California Earthquake
Rodney Crowell

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There was a California earthquake in the year of '83
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It shook the living daylights out of the Owens County Seat
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There weren't a building still left standing when the dust had cleared away
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Just a rumble in the distance all the way to San Andrea

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Sherman Buck was driving his old mule into town
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When a big one came that shook so hard, Lord, it knocked him to the ground
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Lord, there opened up a hole so big he knew his time was up
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Lord, it swallowed up that poor old mule and it just missed Sherman Buck

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California earthquake you just don't know what you've done
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We may fall off in the ocean, Lord you'll never make us run
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You're a partner of the devil, Lord we ain't afraid of him
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We'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again

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Then there came the quake of '99 that levelled Mission Creek
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The earth was like an ocean churning waves of twenty feet
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Lord it sounded like a thousand trains were screaming underground
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Clean across the San Joachim folks heard that mournful sound

C                                G  
California earthquake you just don't know what you've done
                       Em                 A             D  
We may fall off in the ocean, Lord you'll never make us run
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You're a partner of the devil, Lord we ain't afraid of him
      Em                G                     D             G
We'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again

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Then there came one day a holocaust Lord it rocked the Frisco Bay
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Miles of walls came down like old Jericho that day
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Might near everything that the earthquake missed, a holy fire consumed
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Just left 'em holdin smoke and ashes  was the dream that can't be ruined

C                                G  
California earthquake you just don't know what you've done
                       Em                 A             D  
We may fall off in the ocean, Lord you'll never make us run
         G                             C               G
You're a partner of the devil, Lord we ain't afraid of him
      Em                G                     D             G
We'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again
      Em                G                     D             G
We'll build ourselves another town so you can tear it down again