Frank Mills
Hair Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I met a boy called Frank Mills
On September twelfth right here
In front of the Waverly
But unfortunately
I lost his address

He was last seen with his friend
A drummer, he resembles George Harrison of the Beatles
But he wears his hair
Tied in a small bow at the back

I love him but it embarrasses me
To walk down the street with him
He lives in Brooklyn somewhere
And wears this white crash helmet

He has gold chains on his leather jacket
And on the back is written the names
Mary
And Mom
And Hell's Angels

I would gratefully
Appreciate it if you see him tell him
I'm in the park with my girlfriend
And please

Tell him Angela and I




Don't want the two dollars back
Just him!

Overall Meaning

The song "Frank Mills" from the musical Hair tells the story of a chance encounter between the singer and a boy named Frank Mills on September twelfth in front of the Waverly building. The singer expresses regret that she lost his address and then goes on to describe what Frank looks like. He is last seen with his friend who is a drummer and resembles George Harrison but wears his hair tied in a small bow at the back. The singer confesses that she loves Frank, but she is embarrassed to be seen with him on the street because he wears a white crash helmet, gold chains on his leather jacket, and the names Mary, Mom, and Hell's Angels are written on the back.


The singer then asks anyone who sees Frank Mills to tell him that she's in the park with her girlfriend and that she doesn't want the two dollars back, just him. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a hippie culture in the '60s where people are free-spirited, and relationships are often casual and carefree. The song is a quirky, playful number that showcases the innocence and romanticism of youth.


Line by Line Meaning

I met a boy called Frank Mills
I encountered an individual named Frank Mills


On September twelfth right here
On the twelfth day of September, in this specific place


In front of the Waverly
Directly outside of the Waverly building


But unfortunately
Regrettably,


I lost his address
I am unaware of his location


He was last seen with his friend
The final sighting of him was with his acquaintance


A drummer, he resembles George Harrison of the Beatles
He is a percussionist whose appearance resembles George Harrison of the Beatles


But he wears his hair
However, he styles his hair


Tied in a small bow at the back
In a bow shape at the rear


I love him but it embarrasses me
I possess affection for him but he causes me distress


To walk down the street with him
To stroll alongside him in public


He lives in Brooklyn somewhere
He inhabits Brooklyn, yet I am unsure of his place of residence


And wears this white crash helmet
Additionally, he adorns a helmet for safety purposes


He has gold chains on his leather jacket
His jacket comprises gold chains


And on the back is written the names Mary And Mom And Hell's Angels
On the rear, the appellations Mary, Mom, and Hell's Angels are present


I would gratefully Appreciate it if you see him tell him
I kindly request that if you encounter him you inform him


I'm in the park with my girlfriend
I am situated in the park with my romantic partner


And please
I implore you


Tell him Angela and I
Inform him that Angela and I


Don't want the two dollars back
Do not require the return of two dollars


Just him!
Only his presence is desired




Contributed by Isabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@gabbytimberlake11

I met a boy called Frank Mills
On September twelfth right here
In front of the Waverly
But unfortunately
I lost his address

He was last seen with his friend, 
A drummer, he resembles George Harrison of the Beatles
But he wears his hair
Tied in a small bow at the back

I love him but it embarrasses me
To walk down the street with him
He lives in Brooklyn somewhere
And wears this white crash helmet

He has gold chains on his leather jacket
And on the back is written the names
Mary
And Mom
And Hell's Angels

I would gratefully 
Appreciate it if you see him tell him
I'm in the park with my girlfriend
And please

Tell him Angela and I
Don't want the two dollars back
Just him!



@matthewtallon1051

FTR...
Hair did not just splash onto Broadway, it went through some growing pains, as many plays do.

This song is being sung by Shelley Plimpton in the role of Crissy. She originated the role off Broadway and brought it to Broadway. This is the original Broadway cast 1968.

There is also a recording of London production, also 1968. Sonja Kristina had the original role in London. Rather than stage, her background was in singing (my understanding), and also performed with Curved Air and later with the Strawbs as well as theater productions. She is also a voice coach.

I was weaned on the Broadway recording, sung the hell out of it from opening to close, but I do love this version also.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk8xX1gT9hA



All comments from YouTube:

@PatriceFitzgerald

I still remember every single word of this song that I first learned when the album was released in 1968. Such a sweet, funny, meandering tune that perfectly captures the innocence and confusion of adolescence. "I love him, but it embarrasses me... to walk down the street with him." That was exactly how we felt at 13, 14, 15... :-)

@scottfrench4139

My parents bought the album in 1968, when I was 6, and I fell in love with it. My dad took me to see it at the Aquarius Theatre in Los Angeles when I was 8 -- I was the only child there -- and I knew almost all of the words of every song ("Ain't Got No" was beyond me, with no lyric sheet) and one day I apparently performed the play (at least the music from the album) for some neighborhood kids. I have no memory of this, but when we got to "The Be-In," I guess I started stripping off my clothes, and one of the girls went running to get my mom. I'm guessing she either stopped me or shut down the "production."

@66flamer

My parents saw this in Chicago in the original run. I was raised on this music since then. I am 54. I know every single song.

@GrumpetteJV

I don't know why, but this song always turns me to mush.
Haven't heard it in quite a few years, but it still has the power to make me cry.
Love love love her voice. 🖤

@gakeport

Love this song and her voice. In fact the whole original RCA LP is a masterclass and every song matches with the singers they sing them. Just perfect.

@carolglover4

Love this song which sometimes magically just pops back into my 71 year old head, which lead me to this clip

@Johnoftheshire

Me too (72)!

@andyb.1643

I woke up thinking of this wonderful song…67.

@Old_Hippie29

Me, too. Serious ear worm last 2 days, but I love it (76)

@carolinej3661

Ditto!!

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