She came from Providence,   the one in Rhode Island   Where the old world shadows hang   heavy in the air   She packed her hopes and dreams   like a refugee   Just as her father came across the sea      She heard about a place people were smilin'   They spoke about the red man's way,   and how they loved the land   And they came from everywhere   to the Great Divide   Seeking a place to stand   or a place to hide      Down in the crowded bars,   out for a good time,   Can't wait to tell you all,   what it's like up there   And they called it paradise   I don't know why   Somebody laid the mountains low   while the town got high      Then the chilly winds blew down   Across the desert   through the canyons of the coast, to   the Malibu   Where the pretty people play,   hungry for power   to light their neon way   and give them things to do      Some rich men came and raped the land,   Nobody caught 'em   Put up a bunch of ugly boxes, and Jesus,   people bought 'em   And they called it paradise   The place to be   They watched the hazy sun, sinking in the sea      You can leave it all behind   and sail to Lahaina   just like the missionaries did, so many years ago   They even brought a neon sign: "Jesus is coming"   Brought the white man's burden down   Brought the white man's reign      Who will provide the grand design?   What is yours and what is mine?   'Cause there is no more new frontier   We have got to make it here      We satisfy our endless needs and   justify our bloody deeds,   in the name of destiny and the name   of God      And you can see them there,   On Sunday morning   They stand up and sing about   what it's like up there   They call it paradise   I don't know why   You call someplace paradise,   kiss it goodbye