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

About The Song

“San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” is an iconic American pop song penned by John Phillips and performed by Scott McKenzie. Released in May 1967, the track was produced by Phillips and Lou Adler, serving as a promotional piece for their Monterey International Pop Music Festival, held in June of the same year.

During the recording, John Phillips played the guitar, while session musician Gary L. Coleman added orchestra bells and chimes. Bass guitar contributions came from session musician Joe Osborn, and Hal Blaine provided the drumming. The song swiftly climbed the charts, reaching the fourth position in the US and claiming the number one spot in the UK. Additionally, it reached the top spot in Ireland for a week, spent five weeks at number one in New Zealand, and dominated the German charts for six consecutive weeks.

Upon its release on May 13, 1967, the song gained immediate popularity. By the week ending July 1, 1967, it secured the fourth spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, maintaining its position for four consecutive weeks. Simultaneously, the track soared to number one in the UK Singles Chart and various European countries. In July 1967, Capitol, McKenzie’s former record label, re-released his earlier single, “Look in Your Eyes,” as a purported follow-up. Reportedly, the song sold over seven million copies worldwide, cementing its status as a global sensation.

Video

Lyric

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

Guitar chord

1. [Em] If you’re [C] going to [G] San Fran-[D] cisco
[Em] Be sure to [C] wear some [G] flowers in your [D] hair
[Em] If you’re [G] going to [C] San Fran-[G] cisco
You’re gonna [Em] meet some [G] gentle people [D] there

2. [Em] For those who [C] come to [G] San Fran-[D] cisco
[Em] Summer [C] time will [G] be a love-in [D] there
[Em] In the [G] streets of [C] San Fran-[G] cisco
Gentle [Em] people with [G] flowers in their [D] hair

[F] All across the nation such a strange vibration
[G] People in motion
[F] There’s a whole generation with a new explanation
[G] People in motion [D] people in motion

3. [Em] For those who [C] come to [G] San Fran-[D] cisco
[Em] Be sure to [C] wear some [G] flowers in your [D] hair
[Em] If you [G] come to [C] San Fran- [G] cisco
Summer [Em] time will [D] be a love-in [G] there

Change key up 1 tone to [A] ———

[F#m] If you [A] come to [D] San Fran-[A] cisco
Summer [F#m] time will [E] be a loving [A] day