Testo: Neil Sedaka. Cardboard California.

Nothing is real in cardboard California
Just waking up brings you down
One lousy deal is cardboard California
You just can't survive in a make believe town

Lost in a city of little tin Gods
Cold plastic people with phoney facades
How can you win when you look at the odds?
You're running down a one way street

Nobody cares if you survive
Sometimes you beg or you don't eat
You gotta fight to stay alive
Hey, you're never gonna get away

Where 's the world you used to know?
Where did all the good times go?
Look around, your hopes and dreams are gone
But like a fool you still keep hanging on music

Come and be a movie star
Come and drive a fancy car
Come and see what you really are
Look in the mirror, mirrors don't lie

You're getting older, your time's past you by
You lost your shot to some younger guy
You're running down a one way street
Nobody cares if you survive

Sometimes you beg or you don't eat
You gotta fight to stay alive
Hey, you're never gonna get away

Nothing is real in cardboard California
Just waking up brings you down
One lousy deal is cardboard California
You just can't survive in a make believe town