Los Angeles is burning

Somewhere high in the desert near a curtain of blue

Saint Ann's skirts are billowing

But down here in the city of limelights

The fans of Santa Ana are withering

And you can't deny the living is easy

If you never look behind the scenery

It's showtime for dry climes

And Bedlam is dreaming of rain

When the hills of Los Angeles are burning

Palm trees are candles in the murder wind

So many lives are on the breeze

Even the stars are ill at ease

And Los Angeles is burning

This is not a test

Of the emergency broadcast system

When Malibu fires and radio towers

Conspire to dance again

And I cannot believe the media Mecca

They're only trying to peddle reality, catch it on

Primetime, story at nine

The whole world is going insane

When the hills of Los Angeles are burning

Palm trees are candles in the murder wind

So many lives are on the breeze

Even the stars are ill at ease

And Los Angeles is burning

A placard reads the end of days

Jacaranda boughs are bending in the haze

More a question than a curse

How could hell be any worse?

The flames are starting

The camera's running

So take warning

When the hills of Los Angeles are burning

Palm trees are candles in the murder wind

So many lives are on the breeze

Even the stars are ill at ease

And Los Angeles is burning