California Endless Summer

California Endless Summer Lyrics by Walter Zenko A story of my first stay in California in the early 1970's Verse 1 Indian summer wraps me in its golden light Pedalling through the hush of a gentle night Along Shoreline Drive, the breakers keep their tune The warm wind tells me I'll be seeing her soon Verse 2 I was a student back in those early days In Montreal halls, learning how life plays Marcia was my T.A., a California girl Far from her ocean home, in a different world Friends before love ever thought to ask Verse 3 When I left those halls, I went west for the trees To the BC redwoods, where the saws sang with ease The work was hard, the days were long and loud Chainsaw's roar and the scent of sawdust proud One autumn night, with the first frost near I called to say I longed to be with her Interlude The tires whisper on the empty street Streetlights shimmer in the evening heat Every turn brings her closer in view The whole world narrows down to you Verse 4 She laughed and whispered, "Then come on down." So I caught the next flight to her ocean town A visit was all that I had meant to arrange But I stayed for a year. Life can turn. Life can change. Chorus Bath Street waiting where the sea meets the land Stars overhead, her hand in my hand Indian summer, soft and free Down Cabrillo to her, and she to me Verse 5 We were two on the sand with the tide at our feet Long talks on the shoreline, the days tasted sweet Sunset colours tangled in wind and air Friendship and love moving quietly there Verse 6 We walked State Street at night, palm shadows on stone Barbecuing on the beach till the tide pulled us home Pants rolled high, laughter under moonlight's glow Hot dogs and beer where the cool waves flow Interlude The tires whisper on the empty street Salt air rising in the evening heat Every mile feels light and free With the ocean keeping company Verse 7 There were mornings of coffee with the doors open wide Evenings with music and the moon on the tide We never hurried, we let time drift away Holding tomorrow for another day Verse 8 Palm trees sway in the hush of the night Her porch lamp glowing, soft amber light The ocean breathing slow, my pulse keeping time Our love deep as the sea in that warm, gentle time Bridge I lean through the turns as the streetlights grow dim The warmth of the breeze pulling me in Every push on the pedals spins moments we've known And the wind whispers softly, "You must go home." Verse 9 The seasons turned, and the north wind called Leaves drifted down by the mission walls One last walk down Cabrillo's line One last kiss in the fading sunshine Final Chorus Bath Street waiting where the sea meets the land Stars overhead, her hand in my hand Indian summer, soft and free Down Cabrillo from her, and she from me Outro The taxi waits with its engine low Santa Barbara runway soft with glow Through the window I wave, then turn aside I fly from Santa Barbara, leaving Marcia behind