San Francisco - Scott McKenzie

San Francisco - Scott McKenzie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I0vkKy504U 

 

Song: San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)

Artist: Scott McKenzie

 

 

If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you're 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

 

San Francisco - Scott McKenzie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bch1_Ep5M1s 

 

 

"San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" is a song, written by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas, and sung by Scott McKenzie. It was written and released in June 1967 to promote the Monterey Pop Festival.

 

McKenzie's song became an instant hit. The lyrics tell the listeners, "If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair".

 

Due to the difference between the lyrics and the actual title, the title is often quoted as "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)". "San Francisco" reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and was number one in the United Kingdom and most of Europe. The single is purported to have sold over 5 million copies worldwide.

 

The song is credited with bringing thousands of young people to San Francisco, California during the late 1960s.  In Central Europe, young people adopted "San Francisco" as an anthem for freedom, and it was widely played during Czechoslovakia's 1968 Prague Spring uprising against Soviet rule.

 

The song has been featured in several films, including Frantic, The Rock and Forrest Gump (Wikipedia).

 

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Scott McKenzie (born Philip Wallach Blondheim III; January 10, 1939 – August 18, 2012) was an American singer and songwriter who recorded the 1967 hit single and generational anthem "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)".

 

McKenzie died on August 18, 2012, in Los Angeles at the age of 73.  He developed Guillain–Barré syndrome in 2010, which lasted until his death.

 

San Francisco Scott McKenzie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sinn6WKU6Dk 

 

 

The Meaning Behind The Song: San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) by Scott McKenzie

Last Updated on August 12, 2023 / By Jennifer Bell

San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair): The Anthem of The Summer of Love

 

Introduction

In the summer of 1967, the world witnessed the cultural phenomenon that was the Summer of Love. Thousands of young people traveled to San Francisco in search of a more liberating and meaningful way of life. The music scene played a crucial role in this cultural revolution, and perhaps no song captures the spirit of the time better than Scott McKenzie’s “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)”. In this article, we’ll explore the meaning behind the song and how it became the anthem of the Summer of Love.

 

 

The Origins of the Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlVwcBTXwmo 

 

 

John Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas wrote “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)” for his friend Scott McKenzie in 1967. Phillips was already famous for songs like “California Dreamin'” and “Monday, Monday”, and he saw an opportunity to create a new hit that would capture the energy of the emerging counterculture scene in San Francisco.

 

McKenzie, then a folk singer making a living in New York, was hesitant to move to the West Coast. However, Phillips convinced him to come to San Francisco and experience the vibrant music scene firsthand. The song was intended as a promotional tool for the Monterey Pop Festival, which would showcase some of the biggest names in rock music, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and Janis Joplin.

 

 

The Meaning Behind the Song

On the surface, “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)” is a simple and catchy song about the beauty of San Francisco and the importance of wearing flowers in your hair. However, when we look closer, we can see that the song is also a tribute to the counterculture movement and its ideals of peace, love, and freedom.

 

The song’s opening lines, “If you’re going to San Francisco / Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair”, are an invitation to join the hippie movement and embrace its values. The flowers symbolize the idea of peace and beauty, and wearing them in your hair is a way of expressing your identity and your solidarity with the counterculture.

 

The song’s lyrics go on to describe the city of San Francisco as a utopia, where people can be free to be themselves and live without fear or judgment. The line “You’re going to meet some gentle people there” speaks to the sense of community and belonging that many young people found in San Francisco during the Summer of Love.

 

The Legacy of “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)”

“San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)” was an instant success, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming the anthem of the Summer of Love. The song’s optimistic message and catchy melody struck a chord with young people all over the world, who were searching for a more meaningful and authentic way of life.

 

The song also had a lasting impact on the music industry and the culture at large. It inspired countless other musicians to write songs about San Francisco, and it helped establish the city as a hub for the emerging psychedelic rock scene. The song’s lyrics and imagery continue to be associated with the counterculture movement and the spirit of the Summer of Love, long after the events of 1967 have faded into history.

 

Conclusion

“San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)” is more than just a catchy pop song – it’s a powerful tribute to the ideals of the counterculture movement and the spirit of the Summer of Love. The song’s legacy continues to inspire and resonate with young people all over the world, who are searching for a better way of life and a more meaningful connection to the world around them. As we look back on the events of 1967, we can see that “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)” is a timeless reminder of the power of music to connect us and inspire us to be the change we want to see in the world.