Category Archives: 1960s songs

The top 500 best music and songs from the 1960s. Song meanings, lyrics and interpretations from your favorite artists. The Beatles, Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, Dylan. See who rates the highest!

1960s songs, escape

#81 California Dreamin’- The Mamas and Papas

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You know the preacher likes the cold/
He knows I’m gonna stay.

“California Dreamin” is about the Mamas and Papas’ dreams of making it to California. In their mind, California is a utopia that has a great community and is always warm. The trek to get there seems to take a lifetime for the young group. It is all they can think of, but they think they’ll make it.

The vocals on “California Dreamin” are what really stand out. Specifically, the kind of call-and-response: where the band echoes the lead singers’ line. (Technically called an echo or counterpoint). The band is great at harmonizing. An argument could be made that they are the best.

Mama Cass has the most outstanding voice. Her voice seems to stand out when they harmonize, both in this song and in others.

California Dreamin' Meaning

And who knew Michelle Phillips co-wrote “California Dreamin” along with Papa John Phillips? They are one of the best rock couples of all-time.  And Denny Doherty! Who delivers an excellent, underrated lead vocal and he is the least known bandmember. How often is the lead singer the least-known member of the band?

Part of what I love about The Mamas & The Papas is their fashion and their looks are just incredible and outrageous. And of course, their musical talent is revolutionary and still sounds fresh today. These things juxtaposed with a name that is so…old-fashion sounding can be surprising and dissonant.

The line above about how the preacher loves the cold weather because he knows he’ll get a more captive audience is one of the more memorable in rock. The flute solo sounds great. Good choice of solo instrument.  Perfect.

More songs from the Mamas and Papas.

California Dreamin’ Lyrics

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk)
On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day)
I’d be safe and warm (I’d be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)

California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day

Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)
You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)
He knows I’m gonna stay (knows I’m gonna stay)

California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk)
On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day)
If I didn’t tell her (if I didn’t tell her)
I could leave today (I could leave today)

California dreamin’ (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day (California dreamin’)
On such a winter’s day

written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips

1960s songs, epic rock songs

#80 Court Of the Crimson King- King Crimson

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The yellow jester does not play…
In the court of the Crimson King.

King Crimson’s “Court of the Crimson King” was never on the radio, and that is unfortunate. This song is amazing. It is only slightly more out there than Stairway to Heaven, Good Vibrations, or Like a Rolling Stone and about the same length.

Court Of The Crimson King Meaning

The song would make for a great music video where the lyrics were animated literally. Imagine some sort of medieval play being reenacted. It is something like a cross between Alice and Wonderland and Dante’s Inferno.

It is difficult to say if there is some underlying symbolism in the lyrics. If there is supposed to be one, it is two layers too removed for my taste. Anyways, it works as it is. The imagery of a guy wandering around and seeing crazy things works great.

Court Of The Crimson King Lyrics

The rusted chains of prison moons
Are shattered by the sun
I walk a road horizons change
The tournament’s begun
The purple piper plays his tune
The choir softly sing
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
For the court of the crimson king

The keeper of the city keys
Puts shutters on the dreams
I wait outside the pilgrim’s door
With insufficient schemes
The black queen chants the funeral march
The cracked brass bells will ring
To summon back the fire witch
To the court of the crimson king

The gardener plants an evergreen
Whilst trampling on a flower
I chase the wind of a prism ship
To taste the sweet and sour
The pattern juggler lifts his hand
The orchestra begin
As slowly turns the grinding wheel
In the court of the crimson king

On soft grey mornings widows cry
The wise men share a joke
I run to grasp divining signs
To satisfy the hoax
The yellow jester does not play
But gently pulls the strings
And smiles as the puppets dance
In the court of the crimson king

written by Ian McDonald of King Crimson

1960s songs, young love

#79 She’s Leaving Home- The Beatles

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Something inside, that was always denied, for so many years/
She’s leaving home, bye, bye.

“She’s Leaving Home” is about a young woman who is thinking of moving out of her parent’s house and going to live with her boyfriend. We know how she feels. She is exited to start her new life. It is based on a true story. She leaves a note and leaves as the parents sleep.

Her parents believe she is making a big mistake. And they are hurt. Haven’t they done everything for her? Does she not see how hard have they struggled to provide? Everything they did for her and all they got was a note? They gave her everything money could buy!

She's Leaving Home Meaning
George Martin with The Beatles

She’s Leaving Home is so beautifully crafted. Specifically, Lennon gives voice to the parents’ concerns in the “Greek Chorus”.  The harp is the main instrument on this song. It sounds unique and the arrangement is perfect. The strings sound great too. You can hear the upright bass being bowed to create the deep sounds. McCartney sings verses and Lennon sings the choruses.

If there is such a thing as a hidden gem of a Beatles song, “She’s Leaving Home” is it. The song also makes a great case as George Martin as “The Fifth Beatle”–he produced the song. I don’t believe any Beatles contribute instrumental performances on this song, joining Eleanor Rigby as the other song in their catalog with that distinction.

She’s Leaving Home Lyrics
Wednesday morning at five o’clock
As the day begins,
Silently closing her bedroom door,
Leaving the note that she hoped would say more.

She goes downstairs to the kitchen
Clutching her handkerchief.
Quietly turning the backdoor key,
Stepping outside, she is free.

She(we gave her most of our lives).
Is leaving (sacrificed most of our lives).
Home (we gave her everything money could buy).
She’s leaving home, after living alone, for so many years (bye bye).

Father snores as his wife gets into her dressing gown.
Picks up the letter that’s lying there.
Standing alone at the top of the stairs,
She breaks down and cries to her husband,
“Daddy, our baby’s gone.
“Why would she treat us so thoughtlessly?
How could she do this to me?”

She (we never thought of ourselves).
Is leaving (never a thought for ourselves).
Home (we struggled hard all our lives to get by).
She’s leaving home, after living alone, for so many years.

Friday morning, at nine o’clock
She is far away.
Waiting to keep the appointment she made.
Meeting a man from the Motortrade.

She (what did we do that was wrong)?
Is Having (we didn’t know it was wrong).
Fun (fun is the one thing that money can’t buy).
Something inside, that was always denied, for so many years,
She’s leaving home, bye, bye.

songwriters lennon/mccartney