Making my way to California
Across the desert is how I'm gettin' there
With an '85 Volvo and a can of mountain dew
There is absolutely nothing left to do
But drive, drive, drive all the way to L.A.

I know it ain't no place for tradition
You only go if you have lots of ambition
My daddy always said he knew I could make it
I'm going to Hollywood and I'm gonna take it

I moved to California
It's where I wanna be
But not in no small town
L.A's the place for me

The first place I went to was Venice Beach
And all I found was hundreds of freaks
Just freaks like me like a one man band
And a guy who carved mermaids in the sand
Just people like me trying to get their big break

Found a little apartment and I moved in quickly
They said it had a view but all I could see
Was the peeling gray paint of the house next door
You might think I was mad but I couldn't ask for more
'cause

I moved to California
It's where I wanna be
But not in no small town
L.A's the place for me

I spent weeks playin' on the street
and realized I was gettin' nothin' to eat
Had no job, no friends, not even a view
And began to realize there were very few
Who knew what I was going through

I talked to this woman
waiting' for the bus
chain smokin' Marlboro ciggarettes
and wearin' dirty white Keds
She said, "I've wanted to be a producer
for my whole life
So I moved here and didn't get much farther after that
but I just gotta keep on tryin'"

She got on the bus
And winked and waved goodbye
So I started to think
if she can do it, so can I
'cause I

I moved to California
It's where I wanna be
And even if it don't always treat me right
L.A.'s the place for me

I moved to California
It's where I wanna be
But not in no small town
L.A.'s the place for me

Los Angeles, look at me