I've been sitting here for a long time
About an hour south of the Grapevine
Waiting for my ladder to come
I came here for a piece of the action
Waited to the point of distraction
Slowly getting sick from the sun

And I remember waiting in line for
A shot at getting in through the side door
Of cities we could never afford
But now it's just a matter of recall
Slowly getting used to the freefall
And all that we forgot to record

I started walking the streets again
Trying to get a taste of the oxygen
I'm feeling like I'm getting so out of touch
And I don't even get out of town that much

But now it's stop and go on the 405
I wonder if there's anyone left alive
These solitary holiday afternoons
I wish that I could call it but it's too soon
So tell me if you want to go

It's a long way home
To the Santa Monica that you know
And I'm already late to make mine
Got a see-through skin
It shares a border with the state that I'm in
I don't even try to get down

But now we're destined to walk the earth
Telling everybody we got here first
Watching as the bars and the restaurants
Are slowly taken over by debutantes

'Cause Santa Monica's just a boulevard
Something you can put on your credit card
And I don't have the heart to come back for you
I worry 'bout the future but it's too soon
So tell me if you want to go

It's a long way home
To the Santa Monica that you know
And I'm already late to make mine
Got a see-through skin
It shares a border with the state that I'm in
I don't even try to get down
Simple cowardice keeps me in this town

And you wouldn't believe
All the things that you need
Just to carry your head up off the ground
In this town

It's a long way home
To the Santa Monica that you know
And I'm already late to make mine
Got a see-through skin
It shares a border with the state that I'm in
I don't even try to get down
Simple cowardice keeps me in this town