I grew up dirty and i grew up poor The wolf didn't even hang 'round our door Not a crumb to spare and the cupboard bare And i had the gift of imagination I could change my situation Anytime i choose i could always go Down paradise road I found a kingdom deep within A place dream and to pretend And to prepare for the world out there A dream can dress you when you're ragged Fill you up when hunger's naggin' I warmed my soul when life was cold On paradise road Chorus: Paradise is a state of mind The sun shines warm and all the time And the rain don't flow and the wind don't blow On paradise road A place no one can take from me A place of everlasting peace Where dreamers go; it's never closed Paradise road Paradise is a state of mind Down the road of life and time And the friends we meet Make the travlin' sweet On paradise road Sometimes now when the world is mad I find that place i've always had Inside my soul; it's paved in gold Paradise road I grew up dirty and i grew up poor The wolf didn't even hang 'round our door Not a crumb to spare and the cupboard bare But i had the gift of imagination I could change my situation Anytime i choose i could always go Down paradise road