I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Chrome Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I left my heart in San Francisco.
High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,
above the blue and windy sea.
When I come home to you, San Francisco,
your golden sun will shine for me!

I left my heart in San Francisco.
High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,




above the blue and windy sea.
When I come home to you, San Francisco,

Overall Meaning

your golden sun will shine for me!


The song “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross in 1954. The song was originally written as a ballad, which was later modified to a mid-tempo pop song. The lyrics to the song, as interpreted by many music lovers, are all about keeping alive the memories of a place or a person that a person loves so much. In this song, the singer sings about leaving his/her heart in San Francisco and describing the place as unique, calling it “high on a hill.”


As the lyrics of the song go, San Francisco, a picturesque city amidst the mountains and the sea, is a place that calls to the singer, beckoning him/her to return to the memories of a loved one. The singer describes the city as a place where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars. The image he presents of San Francisco is one of a place where people can experience the thrill of reaching for the stars while enjoying the scenery and the culture of the city.


The most interesting thing about the song is how it came to be. George Cory was an investment banker who had a passion for songwriting. He had written a few tunes, but nothing had caught on. One day, he met another songwriter, Douglass Cross, and they began to collaborate on a song about San Francisco. They came up with the lyrics to “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” but they still needed music. They approached an acquaintance of Cory, a singer and pianist named Tony Bennett, and played the song for him. Bennett was immediately taken with the song, and he recorded it in 1962, making it a huge hit. The song became Bennett’s signature tune, and it has since become a beloved classic.


Line by Line Meaning

I left my heart in San Francisco.
I have an emotional attachment to the city of San Francisco that I cannot escape.


High on a hill it calls to me
From its elevated position, the city seems to beckon me to return.


to be where little cable cars
I desire to be in a place where even the modes of transportation are unique and charming.


climb halfway to the stars!
The cable cars climb high up the hills, almost reaching the sky.


The morning fog may chill the air,
The thick fog that sometimes blankets the city can make it feel cold and damp.


I don't care!
But despite that, my love for the city is unwavering.


My love waits there in San Francisco,
The city holds a special place in my heart because of someone I love who lives there.


above the blue and windy sea.
The city's proximity to the ocean adds to its allure and beauty.


When I come home to you, San Francisco,
The city feels like home to me, even if I have to leave for a while.


your golden sun will shine for me!
And upon my return, I know I can count on the city's signature sunshine to welcome me back with open arms.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Douglas Cross, George Cory

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions