"Write a song about California" he said
"Write a song about California" he said to me before I left
But I think I'll write a song about him instead
Now I'm sittin' up on Hollywood hill
Can't think of a single thing to sing about this place, maybe I never will
But I'm thinkin' 'bout you still
Walkin' down Sunset Boulevard
Never thought writing a song about some place could be this hard
With you I don't know where to start

Here's to the one who kept me up all night
Who sings exactly right and never lets me know
Here's to the boy, the one with the bright eyes
Who makes me realize I got a long long way to go to California

Bah bah bah, bah dah bah

Now I am standing on this pier
With all the sights and sounds of Santa Monica still ringing in my ears
Oh I'm wishing you were here
"Write a song about California" he said
I think it's something everybody's got to do before they're dead
But I wrote this song about you instead

Here's to the one who kept me up all night
Who sings exactly right and never lets me know
Here's to the boy, the one with the bright eyes
Who makes me realize I got a long long way to go to California