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Manzanar Lyrics by Van Dyke Parks

Tokyo Rose

1989

Parks
Noone can forget the place where she has gone away
Funny how regret can taste like honey in L.A. anyway
All the trees ornamental
Every breeze downright sentimental
No one can forget her face when she has gone away
Let a bungalow and yard fulfill your every need
Get a Romeo and garden all but gone to seed as they say
Every swallow returning
Just to follow a natural yearning
It is just a paper chase when she has gone away
What the heck I've hit the deck and checked romance on holiday
Drawn a breath and danced with death
Until the dawn had held it at bay
Watched the palms by the sea sway
In the arms of beautiful Nissei
Now I can't forget her face since she has gone away
Manzanar not the kind of girl to hit the street
Manzanar she is dancin to a brand new beat
Don't know me from Ansel Adams 'cause I'm from Los Angeles
Would've called her but was at a loss
For what to say just to please
When it gets right down there to the wire
When you're reeling and feel her desire
Tell her she is All-American in Japanese
This is a dump without a doubt
You gotta jump you wanna shout
And it is sump thin you got out
Manzanar
You are not warm a desert storm
And where the High Sierra hits the flyway
You are alone you will explode
To Arizone you hit the road
Next sound you hear is pounding down the highway
Like a man without a nation
In a camp of concentration
With a stamp of degredation and shame
To a place they call it Manzanar by name
You are awake an evening star
All you can take is makin out just where you are
There's a name to explore there
And a story of shame and war there
In Manzanar in Manzanar
Manzanar!
Credits
Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke Parks

About “Manzanar” by Van Dyke Parks

Read the complete lyrics to "Manzanar" by Van Dyke Parks from the album "Tokyo Rose" in 1989. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Manzanar" is performed by Van Dyke Parks. from the album "Tokyo Rose" in 1989 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Manzanar", explore more songs by Van Dyke Parks using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Manzanar" is credited to Van Dyke Parks. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Manzanar" appears on "Tokyo Rose" in 1989.

Visit the Van Dyke Parks artist page at /artist/van-dyke-parks for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.