Along the west coast of a modern land
I anchored my boat in the gloom
anxious, I walked up the steep rolling hills in the fog
in the light of the moon
welcome travelers from sacramento to san francisco!

passing by miners digging for gold and silver all through the night
fishermen, fishing for dungeness crabs - or anything else that might bite
one of the miners hands me a strange dark rock and says, "it's all right. "

I turn around from this kind old man and notice a flame fierce and bright
standing, now on top of a hill my neck skin crawls and I feel a chill
cause at the docks my old brigantine's on fire and is sinking!
is this the end?
I wonder as I run - running faster than anyone!
no, I won't surrender - I'll never back down!
I'll find my own way in this prodigious town!

nothing to rescue - it's far too late - I realize as I get close
stopping to catch my breath outside old victorian homes
I don't have a boat to sail with no more - I guess I just have to walk
I'm heading south, crossing a giant bridge sturdy as a rock
but at the docks my old brigantine's on fire and is sinking!

it's not the end!
determined, as I stroll
head held high, I will never fall!
no, I won't surrender - I'll never back down!
I'll find my own way in this prodigious town!
I hear bullet shots and wild horses escape away
from the mainland and into the lake
and as I run towards an abandoned saloon
I notice a graveyard for hot air balloons

one has a wicker basket good as new
another an envelope with twigs sticking through
a small sewing job now and this bag's complete
the only thing lacking is a source of heat

I check my pockets quietly, but all I have is that rock
I smash it in anger - into the ground - and notice a small spark!
this isn't granite of a lump of coal but quite a magical stone
ascending towards the sky, I guess that old man was right all along

astounded, as I fly
looking down at the night sky!
I didn't surrender - I didn't back down!

no, this ain't the end!
astounded, as I fly
looking down at the night sky!
I didn't surrender - I didn't back down!
in this prodigious town!