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, 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 man 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 in the name of God And you can see them there on Sunday morning Stand up and sing about what it's like up there They called it paradise, I don't know why You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye