Well you know when you're young there's such a distance between you and your family

You just can't see things from the same point of view

Papa wants a lawyer and mama she wants an author

And all you want is for them to want you



Well, I saw lot of bad signs and we had some real bad times back on the east coast.

And I guess you could say it took California to bring us close

There was a lot of hard livin' and some stone cold women on the east coast

And I saw my papa turn away when I need him most

And California, she's an angel oh so heavenly dressed

And the Pacific she's a woman The Lord must have loved her best

I've got a California rainbow come give them thunder clouds a rest

Oh and the mountain is my friend now, she put me to her test

Well you know every father has dreams and schemes fo his own kid

And dreaming it ain't been declaired no capital crime

But I just hope when I grow up to have my own kids

That I'll love them all I can and let 'em make their own minds

Now you know how a mother can hold the son through understanding

And my father he once held me close by crying

Whoa, and my mama's love it don't ever leave me standing

And papa's love it just leaves me smiling

Whoa, and my mama she's a rainbow,

gotta see hen on Sunday when she's dressed

Whoa, and my papa he's a good man, he gives me and mama his best

Whoa, my mama she's a rainbow, come to give them thunder clouds a rest

And my family is my friend now California put us through her test