San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)

Scott McKenzie

About San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)

"San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear [Some] Flowers in Your Hair)" is a psychedelic pop song, written by John Phillips, and sung by Scott McKenzie. The song was produced and released in May 1967 by Phillips and Lou Adler, who used it to promote their Monterey International Pop Music Festival held in June of that year. John Phillips played guitar on the recording and session musician Gary L. Coleman played orchestra bells and chimes. The bass line of the song was supplied by session musician Joe Osborn. Hal Blaine played drums. The song became one of the best-selling singles of the 1960s in the world, reaching the fourth position on the US charts and the number one spot on the UK charts. In Ireland, the song was number one for one week, in New Zealand the song spent five weeks at number one, and in Germany it was six weeks at number one. McKenzie's version of the song has been called "the unofficial anthem of the counterculture movement of the 1960s, including the Hippie, Anti-Vietnam War and Flower power movements." 


Year:
1996
2:58
100 

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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

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Scott McKenzie

Scott McKenzie (born Philip Wallach Blondheim, January 10, 1939 – August 18, 2012) was an American singer and songwriter. He was best known for his 1967 hit single and generational anthem, "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)". more »

1 fan

Written by: John Edmund Andrew Phillips

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Artist Background
Scott McKenzie was an American folk singer and songwriter. He was best known for his 1967 hit single "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" which became a global success.
Songwriter
The song "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" is written by the famous American singer-songwriter, John Phillips.
Song Theme
The song was intended to be a call for peace, love, and freedom, embodying the 'flower power' ethos of the 1967 'Summer of Love' in San Francisco.
Song Release
Released on May 13, 1967, the song quickly became a major hit not just in the United States but across the world.
Chart Success
"San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. but topped the charts in the UK, Ireland, and several other countries.
Post Release Impact
The song was massively successful and has been called the unofficial anthem for the counterculture movements during the 1960s.
Film Connection
The song is famously associated with the documentary film "Monterey Pop," which chronicles the hallmark 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.
Song Versions
Over the years, the song has been covered by various artists in a multitude of different languages, reflecting its universal appeal.
Legacy
This song has often been used in media to represent the 1960s San Francisco counterculture movement.
Posthumous Recognition
After Scott McKenzie's death in 2012, there was a renewed interest in his music, and "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" continued to gain streams and play on radio stations.

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    San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)

    35.6M
    210K     5,390

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1967

    Billboard #4


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