a 1922 popular song
words and music by Harry R. Bowman
The sheet music:
Accompaniment:
Lyrics
- On a street in New York town
When the snow was falling down
A California boy was thinking one day
Of a letter he’d just read
From his sweetheart who had said
Come back to me why do you stay away
Don’t you think you’ve had enough
Of those winters that are rough
Come back to California where it’s nice
But the boy was short on money
So he said I’ll wire my honey
That I’ll come back if you’ll send the price
Chorus:
California, oh smile on me, California, be true to me
For in that land so fair, my love awaits me there
So what more need I care for I know I’ll soon be there
In California, I long to be, and California, is calling me
For my grain is in a whirlie for I long to see my girlie
California, oh smile on me
- On a street in New York town
When the snow was falling down
The California boy knew just what to do
In a telegram he sent, he said just what me meant
You send the price and I’ll come back to you
For I know it isn’t nice living in this land of Ice
I’m hoping dear to soon be on my way
And when the answer came
With money to take the train
You should have heard that Californian say
Sung here by Fred Feild: