[Verse 1]
Who's that coming down the road?
A sailor from the sea
He looks a lot like me
I'd know him anywhere, had to stare
Feathers at his fingertips
A halo 'round his spine
He must have lost his mind
He should be put away, right away

[Pre-Chorus]
In the corner of the night
He handed me his water pipe
His eyes were searching deep inside my head
Here's what he said

[Chorus]
Sorry, I can't stop to talk now
I'm in kind of a hurry, anyhow
But I'll send you a tape from California

[Verse 2]
New York City has exploded
And it's crashed upon my head
I dove beneath the bed
Fighting, biting nails, turning pale
The landlord's at my window
And the burglar's at my door
I can't take it anymore
I guess I'll have to fly, it's worth a try
[Pre-Chorus]
Someone's banging on the wall
But there's no party to recall
The singer of the shadows of his soul
So he's been told

[Chorus]
Sorry, I can't stop to talk now
I'm in kind of a hurry, anyhow
But I'll send you a tape from California
Sorry, I can't stop to talk now
I'm in kind of a hurry, anyhow
But I'll send you a tape from California

[Verse 3]
Who's that coming down the road?
A sailor from the sea
He looks a lot like me
I'd know him anywhere, had to stare
Feathers at his fingertips
A halo 'round his spine
He must have lost his mind
He should be put away, right away

[Pre-Chorus]
Surrounded by the slaughter
Now I'm boarding at the border
When the echoes of my ecstasy appear
Wish I was here
[Chorus]
Sorry, I can't stop to talk now
I'm in kind of a hurry, anyhow
But I'll send you a tape from California