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 smilling   They spoke about the red mans way   And how they loved the land   And they came from everywhere to the Great Divide   Seeking a place to stay or a place to hide   Down in the crowded bars   Out for the good time   Can't wait to tell you all what its like up there   They called it paradise   I dont 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 ways and give them things to do   Some rich men came and raped the land   Nobody caught em   Put up a bunch of boxes and Jesus people bought 'em   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 mans burden down   Brought the white mans 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 in the name of God   And you can see them there on Sunday morning   Stand up and sing about what its like up there   They call it paradise   I dont know why   You call some place paradise   Kiss it goodbye