(watch me)
waitress all dressed like
nurses in bondage
brought me the cheque
said "I want you to sign this"
union boy standing
next to the rastas
"there's gonna be a strike
and you ain't gonna stop us"
free men standing
and they love what they do
you won't see it comin'
cause they wanna surprise you
cause when they're done
they're gonna stare right by you
American punks don't care about you
Hollywood what you gonna do
Hollywood what you gonna do
don't say that you don't understand
don't say that you can't comprehend
don't say that you don't understand
this is California Babylon my man
don't say that you don't understand
don't say that you can't comprehend
don't say that you can't understand
this is California Babylon my man
don't say that you don't understand
don't say that you can't comprehend
don't say that you don't understand
this is California Babylon my man
you can take away the nights
and sights with bright lights
six steel rod and gauge
with street fights
two to the head
pull a wreck
he's dead
suspect fled
caught up with bloodshed
no sight of hope
we fight and slag dope
junky shooting up
no fix they can't cope
fires won't cease
hand me the chrome piece
no peace or cease
we fight with police
('tis the city
to make all your dreams
come true
so pay attention)
don't say that you don't understand
don't say that you can't comprehend
don't say that you don't understand
this is California Babylon my man
don't say that you don't understand
don't say that you can't comprehend
don't say that you don't understand
this is California Babylon my man
at last she arrives
returned and exhausted
cocaine in her pocket
she can get busted
once again she passes
now she's gone
now she's with her friend
her beautiful young
she showed up on the scene
she was 17
now she's 21
she does some more coke
she does some more coke
she tricks on West Key
and she smokes some dope
she thinks she's a star
she thinks she's a star
she thinks she's a star
she thinks she's a star
do you know who you are
do you know who you are
do you know who you are
do you know who you are
don't say that you don't understand
don't say that you can't comprehend
don't say that you don't understand
this is California Babylon my man
don't say that you don't understand
don't say that you can't comprehend
don't say that you don't understand
this is California Babylon my man
don't say that you don't understand
don't say that you can't comprehend
don't say that you don't understand
this is California Babylon my man
don't say that you don't understand
don't say that you can't comprehend
don't say that you don't understand
this is California Babylon my man
don't say that you don't understand
don't say that you can't comprehend
don't say that you don't understand
this is California Babylon my man