I headed west to Barstow
Left my family
Dreamin’ of sierra gold
And livin’ by the sea
But the desert’s so damn hot here
And the water isn’t free
And this ain’t what I thought California was supposed to be

Oh, Barstow
Oh, Barstow
Your torture isn’t fair
I left my home for riches but there ain’t gold nowhere
Oh, Barstow
Oh, Barstow
I don’t know what’s keepin’ me around
The toughest godforsaken place that I have ever found

I been workin’ out in Barstow
Every night and day
I’ve been savin’ up frustration and hidin’ it away
Somewhere in the blisterin’ sun beneath the only tree
This ain’t what I thought California was supposed to be

Oh, Barstow
I am so exhausted it ain’t fair
I left my home for riches but there ain’t gold nowhere
Oh, Barstow
I don’t know what’s keepin’ me around
The toughest godforsaken place that I have ever found