I was takin' a walk through a small country city
   Just seem' what there was to see
   I sat down to read a historical marker
   When I felt someone sit down by me
  
   He leaned on the tank that was helping his breathing
   Said it's bad when your body is gone
   I said this is sure a nice town that you've got here
   He said yeah, but there's no place like home
  
   I wish I could see Bakersfield
   Where the oil wells are pumpin'
   The oranges are bloomin'
   And the grapevine winds down from the hill
   When I close my eyes I can touch the clear skies
   At the corner where I used to live
   Oh I wish I could see Bakersfield
  
   He said you don't ever know where life's gonna lead you
   When you go ramblin' off down the track
   Sometimes I wish I'd never left California
   Then I couldn't want to go back
  
   Recitation:
   He said "You know, I used to be a well-known country singer
   Made my first record back in 1953
   At one time Buck Owens was my lead guitar player
   And ol' Hag once wrote a song about me"
  
   I wish I could see Bakersfield
   Where the oil wells are pumpin'
   The oranges are bloomin'
   And the grapevine winds down from the hill
   When I close my eyes I can touch the clear skies
   At the corner where I used to live
   Oh I wish I could see Bakersfield
  
   Oh I wish I could see Bakersfield