Mmmmmmmm, baby, don't you want to go (Spoken: Take your time, now, make this one right!)
Mmmmmmmm, baby, don't you want to go? (Spoken: Go where?)
To that ol' land of California, sweet old Chicago (Spoken: Yeah!)
Now did you get that letter, dropped in your back yard?
I wants to come to see you, your best man got me barred, cry
REFRAIN: Oh, oh (Spoken: What is it?) baby, don't you want to go?
To that ol' land of Californ', sweet old Chicago
Now I don't drink because I'm dry, I drink because I'm blue
The reason I drink, pretty mama, now, I can't get along wit' you
REFRAIN: Mmmmmmmmmm, baby, don't you want to go? (Spoken: Yeah!)
To that ol' land of Californ', sweet old Chicago
Now look-a here, baby, don't have to tell you no more
You can get my lovin' if you just let him go, cry
REFRAIN: Oooohh, (Spoken: Play it man, long time!) baby, don't you want to go?
To that ol' land of Californ', sweet old Chicago (Spoken: Play it now, man!)
SOLO (Spoken during solo: Yes, yes! Yeah! Yes, yes! Yeah! Get 'er now, man!)
Mmmmmmmm, baby, don't you want to go? (Spoken: Yeah-heh)
Mmmmmmmm, baby, don't you want to go? (Spoken: Go where?)
To that ol' land of Californ', sweet old Chicago (Spoken: Yeah!)
Now my, my Mama told me, my Papa sot and cried
"Son, you're too young a man to have them women your side."
REFRAIN: She cried, "Look-a here, babe, I know you wants to go
To that ol' land of California, sweet old Chicago."
Oh, beep, beep beebop, deedah, dah, dah