Berkeley Girl
Harper Simon Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

She is juniper and roses
She is amethyst and pearl
And though she makes her home in Hollywood
She's really just a Berkeley girl

She's the breeze on Sunday morning
Blowing down a country lane
She's got the style of Paulette Goddard
And the smile of June Fontaine
And she drives a car in gear
Through the streets of Silver Lake
And the hills are Velcro Park

She is criminal in satin
She is leopard skin and lace
Hard to believe that she believed in me
When I was such a hopeless case

And she knows from love and service
Yes she knows from peace of mind
To be not sinister in purpose
And to never be unkind
And she loves a Tulsi garden
And she loves her rock 'n roll
And she's never far from my mind

She is juniper and roses
Guess I'll sing it once again
And though we are no longer lovers
I know she'll always be my friend

So if you're ever right beside her
Drivin' down the 101




Be thankful that you're with a Berkeley girl
Who's beautiful beneath the moon and the sun

Overall Meaning

The song Berkeley Girl by Harper Simon is about a woman who embodies the spirit of her hometown Berkeley even though she resides in Hollywood. The opening lines "She is juniper and roses, She is amethyst and pearl" describe the woman's natural and feminine beauty. Although she lives in Hollywood, the lyrics emphasize that she still reflects the ideals of the counter-culture movement of the 60s that Berkeley was known for. The lyric "And she drives a car in gear through the streets of Silver Lake, And the hills are Velcro Park" indicates that she has a carefree spirit and enjoys the simple pleasures of life.


The song further describes the woman's personality and values. "She knows from love and service, Yes she knows from peace of mind, To be not sinister in purpose, And to never be unkind" shows that she is kind and compassionate, and she believes in living a meaningful life. The lines "She loves a Tulsi garden, And she loves her rock 'n roll, And she's never far from my mind" indicate that the woman has diverse interests but still manages to keep her priorities straight. The final words "So if you're ever right beside her, Drivin' down the 101, Be thankful that you're with a Berkeley girl, Who's beautiful beneath the moon and the sun" suggest that the woman is a rare gem, and anyone who gets to spend time with her should consider herself lucky.


Line by Line Meaning

She is juniper and roses
She is natural and pure


She is amethyst and pearl
She is rare and valuable


And though she makes her home in Hollywood
Despite living in a glamorous place like Hollywood


She's really just a Berkeley girl
She is simple at heart


She's the breeze on Sunday morning
She is refreshing and comforting


Blowing down a country lane
Moving smoothly and gently


She's got the style of Paulette Goddard
She has a unique and elegant style


And the smile of June Fontaine
She has a warm and friendly smile


And she drives a car in gear
She is independent and confident


Through the streets of Silver Lake
Driving in a trendy and fashionable area


And the hills are Velcro Park
The surroundings are picturesque and memorable


She is criminal in satin
She is irresistibly tempting


She is leopard skin and lace
She is wild and unpredictable


Hard to believe that she believed in me
I am surprised that she had faith in me


When I was such a hopeless case
When I was in a bad situation


And she knows from love and service
She understands the importance of love and helping others


Yes she knows from peace of mind
She knows how to stay calm and relaxed


To be not sinister in purpose
To have good intentions


And to never be unkind
To always be kind and compassionate


And she loves a Tulsi garden
She likes to be around nature


And she loves her rock 'n roll
She enjoys music with energy and passion


And she's never far from my mind
I always think of her


Guess I'll sing it once again
I will repeat myself


And though we are no longer lovers
Although we are not in a romantic relationship anymore


I know she'll always be my friend
I still value her friendship


So if you're ever right beside her
If you happen to be with her


Drivin' down the 101
Driving on the famous California freeway


Be thankful that you're with a Berkeley girl
Appreciate being with someone who is genuine and down-to-earth


Who's beautiful beneath the moon and the sun
Who is beautiful in all settings




Writer(s): Harper James Simon Copyright: Songs Of Universal Inc.

Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Eddie Winters

We need more music like this. More beautifully written songs. Harper has a God given talent.

AudiophileTubes

Beautiful song! We need more music like this in today's 'plastic' day and age!

Eddie Winters

Agreed.

ruivog

You're so right.

Dom Brunelli

Oh, yeah..Like finding an old Paul Simon diamond..Wonderful. I freaking love this song/sound...It's 1968 again..Thank you, Harper. The vid is also perfect.

ladydiuk

Love this . Such a retro feel . Great genes Harper . Loved your dad now love you !

Inquiring Mind

This music penetrates my deepest innermost.
Anyone listening in 2020?

Leonard GriffinNL

Yes!! My most played song of 2022

IRMejia

Definitely an early 70's music vibe...beautiful!

Tj WindSong

Harper...... OMG those harmonies and his singing it's beautiful! 10 stars up!

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