FAMILY SONG^©

a.k.a. CALIFORNIA
a.k.a. CALIFORNIA, YOU'RE A WOMAN

May-Jun 1972 version

Well ya know how when you're young
There's such a distance between you and your family
You can't ever see things from the same point of view
Papa wants a lawyer and mama she wants an author
And all you want is for them to want you

Well, we had a lot of bad times, saw some real bad signs on the East coast
And I guess you could say it took California to bring us close
Saw a lot of hard livin' and some stone cold women on the East Coast
And my papa turned away when I needed him the most

Oh and California she's an angel
Oh so heavenly dressed
Whoa and the Pacific she's a woman
The Lord he must have loved her best
And I got a California rainbow to come give them thunder clouds a rest
Oh and the mountain is my friend now, she put me to her test

Well now you know every father has dreams and schemes for his own kid
Oh and dreaming ain't been declared no capital crime
But I just hope when I grow up and have my own kids
I'll love them all I can and let'em make their own minds
And you know how a mother can hold a son through understanding
Well my papa he once held me close by crying
And my mama's love it don't ever leave me standing
And my papa's love can only leave me smiling

Whoa and my mama she's a angel, oughtta see her on Sunday when she's dressed
Whoa and my papa he's a good man, you know he gives me and mama his best
Whoa she's a California rainbow, come to give my thunder clouds a rest
And my family is my friend now, ah California put us through her test
Hmmm

Written in 1971 under the title CALIFORNIA. Also known by the title CALIFORNIA, YOU'RE A WOMAN. These lyrics refer to a solo demo recoded in May-Jun 1972 at Pocketful Of Tunes Studio (offices of Laurel Canyon Music), New York City, NY. It is definitely sure that this take is from Pocketful Studios as the control room engineer can be heard giving Bruce a directive to begin.

This take is delivered at a slower pace and is slightly off-key. The Jul-Aug 1972 version is likely a 2nd take and is the superior performance. The two version are lyrically very similar

This version appeared on The Unsurpassed Springsteen Vol. 1 bootleg.