Out California Way
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics

A lonely spot, I know where no man will go
I know a remote place where no one ever ventures

Where the shadows have all the room
A place where darkness and emptiness abound

I was ridin' free on the old SP
I was traveling freely on the old Southern Pacific train

Humming a southern tune
While singing a song native to the southern area

When a man came along made me hush my song
Suddenly, a man appeared who made me stop singing

Kicked me off, way out there
He forced me to disembark in the middle of nowhere

As she pulled out of sight I turned to the right
As the train disappeared from view I looked towards the right

A left and everywhere
I looked left, then around me

But all I could see was a cactus tree
Despite looking around I saw only a single cactus tree

And a prairie dog playing there
I saw a prairie dog having fun

I watched the prairie dog feed on the tumbleweed
I observed the prairie dog dining on a tumbleweed - all he had to eat out there

That's his home, way out there
This is the prairie dog's natural habitat in this desolate location

So I threw down my load in the desert road
I tossed my belongings to the ground on the sandy path

Rested my weary legs too
I took a break from walking and rested my tired legs

I watched the sinking sun, make the tall shadows run
I watched the sun setting, as it caused the long shadows to dissipate

Out across that barren plain
Across the desolate and uninhabited land

Then I hummed a tune to the risin' moon
I sang a song to the newly ascended moon

He gets lonesome way out there
The moon feels lonely in this remote location

So I closed my eyes to the starlit skies
I shut my eyes while gazing up at the starry night sky

And lost myself in dreams
I became engrossed in my daydreams

I dreamed the desert sand was a milk and honey land
I imagined that the desert changed into a fertile and abundant place

Then I awoke with a start
Sudden awakening interrupted my reverie

There the train comin' back on that one way track
The sound of the train's impending return snapped me back to reality

Gonna take me away from here
The train will transport me from this barren place

As she was passin' by, I caught her on the fly
While the train passed me by, I jumped aboard

I climbed in an open door
I scaled aboard through an unlocked entrance

Then I turned around to that desert ground
I spun around to face the area from which I just came

Saw the spot I would see no more
I glimpsed the place where I knew I'd never return

As I was ridin' away
As I journeyed further away

I heard the pale moon say
I heard the moon's voice in my head

Farewell pal
Goodbye, friend

It sure gets lonesome here
Being alone in this desolate place is difficult