By Jim Fusco:

On tonight’s edition of “Ask the Musician”, I have a YouTube email from Todd:

Hi, Could you please send me the tabs of “San Francisco”?  Thanks a lot, you are a great musician.

Thanks, Todd- with me, flattery gets you everywhere!  I don’t have the tabs (don’t really need them for this song), but here are the chords and lyrics:

Start on G

Em        C        G       D
If you're going to San Francisco,
Em         C         G               D
be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.
Em        G        C       G
If you're going to San Francisco,
G            Bm     Em               D
you're gonna meet some gentle people there.

Em            C       G       D
For those who come to San Francisco
Em     C         G             D
Summer-time will be a love-in there.
Em     G          C       G
In the streets of San Francisco,
G         Bm       Em               D
gentle people with flowers in their hair.

F
All across the nation,
F                         G
such a strange vibration, People in motion...
F
There's a whole generation,
F                       G                 D
with a new explanation, People in motion, people in motion.

Em            Am C    G        D
For those who come to San Francisco,
Em          C        G               D
be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.
Em      G       C       G
If you come to San Francisco,
G         Bm     Em           G
Summer-time will be a love-in there.

Em     F#m     A     D     A
       If you come to San Francisco
A      C#m     F#m        A        F#m     A
Summertime will be a love-in there

______________________________________

Thanks again for the comment, Todd, and happy playing!

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1. “Passing Friend” by the Beach Boys – Chords, Tabs, & How to Play
2. “New Pony” by Bob Dylan (Covered by the Dead Weather) – Chords, Tabs, & How to Play
3. “Indecision” by Steven Page – Chords & How to Play

And the winner, yet again, is Jim Fusco!!!  (AHHH, Jiiiiimmmm Fuscooooo, AHHHH, undefeated champion of the world, AHHHH)

What am I the winner of?  Well, the song with the LONGEST title ever on the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog!

“San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)” is a great tune that symbolized the Summer of Love in 1967.  The song was written by Scott McKenzie’s friend John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas.  McKenzie was slated to form the band with Phillips earlier, but then decided to be a solo artist.  Well, McKenzie is the true definition of a “One Hit Wonder”, as this song reached the Top 10 and that was his only big hit.

Chris said to me, “I konw the song, but I’ve never even heard of Scott McKenzie!”  Well, he doesn’t realize it, but he has.

The classic Number 1 hit for the Beach Boys in 1987, “Kokomo”, was actually written by the following: Mike Love, Terry Melcher, John Phillips, and…Scott McKenzie!  I don’t know what hand he actually had in it, but it’s funny to learn of the connection.  That song became a hit a solid 20 years after he hit it big with his only well-known song…and it was a song he didn’t even write!  I’m sure McKenzie is still seeing royalties from “Kokomo”.

I came up with a big project that I call “The Cover Songs Initiative” today that outlines the progress I’d like to see this site make, along with the steps to get there.  I’ll be rolling it out tomorrow night, so I’m excited to see some great progress!  See you on Thursday night!

Related posts:

1. “Come and Get It” (Badfinger Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions
2. “You Just May Be The One” (Monkees Acoustic Rock Cover Song) – The Laptop Sessions