I flew out to Palo Alto From Nashville in mid-July I felt the sea salt burning in my lungs So keenly I could cry 'Cause I love my little front porch And waking up in my own bed But I'd been home for a while I was getting lost inside my head I drove up to Monte Bello For a solitary climb But I met a man who knew the trails We walked the last few miles He told me we were standing On the San Andreas Fault And if it opened we'd both be goners Within a minute, ready or not Well, I'm not afraid of dying But I'm dead set on being alive Give me something to stop my heartbeat Like the western shoreline I looked over the Pacific From the height of Mussel Rock And I saw the waves come rolling With the current of my thoughts Four decades I was breathing Without filling up my lungs Now I'm headed for the edge I'm running right into the sun I need California California There's a fault line in my soul There was a day three years ago When the earth beneath my feet just fell away I was swallowed by the sea I heard a song rise from the deep I've never felt so alone, or so safe Just like California California I'm not afraid of dying But I'm dead set on being alive Give me something to take my breath away Like the western shoreline Give me something to stop my heartbeat Like the western shoreline