Driven through the canyons I was
   Dazzled by the mountains and we didn't go very far
   Close enough to heaven if you
   Climb up on a mansion you too can swing like a star
  
   I tried to get inside I bought a
   Ticket with my pride and I was gone right out of my head
   I went out for a ride to go
   Across a great divide and I ended up at home instead
  
   California
   I thought I should see
   Now I'm back home, yeah
   With twelve little pieces of me
  
   I was just a passenger a
   Rider on the tremors that were shaking all our beds at night
   A visitor a stranger thought I
   Might pass for a regular if I just kept out of the lights
  
   Tore my heart out from my chest
   Mixed it up in my mind with the best freshest pieces of my soul
   Chose the ones I loved the most
   Drove 'em all down to the coast
   Threw 'em in a big black hole
  
   California
   I thought I should see
   Now I'm back home, yeah
   With twelve little pieces of me
   California
   I dreamed I would find
   Some kinda sorta pick-me-up
   I got twelve little pieces of my mind