(Buddy Cannon)



I was takin' a walk through a small country city

Just seem' what there was to see

I sat down to read a historical marker

When I felt someone sit down by me



He leaned on the tank that was helping his breathing

Said it's bad when your body is gone

I said this is sure a nice town that you've got here

He said yeah, but there's no place like home



I wish I could see Bakersfield

Where the oil wells are pumpin'

The oranges are bloomin'

And the grapevine winds down from the hill

When I close my eyes I can touch the clear skies

At the corner where I used to live

Oh I wish I could see Bakersfield



He said you don't ever know where life's gonna lead you

When you go ramblin' off down the track

Sometimes I wish I'd never left California

Then I couldn't want to go back



Recitation:

He said "You know, I used to be a well-known country singer

Made my first record back in 1953

At one time Buck Owens was my lead guitar player

And ol' Hag once wrote a song about me"



I wish I could see Bakersfield

Where the oil wells are pumpin'

The oranges are bloomin'

And the grapevine winds down from the hill

When I close my eyes I can touch the clear skies

At the corner where I used to live

Oh I wish I could see Bakersfield



Oh I wish I could see Bakersfield