Hare Krishna
"Hair" Lyrics

The lyrics to "Hare Krishna" by the musical Hair are a mantra-like repetition of the names of the gods Krishna and Rama. The first four lines of the lyrics "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare" are known as the Hare Krishna mantra in Hinduism, and it is believed to have the power to evoke the divine presence of Krishna and Rama. The subsequent lyrics encourage a hippie lifestyle that embraces love, peace, and freedom. The chorus consists of the words "love, love" repeated twice, followed by the phrases "drop out, drop out" and "be in, be in," referencing the counterculture movement's rejection of traditional societal norms and its embrace of communal living, creativity, and spirituality.

The subsequent verse sheds light on the hippie lifestyle by referencing drug use, particularly marijuana. The lines "take trips, get high, laugh joke, and goodbye, beat drum and old tin pot, I'm high on you know what" allude to the use of marijuana and suggest that it can elicit feelings of euphoria and spiritual connectedness, which aligns with the hippie movement's promotion of alternative consciousness-altering methods. The chorus repeats, with the addition of a Spanish twist, repeating "marijuana" and "juana juana" with "mari mari" inserted.

"Hare Krishna" is essentially a quintessential hippie song. It was a classic tune of that era, representing their spiritual and religious beliefs, as well as their lifestyles. The song encourages an alternative form of religion that promotes love and peace instead of dogma and exclusivity. The lyrics refer to freedom and happiness, and suggest a life free of conventional societal norms and related vices. With its catchy chorus and easy-to-sing verses, this song became a counterculture anthem.