I was born in southern California sand
To a gypsy mother and a guitar-playing man
Oh yeah

Raised inside the American dream
Desert parties had it all so it seemed
Hell yeah

Yet there was something driving me wild, driving me crazy
Deep inside like a knife cuttin' on me
So I said to myself you got one life sittin' on the shelf
Get out
Oh yeah

Growing up in California
Growing up in California
Got the sun got the beach
And it's always calling me
Oh yeah

So I headed north San Francisco Bay
There was music all night
It was a party every day
Oh yeah

I found myself in a funky band
Led by a family stone horn-playin' man
Hey hey yeah
Yet there was something pulling me hard
Driving me crazy
I needed more too much music inside of me
So with my friends we had a plan
Start our own rockin' band that's right
Oh wow yeah
Growing up in California
Growing up in California
Pretty women you gotta see
And they're always callin' me
Oh yeah

Hollywood Boulevard, Rainbow Bar & Grill
Lots of gold records I still love it here
Pacific coast highway Fillmore where the music lives
Wine country the most beautiful place I know
Sierra mountains southern beaches
Inland cities rock'n'roll

In California

In California
Check out the sun check out the beach
And it's always callin' me
Oh yeah oh yeah
Growing up in California
Growing up in California