Written as a theme song for the 1985 film of the same name, the singer describes how he wants to leave Los Angeles with his lover, but somehow feels trapped there.
[Verse 1]
In the heat of the day, every time you go away
I have to piece my life together
Every time you're away
In the heat of the day
[Verse 2]
In the dark of the night, every time I turn the light
I feel that God is not in Heaven
In the dark of the night
The dark of the night
[Chorus]
I wonder why I live alone here
I wonder why we spend these nights together
Is this the room I'll live my life forever?
I wonder why in LA
To live and die in LA
[Post-Chorus]
I wonder why we waste our lives here
When we could run away to paradise
But I am held in some invisible vise
And I can't get away
To live and die in LA
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 3]
If I let myself go and for where I just don't know
I'd maybe hit some cold new river
That led out to the sea
An unknown sea
[Verse 4]
I'd either swim or I'd drown, or just keep falling down and down
I think it’s that that makes me quiver
Just to keep falling down
Down, down, down
[Chorus]
I wonder why I live alone here
I wonder why we spend these nights together
Is this the way I'll live my life forever?
I wonder why in LA
To live and die in LA
[Verse 5]
In every word that you say, I feel my freedom slip away
I feel the bars come down around me
And I can't get away
I can't get away
[Chorus]
I wonder why I live alone here
I wonder why we spend these nights together
Is this the room I'll live my life forever?
I wonder why in LA
To live and die in LA
[Post-Chorus]
I wonder why we waste our lives here
When we could run away to paradise
But I am held in some invisible vise
And I can't get away
To live and die in LA
[Outro]
I can't get away
To live and die in LA
I can't get away
To live and die in LA
I can't get away
To live and die in LA
I can't get away
To live and die in LA
I can't get away
To live and die in LA
I can't get away
To Live and Die in L.A. was written by Jack Hues & Nick Feldman.
To Live and Die in L.A. was produced by Steve Jolley & Tony Swain.
Wang Chung released To Live and Die in L.A. on Wed Sep 25 1985.