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 ways
and 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 men 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
But we can leave it
all behind
and sail to Lahaina
Just like the
missionaries did
so many years ago
They even bought
a neon sign said
"Jesus is coming"
And brought the
white man's
burden down
And brought the
white man's reign
Who will provide
the grand design?
And 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 out loud
what it's like up there
They call it paradise
I don't know why
You call some place
paradise
kiss it goodbye