNED US WITH YOUR FIRES
YOU WARNED US WITH YOUR HEAT
BUT NO ONE TOOK THE MEASURES
WE CONTINUED TO DEPLETE
YOU'RE BEACHES AND YOU'RE VALLEYS
YOU'RE HARVEST AND YOU'RE VIEWS
MUCH MORE THAN A NATIONAL TREASURE
SHE BELONGED TO ME AND YOU
REFRAIN:
THE TUMBLE WEEDS NOW KINGS AND QUEENS
WHERE ONCE THE GREEN GRASS GREW
BROWN DRIED EARTH HOLDS LITTLE WORTH
WHERE PATHS ONCE TOOK US THROUGH
WANTING MORE WE LOST THE WAR
WITH JUST OURSELVES TO BLAME
THE LAST TRUCK LEFT WITH ORANGES
THE LAST TRUCK LEFT IN SHAME
END REFRAIN
ONCE A LAND OF RIVERS
ONCE A LAND OF LAKES
ABUNDANT RUNNING WATERS
BUT MAN MADE HIS MISTAKES
WE PUMPED AND DRILLED
THE EARTH WE KILLED
IN OUR RELENTLESS QUEST
WE TOOK OUR TIME, LEFT NOTHING BEHIND
FORGETTING WE WERE GUESTS
FORGIVE US NOW FOR HOW YOU DIED
NEVER MEANT TO DO YOU HARM
FORGIVE US EVEN WHEN WE LIED
ABANDONING OUR FARMS
TOO MUCH TOO LITTLE FOR A CAUSE
WITH PLANS THAT WERE UNDONE
THE GREED AND LIES NO WONDER WHY
THIS RACE COULD NOT BE WON
Refrain:
OUR INVITATION VOIDED
OUR STAY WITH HER REVOKED
SHE FEELS THE PAIN, HOW IN HUMANE
ASSAULTS WERE UNPROVOKED
WANTING MORE WE LOST THE WAR
WITH JUST OURSELVES TO BLAME
THE LAST TRUCK LEFT WITH ORANGES
THE LAST TRUCK LEFT IN SHAME
END REFRAIN
OH IT WAS HER LAST DECEMBER
AND IT WAS HER LAST JULY
WITH CALIFORNIA'S PASSING
JUST TEARS LEFT IN OUR EYES
WE'LL MISS HER MIGHTY REDWOODS
AND WE'LL MISS HER ARBOR VINES
WE'LL REMEMBER SNOWY MOUNTAINS
THE FRAGRANCE OF HER WINES
THE TUMBLE WEEDS NOW KINGS AND QUEENS
WHERE ONCE THE GREEN GRASS GREW
BROWN DRIED EARTH HOLDS LITTLE WORTH
WHERE PATHS ONCE TOOK US THROUGH
WANTING MORE WE LOST THE WAR
WITH JUST OURSELVES TO BLAME
THE LAST TRUCK LEFT WITH ORANGES
THE LAST TRUCK LEFT IN SHAME
THE LAST TRUCK LEFT WITH ORANGES
THE LAST TRUCK LEFT IN SHAME.