Scott McKenzie’s “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)” (1967) is a quintessential anthem of the 1960s counterculture and the Summer of Love.

About The Song

Written by John Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas, the song was released to promote the Monterey Pop Festival, a landmark event in the history of rock music and the hippie movement.

The song’s gentle melody and McKenzie’s soothing vocals evoke a sense of peace and optimism. Its lyrics invite listeners to visit San Francisco, a focal point of the burgeoning countercultural movement, and to embrace the ideals of love, peace, and communal living. The line “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair” became an emblematic expression of the era’s spirit.

“San Francisco” quickly became a massive hit, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one in the UK. It resonated deeply with a generation seeking change and has since remained a symbol of the 1960s and its transformative cultural movements. The song’s enduring popularity underscores its role in capturing the hope and idealism of an era defined by its pursuit of peace and love.

Video

Lyric

[Verse 1]
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

[Verse 2]
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

[Bridge]
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

[Verse 3]
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

[Outro]
If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there