California Earthquake (A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On)

There was a California earthquake in the year of '83

It shook the living daylights out of the Owens County Seat

There weren't a building still left standing when the dust had cleared away

Just a rumble in the distance all the way to San Andrea

Sherman Buck was driving in his old mule into town

When a big one came that shook so hard that it knocked him to the ground

Lord, they opened up a hole so big that he knew his time was up

Lord, it swallowed up that poor old mule, and it just missed Sherman Buck

California earthquake, you just don't know what you've done

We might fall off in the ocean, Lord, you'll never make us run

You're a partner of the devil, Lord, we ain't afraid of him

We'll build ourselves another town, so you can tear it down again

Then came the quake of '99 that levelled Mission Creek

The earth was like an ocean churning with waves of 20 feet

Lord, it sounded like a thousand trains were screaming underground

Clean across to San Joachim, folks heard that mournful sound

California earthquake, you just don't know what you've done

We might fall off in the ocean, Lord, you'll never make us run

You're a partner of the devil, Lord, we ain't afraid of him

We'll build ourselves another town, so you can tear it down again

Then came one day the holocaust, Lord, on rocks of Francisco Bay

Miles of walls came a-tumbin' down, just like Jericho on that day

Might near everything the earthquake missed, a holy fire consumed

Just left 'em whole in smokin' ashes, what a dream can't be ruined

California earthquake, you just don't know what you've done

You might lay us 'neat the ground some day, but you'll never make us run

You're a partner of the devil, Lord, we ain't afraid of him

We'll build ourselves another town, so you can tear it down again

Lord, we'll build ourselves another town, so you can tear it down again