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San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair) Lyrics
If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you are going to San Francisco
You're gonna meet some gentle people there
For those who come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair
All across the nation
Such a strange vibration
People in motion
There's a whole generation
With a new explanation
People in motion
People in motion
For those who come to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there.
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you are going to San Francisco
You're gonna meet some gentle people there
Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair
Such a strange vibration
People in motion
With a new explanation
People in motion
People in motion
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
Summertime will be a love-in there.
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I feel this song is so beautiful because of the many layers of meaning it contains. I think it's about a psychological restlessness that permeated the minds of so many at the time it was written but that same restlessness is present in some of us still. The people in motion is these restless people, desiring an idealistic place of beauty and love and better-ness. Theygo in search of it and the place they choose is San Francisco. This is bittersweet though because San Francisco, as depicted in the song, doesn't actually exist. San Francisco is nothing but a beautiful illusion. Just like summertime, flowers and love (all mentioned in the song and associated with San Francisco) the vision is fleeting. It can't be realized and the people (or the psychology) fade out for the most part...
around the time I really started paying attention to music's context within history, this is one of the songs that really hits home for me. I can only comment as an outsider, but what I read gives me the impression that Woodstock wqsnt the best festival - at least not musically - it was Monterey, and at the time this song was released The Mamas and The Papas ruled the airwaves, so this song became the (unofficial) anthem of Monterey. Woodstock was great, DGMW, but too close to the end (Altamont). Monterey was the beginning of the Summer Of Love,...
around the time I really started paying attention to music's context within history, this is one of the songs that really hits home for me. I can only comment as an outsider, but what I read gives me the impression that Woodstock wqsnt the best festival - at least not musically - it was Monterey, and at the time this song was released The Mamas and The Papas ruled the airwaves, so this song became the (unofficial) anthem of Monterey. Woodstock was great, DGMW, but too close to the end (Altamont). Monterey was the beginning of the Summer Of Love, and what an eclectic roster of talent! Shankar, Nyro, The Who, The Mamas...not to mention the American coming-out parties of Janis, Otis, and Jimi!
This is all a sider from the point that it's such a poignant, beautiful song. John Philips was a troubled man, no doubt, but a genius, nonetheless.
HI all...
my first entry on this page goes to this song. i am relly shocked that nobody has yet commented this great song.
This is a song full of memories. For ME the song has nothing to do with the 68' movement or San Fransisco at all. When i listen to this song, i remember a very great time in my life with a friend i never will forget. THX Scott McKenzie for this great song!
this song always reminds me of getting home in the car on a sunday night when i was little cos it was one of those oldies my dad always played when he was driving. and now whenever i listen to it i get this image of a bunch of hippies coming together in san francisco... or something. and it makes me want to go to san francisco.
BEAUTIFUL.
when i hear this song this is what comes to mind.... hippies (with flowers in their hair), lots of weed, rainbows(?) just a peaceful gathering of mellow people.......god, i want to be there. this song will usually get me out of a bad mood, cause it's really relaxing.
this song makes me want to go to san francisco!
i adore this song! this summer is the 40th anniversary of the summer of love (1967) when this song was released... and this song will not only remind me of a greater time in the history of the united states... but hopefully creates an image and a journey for myself as a teen and helps me connect back with the peace loving radical ideas of that era... i hope my summer of love will be close to any expierience that anyone went through in the real summer of love :o) .... im leaving to california in 2 weeks.... and im going to san francisco to wear flowers in my hair.. haight-ashbury here i come
great song makes me want to go..
tis song is so beautiful. everyone knows what it is about, the lyrics is simple, but i get sentimental when i listen it. i want to be in 1967 and be-in.. ;) all those psychedelics, peace, flowers and love.. beautiful. people was so united and peaceful, and music then was so spiritual and powerful. i can't express how much i like this song. :)
and after i have listened to this song, i want to go to San Francisko, of course :)
There's a rap song by the name of SF Anthem by Traxamillion that incorporates this song for its old-time ambient sound