California Earthquake (A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On) Songtext
von Rodney Crowell

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