The early years, in which After Tea's jumped onto the 'flower power' bandwagon, were succesful: 'Not Just A Flower In Your Hair' (1967) hit #11 in the Dutch charts, 'We Will Be There... After Tea' (1968) reached #16 and the album National Disaster sold particularly well.
A series of personnel changes, including Fenwick's move to The Spencer Davis Group and Van Eijck's return to Tee Set, marked the end of After Tea's years of chart success. Musicians such as Ferry Lever, Martin Hage, Ulli Grün and Pierre van der Linden enjoyed stints in After Tea.
After two more long players (1970's After Tea and 1971's Joint House Blues) the band called it quits, Polle Eduard and Ilja Gort moving on to form the band Drama.
Not Just a Flower in Your Hair
After Tea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
there must be love in your heart
no flowers will prevent lovers to part
no sweets in your mouth will bring peace to your mind
there's got to be a little kindness
and of course a little peace
before you wear your flowers
and before you eat your sweets.
Not just bells on your legs
will keep you on right tracks
the steps that you take
may be big mistakes.
Not a painting on your skin
tells you apart from your friends
you don't feel better with your marks
as painted fruits and hearts
you must be right inside your chest
to discern you from the rest.
Ben je boos pluk een roos
en zet 'm op je hoed
't is een oud verhaal
maar het doet 't nog steeds goed
draag ene bloem in je haar
en wees lief voor elkaar,
zing maar la la.
The song "Not just a flower in your hair" by After Tea is a thoughtful and reflective piece on the importance of inner beauty and personal growth. The opening lines, "Not just a flower in your hair, there must be love in your heart," suggest that mere external adornment is not enough to create true beauty. The song continues to explore the idea that true happiness and fulfillment come from within, rather than from external circumstances or possessions. The lyrics caution that even the sweetest confections or most beautiful decorations cannot make up for what is lacking inside: "no sweets in your mouth will bring peace to your mind."
The second verse of the song elaborates on this theme, warning that external symbols or "paintings on your skin" cannot make you truly unique or special. Only by cultivating a deeper sense of self-awareness and compassion can a person truly "discern [themselves] from the rest." The final lines of the song, which are in Dutch, translate to "If you're angry, pick a rose and put it on your hat. It's an old story, but it still works. Wear a flower in your hair and be kind to each other, sing la la." This final message serves as a reminder that even amidst the struggles of life, there is always beauty to be found and kindness to be shared.
Overall, "Not just a flower in your hair" is a wise and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to focus on personal growth and inner beauty. It reminds us that true happiness and fulfillment come not from external possessions or symbols, but from the love, kindness, and compassion that we cultivate within ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Not just a flower in your hair
Wearing a flower in your hair is not enough
there must be love in your heart
Love needs to be present in your heart
no flowers will prevent lovers to part
Wearing flowers can't save a broken relationship
no sweets in your mouth will bring peace to your mind
Eating sweets won't give you inner peace
there's got to be a little kindness
Being kind is crucial
and of course a little peace
Peace is also necessary
before you wear your flowers
Before you decorate yourself
and before you eat your sweets.
Before you indulge in temporary pleasures
Not just bells on your legs
Bells on your legs isn't enough
will keep you on right tracks
They can't guide you towards making the right choices
the steps that you take
The actions you make
may be big mistakes.
Mistakes could be significant
Not a painting on your skin
Tattoos don't define you
tells you apart from your friends
They can't differentiate you from your friends
you don't feel better with your marks
Tattoos won't make you feel better about yourself
as painted fruits and hearts
As superficial decorations
you must be right inside your chest
You must be secure in your heart
to discern you from the rest.
To be able to distinguish yourself from others
Ben je boos pluk een roos
Are you upset? Pick a rose
en zet 'm op je hoed
And put it on your hat
't is een oud verhaal
It's an old story
maar het doet 't nog steeds goed
But it still works well
draag ene bloem in je haar
Wear a flower in your hair
en wees lief voor elkaar,
And be kind to each other
zing maar la la.
Just sing la la
Contributed by Eliana W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ruud Schavemaker
Blijft een leuk nummer !!!
johan roels
Ligt nog goed in mijn geheugen die flower power-tijd en het kinderkoor.
Johan Roels uit Zele in België
Jan Zeldenrust
Geweldig
Peter Van Beijeren Bergen en Henegouwen
After Tea not just a flower in your hair
baronjup
Het vervolg van The Tee Set
Arie Luinge
Maar het blijft mooi.
Martinus Groninger
Eerder een Afsplitsing van de Tee Set. Toetsenset Hans van Eyck en Polle Eduard met een paar nieuwelingen werden "After Tea", en Peter Tetteroo recruteerde zowat de hele band "James Mean" en samen gingen xe verder als "Tee Set"