[Verse 1]
There was a California earthquake in the year of '83
It shook the living daylights out of the Owens County Seat
There weren't a building still left standing when the dust had cleared away
Just a rumble in the distance all the way to San Andrea

[Verse 2]
Well, Sherman Buck was driving his old mule on into town
When the big 'un came and shook so hard that it knocked him to the ground
Lord, there opened up a hole so big, he just knew that his time was up
And it swallowed up that poor old mule and it just missеd Sherman Buck

[Chorus]
California earthquake, you just don't know what you'vе done
We might fall off in the ocean, Lord, but you'll never make us run
You're a partner to the devil, but we ain't afraid of him
And we'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again

[Verse 3]
Then there came the quake of '99 that levelled Mission Creek
The earth was like an ocean churning waves of twenty feet
Lord it sounded like a thousand trains were screaming underground
Clean across to San Joachim folks heard that mournful sound

[Chorus]
California earthquake you just don't know what you've done
We might fall off in the ocean, but you'll never make us run
You're a partner to the devil, we ain't afraid of him
And we'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again
[Verse 4]
Then there came one day a holocaust, and it rocked the Frisco Bay
Miles of walls came tumblin' down, like on Jericho that day
Might near everything that the earthquake missed, a holy fire consumed
And just left 'em the smoke and ashes of the dreams that they had ruined

[Chorus]
California earthquake you just don't know what you've done
We might fall off in the ocean Lord, but you'll never make us run
You're a partner to the devil but we ain't afraid of him
And we'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again
We'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again