[Verse 1]
Grew up in a small town twenty miles from the state line
Learned early on to work hard for what I thought was mine
In the town that I call home there are two types of folks
Those that find their way out and there's those that don't

[Chorus]
And I will give anything to live under those California stars, oh Lord
Guess I'll settle on these Carolina scars

[Verse 2]
So I packed up like a freight train and I headed towards the lights
But the back of my daddy's Chevrolet was as far as I got that Saturday night
Like a good drug she got me high, Lord did she let me down
And left me here alone to die in this God-forsaken, one-horse town

[Chorus]
And I would trade the money that I've made for one night under California stars, oh Lord
Guess I'll settle on these Carolina scars

[Verse 3]
Now I am not ungrateful, please don't misunderstand
Just a gambler out here waitin' on my winnin' hand
My daddy taught me the lesson he had to teach himself
And to me that's more important than any kind of man-made wealth

[Chorus]
And I will return the lessons that I've learned for one night under California stars, oh Lord
I'll just settle on these Carolina stars
Oh, I'll settle on these Carolina scars
Oh, I'll settle on these Carolina scars