First known as The Sonics. Reformed around 1969 as Chicory Tip. Signed with… Read Full Bio ↴First known as The Sonics. Reformed around 1969 as Chicory Tip. Signed with CBS Records. Band members: Peter Hewson (vocals), Rick Foster (guitar/moog), Barry Mayger (bass), Brian Shearer (drums), Rod Cloutt (guitar). The first few singles didn't do very well but their 1971 release "Excuse Me Baby" got them their first appearance on UK, BBC Top Of The Pops. In February 1972, studio manager, Roger Easterby secured their first hit song, "Son Of My Father", written by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. One of the first recordings to feature the moog synthesizer. The song made number one on the UK charts for 3 weeks and stayed in the charts for another 13 weeks. Two other hit singles followed, "What's Your Name" and "Good Grief Christina". Their fourth release "Cigarettes, Women and Wine" was a hit in Europe but failed to make the UK charts because of a BBC Radio 1 ban on the reference to smoking. They disbanded in 1975, but later reformed to play on the 1970's nostalgia revival circuit. They still perform in Kent, UK.

Arizona
Chicory Tip Lyrics

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She must belong to San Francisco, she must have lost her way
Posted a poster of Pancho and Cisco one California day
She says she believes in Robin Hood and brotherhood
And colours of green and grey
All you can do is laugh at her, doesn't anybody know how to pray?

Arizona, take off your rainbow shades
Arizona, come on up and look at the world, my my

Arizona, come on you Indian braves
Arizona, hey, won't you go my way?

Live up your pride you're acting, like a teenybopper runaway child
Throw off the things from the fist of a little town saved

Arizona, take off your hobo shoes
Arizona, hey won't you go my way?
Badabada...

I'll walk you up to San Francisco, I will be guide your way
I'll be the Count of Monte Cristo, you'll be the Countess May
You can believe in Robin Hood and brotherhood or rollin' about in the hay
And I will be reading you "An Aesop's Fable", anything to make you say

Arizona, take off your rainbow shades
Arizona, come on up and look at the world, my my
Arizona, come on you Indian braves
Arizona, hey, won't you go my way?

Arizona, take off your rainbow shades
Arizona, come on up and look at the world, my my
Arizona, come on you Indian braves
Arizona, hey, won't you go my way?

Arizona, take off your rainbow shades
Arizona, come on up and look at the world, my my

Overall Meaning

"Arizona" by Chicory Tip is a song that appears to be about a girl who has lost her way in life. The lyrics suggest that she may have been searching for something and ended up in California, where she posted a poster of Pancho and Cisco. She appears to be a dreamer who believes in things like Robin Hood and brotherhood, as well as the colors of green and grey. However, the people around her seem to laugh at her for this, questioning whether anyone really knows how to pray.

The song then transitions to the chorus, with the singer asking Arizona to take off her rainbow shades and come take a look at the world. He encourages her to live up to her pride and not act like a runaway child. Towards the end of the song, the singer promises to walk Arizona to San Francisco and be her guide. He talks about reading her "An Aesop's Fable" and doing anything to make her say. The song ends with the chorus repeating twice more.

Line by Line Meaning

She must belong to San Francisco, she must have lost her way
The girl in question seems like a San Franciscan lost in her journey.

Posted a poster of Pancho and Cisco one California day
One day, she put up a poster of Pancho and Cisco in California.

She says she believes in Robin Hood and brotherhood, And colours of green and grey
She professes her faith in Robin Hood and brotherhood while also admiring the colors green and grey.

All you can do is laugh at her, doesn't anybody know how to pray?
Everybody around her laughs at her, mocking her beliefs and wondering if anyone knows how to pray.

Arizona, take off your rainbow shades
Arizona is encouraged to take off her rainbow shades.

Arizona, come on up and look at the world, my my
Arizona is invited to come and look at the world in a more realistic way.

Arizona, come on you Indian braves
Arizona's Native American population is also invited to come along.

Arizona, hey, won't you go my way?
Arizona is invited to join the artist on his journey.

Live up your pride you're acting, like a teenybopper runaway child
Arizona is told to stop acting like a rebellious teenager and be proud of herself.

Throw off the things from the fist of a little town saved
She is encouraged to let go of the things from her past that are holding her back.

I'll walk you up to San Francisco, I will be guide your way
The singer promises to guide Arizona to San Francisco.

I'll be the Count of Monte Cristo, you'll be the Countess May
The artist identifies himself as a hero (Count of Monte Cristo) and wants Arizona to be his partner (Countess May).

You can believe in Robin Hood and brotherhood or rollin' about in the hay
Arizona is free to continue believing in Robin Hood and brotherhood or to indulge in her carnal desires.

And I will be reading you 'An Aesop's Fable', anything to make you say
The singer promises to read Arizona bedtime stories to make her happy.

Contributed by Callie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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