In a park around midnight, bathrooms open there
Foul stench from the next stall, rising up through the air
Some dude on his cell phone, I saw the eerie blue light
He’s headin’ out I should go with him, He found a place for the night

It was a box in a doorway, next to taco bell
I was drinkin’ there all by myself, it could be worse but it sure wasn’t swell
Somebody lit up a crack pipe, and they passed it my way
There were voices talkin’ in my head, I thought I heard them say

Welcome to broke-ass California
I used to have a place, it was a lovely place
Plenty of gloom in broke-ass California
In another year, we’ll all be dyin’ here

My old house now is listed, and I lost all my friends
I had to sell off all my nifty toys, as a means to an end
My only pants I am wearing, and I’m starting to sweat
I’ll wear them til this December, but we’re not quite there yet

So I called to the darkness, please bring me some wine
I heard a voice echo back to me “it’ll cost a buck 69”
And still those voices are talking inside my head
They talk to me all through the night, I think they all just said:

Welcome to broke-ass California
Now it’s such a waste, a pathetic place
Livin’ low dough in broke-ass California
But I’m not surprised, ‘cause they tell us lies

Now I don’t have a ceiling, no champagne and no ice, and they said
They’re releasing their prisoners here, and I’m getting head lice
And in the tax man’s chambers, they plan out their next fleece
On how to stab us with their steely knives, to get our pocket change at least

Last thing I remember, I was laying on the floor
My tax return had just been done and it said they wanted more
Relax said my tax man, they are programmed to receive
they can just take your first born child, and then you’re free to leave