Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon)

The Mamas & the Papas

About Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon)

"Twelve Thirty" a.k.a. "Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)", the song's main refrain, is a song by The Mamas & the Papas. After the release of the group's third album -- Deliver—and their appearance as the closing act of the Monterey International Pop Festival, the group was scheduled to appear in England. The visit was catastrophic for both the group and Cass Elliot (see The Mamas & the Papas main article for further details), and resulted in Cass leaving the group temporarily. The group had completed four tracks for their fourth album—initially titled Springboard—but when the group fracture occurred, progress on the new album stopped completely. Dunhill Records, hoping to keep the group in the public eye while personal matters were sorted out, released a Greatest Hits compilation, entitled Farewell to the First Golden Era, a smash hit at #5 on the charts, and certified gold. "Twelve Thirty," one of the completed songs from the fourth album, was included on the album in order to entice record buyers with new material, and simultaneously released as a single. "Twelve Thirty" would also appear on the now-retitled fourth album, The Papas & The Mamas, when finally released in the fall of 1968. The song peaked at number 20 as a single in the US, but failed to chart in the UK. The group would perform the song on The Ed Sullivan Show on 24 September 1967, in one of their last televised appearances as a group. 


Year:
2002
4:01
102 
#2

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I used to live in New York City
Everything there was dark and dirty
Outside my window was a steeple
With a clock that always said twelve-thirty

Young girls are coming to the canyon
And in the mornings I can see them walkin'
I can no longer keep my blinds drawn
And I can't keep myself from talkin'

At first so strange to feel so friendly
To say "Good mornin'" and really mean it
To feel these changes happenin' in me
But not to notice till I feel it

Young girls are coming to the canyon
And in the mornings I can see them walkin'
I can no longer keep my blinds drawn
And I can't keep myself from talkin'

Cloudy waters cast no reflection
Images of beauty lie there stagnant
Vibrations bounce in no direction
But lie there shattered into fragments

Young girls are coming to the canyon
And in the mornings I can see them walkin'
I can no longer keep my blinds drawn
And I can't keep myself from talkin'

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The Mamas & the Papas

The Mamas & the Papas (credited as The Mama's and the Papa's on the debut album cover and sometimes shortened to Mamas & Papas) were an American/Canadian vocal group (Denny Doherty was from Canada) who came to prominence in the 1960s. The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing six albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles. They have sold nearly 40 million records worldwide. more »

5 fans

Written by: John Edmund Andrew Phillips

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


16 facts about this song

Genre
"Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)" is a folk rock song.
Release Date
The song was released in 1967.
Album
It was part of The Mamas & the Papas' fourth studio album, titled "The Papas & The Mamas."
Lyrics and Message
The lyrics depict the migration of young people to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles during the 1960s.
Chart Performance
It reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Song Writers
The song was written by John Phillips, one of the group's members.
Background
The song is an autobiographical piece about the band’s experience moving to California and living in Laurel Canyon.
Musical Attributes
The song is known for its harmonic four-part vocal arrangements.
Film Appearance
The song was featured in the 2009 movie "A Serious Man."
Interpretation
The song has been often interpreted as the band's optimistic response to the easing of their earlier, darker times (as represented by their earlier hit, "Monday, Monday").
Band Dynamic
It is one of the last big hits the group had before John and Michelle Phillips and Denny Doherty split the band; Cass Elliot would pass away just a few years later in 1974.
Musical Influence
The music of "Twelve Thirty" is said to have greatly influenced the sound and style of the 1960s folk rock scene.
Single Release
As a single, it was released as "Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)" / "Straight Shooter" in the US and "Twelft Thirty" / "Someone's sleeping" in the UK.
Cover Versions
Several other artists and bands, including Scott McKenzie, have covered the song.
Duration
The running time of this song is 3 minutes and 26 seconds.
Digital Availability
The song is available on music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

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    Twelve Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming To The Canyon)

    2M
    9,224     332

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1967

    Billboard #20


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