South Coast

[Intro]
Here in California
We're kind of used to the bright lights and the freeway traffic
But I think we probably forget that a good portion of this state
Is the same as it was when the first settlers arrived many years ago
We think a good example of this is the Big Sur area of the Monterey peninsula
Where in the back hills of barrancas as the Spanish called them
There are still little signs of civilization and
Mountain lions are still in evidence
Leads us to believe this next song could just as well could have been written yesterday as it really was 150 years ago
Called "South Coast"

[Chorus]
South Coast, the wild coast, is lonely
You may win at the game at Jolon
But the lion still rules the barranca
And a man there is always alone

[Verse 1]
My name is Juan Jaro de Castro
My father was a Spanish grandee
But I won my wife in a card game
To Hell with the lords o'er the sea

[Verse 2]
I picked up the ace, I had won her
My heart, which was down at my feet
Jumped up to my throat in a hurry
Like a warm summer's day she was sweet

[Chorus]
South Coast, the wild coast, is lonely
You may win at the game at Jolon
But the lion still rules the barranca
And a man there is always alone

[Verse 3]
Her arms had to tighten around me
As we rode up the hills from the South
Not a word did I hear from her that day
Or a kiss from her pretty red mouth

[Verse 4]
We came to my cabin at twilight
The stars twinkled out on the coast
She soon loved the valley, the orchard
But I knew that she loved me the most

[Chorus]
South Coast, the wild coast, is lonely
You may win at the game at Jolon
But the lion still rules the barranca
And a man there is always alone

[Verse 5]
Then I got hurt in a landslide
With crushed hip and twice-broken bone
She saddled our pony like lightnin'
Rode off in the night all alone

[Verse 6]
The lion screamed in the barranca
The pony fell back on the slide
My young wife lay dead in the moonlight
My heart died that night with my bride

[Chorus]
South Coast, the wild coast, is lonely
You may win at the game at Jolon
But the lion still rules the barranca
And a man there is always alone

Thank you very kindly