One, two...

[Verse 1]
It was a hard rain showing me the way
Up from here to the fire escape
I was caught stuck standing in the flames again
Who the hell would you be telling?
Everybody knows my secret well
It's a long look stranded in the maze again

[Pre-Chorus]
And it's a long way back to California
And I ain't got time to cover my tracks
How the hell do I return to normal
If I'm always ending up flat on my back?

[Chorus]
Well, these are the golden years
Thought I'd never find 'em
Or just watch 'em disappear
Into the echoes of all the older lovers
That still whisper my name around here

[Verse 2]
And it's one more time to be sure
Lorraine ain't coming 'round here no more
Took me eight years to figure out what to do
And it's a stone's throw back to the old
Habits stored in a well worn coat
That's the price needed to pay to face the truth
[Pre-Chorus]
And it's a long way back to California
And I ain't got time to cover my tracks
How the hell do I return to normal
If I'm always ending up flat on my back?

[Chorus]
Well, these are the golden years
I thought I'd never find 'em
I'd just watch them disappear
Into the echoes of all the older lovers
That still whisper my name around here

Yeah, yeah, yeah

[Outro]
And it's a long way back to California
And I ain't got time to cover my tracks