I was takin' a walk through a small country city Just seein' 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 And 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 He said, "You know, 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 And 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 Oh I wish I could see Bakersfield