I could stay in California, stay a little dim, but there's a light-bulb on in my head,
I might move out east to some college town, study big thick books, turn my fortunes around,
Roll L.A. river, roll,
Take me to a better world.

To where the streets are lined with gold.

Now, I could drive some old car through the desert tonight, sleep on hotel sheets all soft and white,
I will stop at the mystery spot, see water run up hill,
I know I can make it, I'm convinced I will,
Roll L.A. river, roll,
Take me to a better world,
Where the sun, it shines all day, and the children laugh and play.

I can see it all in my dreams,
And I really wanna make that scene,
Where the people are nice, and the air is clean,
What a beautiful world it must be.

I believe I have found the river of life,
It flows like blood through my veins,
I hear a pounding like a heart beat,
I can hear the thunder bringing the diamond rain.

I could stay in California, but I'd die in these streets,
There's a pearly mansion here in my head,
I see a light like the sun where the children run,
If I could move these legs, I'd turn my fortune around,
Roll L.A. river, roll,
Roll over me,
To where the streets are lined with gold and God is on His throne.

I can see it all in my dreams,
And I really wanna make that scene,
Where the people are nice, and the air is clean,
I can see it all in my dreams, oh,
And I really wanna make that scene,
Where the people are nice, and the air is so clean,
What a beautiful world...
What a wonderful world it must be.