I was takin' a walk through a small country city
Just seem' 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
When 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

Recitation:
He said "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
When 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