[Intro - strummed bass, acoustic guitar, low notes, sparse atmosphere] [Verse 1 - detached British delivery] It's been thirty years since I've been there Don't know if I can still remember All the memories that we shared But flashbacks scrape across my mind Reminding me of all the smiles That used to light up summer days Now I'm driving all these miles Back to our old California ways [Chorus - falsetto soaring over strummed bass + synth lift] I'm driving back to California Down those old desert roads to you I wanna see the sunset falling Feel that ocean breeze blow through I wanna see the old faces I wanna see you too Maybe we could do it all again Like we used to do [Verse 2 - detached British delivery, drums sharper] Times have changed, that much is sure You've got kids and I've got mine But fate keeps playing with our hearts Like we got left behind Two hearts broken at the same time Like a school bus on the run Now I'm crossing every state line Racing toward the setting sun [Chorus - falsetto higher, synth melody intensifies] I'm driving back to California Leaving bright lights of the east behind I want you to remind me Of times when we were young and free And who knows, maybe we're meant to be Maybe we're meant to be [Bridge - sparse, fragile falsetto, minimal synth swells] The radio plays our old song As I pass through Arizona Thirty years feels like so long But my heart still calls your name Desert roads stretch out like time Between who we used to be And who we are now, but I'm Still hoping you'll remember me [Final Chorus - full band, soaring falsetto + layered vocals, anthemic synth climax] I'm driving back to California Down those old desert roads to you I wanna see that sunset falling Feel what we both thought we knew I wanna see those old places Where our love first came true Maybe we could do it all again Maybe it's not through Our California dream Our California dream
