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 way, 
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 

You can leave it all behind 
and sail to Lahaina 
just like the missionaries did, so many years ago 
They even brought a neon sign: "Jesus is coming" 
Brought the white man's burden down 
Brought the white man's reign 

Who will provide the grand design? 
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 the name 
of God 

And you can see them there, 
On Sunday morning 
They stand up and sing about 
what it's like up there 
They call it paradise 
I don't know why 
You call someplace paradise, 
kiss it goodbye