In many of her songs, she incorporates humor into a narrative, some tracks ultimately becoming catchy anecdotes. Generally, her songs are unconventionally folk-like, using horn arrangements not found in tracks recorded by mainstream artists. Sobule also uses both satire and experience to sing about sexuality, depression, war, abandonment, and creed.
San Francisco
Jill Sobule Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She ask if I need water, I can barely understand her
I think she asked me what I do and I said that I'm a singer
She laughs and claps her hands
And then she begins
And she sings:
"I like to go to San Francisco
Put flowers in my hair
I like to go to San Francisco
I like to meet
Some people there"
She looks just like a sparrow, but she's strong just like a wrestler
She kneads and pulls and climbs on top
It hurts, but I will try to take it
Ask her if she's ever been
Been to San Francisco
She tells me that she can't leave
They won't let her leave
She sings:
"I like to go to San Francisco
I like to go
Put flowers in my hair
I like to go to San Francisco
I like to meet
Some people there"
And in Golden Gate Park
She'll throw a Frisbee
She'll bring a dog
And she'll meet a boy
And they'll fall in love
And she'll feel so free
Still walk on his back
Wonder 'bout the place I'm in and how they treat the girls
I know that it's legitimate
But still it makes me wonder
She gets up to leave
And I put back on my clothes
I tip her well, she bows to me
I really hope one day she gets to go
"...To San Francisco
I like to go
Put flowers in my hair
I like to go to San Francisco
I like to meet
Some people there" (Some people there)
La la la la la la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la
The lyrics of Jill Sobule's song "San Francisco" describe an encounter between the singer and a woman who is a sex worker. The singer describes entering the room and being greeted by the woman who asks if she needs water, but the singer can barely understand her due to the heavy accent. The singer tells the woman that she is a singer and the woman laughs and claps her hands. The woman begins to sing about her desire to go to San Francisco and put flowers in her hair and meet some people there.
The singer then describes the woman's appearance, comparing her to a sparrow and noting her strength like a wrestler. The woman then begins to engage in sexual activities with the singer, and the singer asks if she has ever been to San Francisco. The woman tells the singer that she cannot leave and sings the chorus once again. The singer then imagines the woman in Golden Gate Park playing with a Frisbee and meeting a boy, falling in love and feeling free.
The lyrics are open to interpretation, but some may see the song as a commentary on sex work and the desire for freedom and escape. The repetition of the chorus about going to San Francisco emphasizes this desire for a different life. The singer imagines the woman's life outside of her profession and dreams of a future where the woman can go to San Francisco and pursue her own happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
She shuts the door behind me, waits for me to get undressed
The singer is in a room with someone who waits for them to get undressed while not really understanding what the other person is saying.
She ask if I need water, I can barely understand her
The person attending to the singer asks if they need water but the singer isn't really comprehending them.
I think she asked me what I do and I said that I'm a singer
The singer thinks they were asked about their profession and responds that they're a singer.
She laughs and claps her hands
The person attending to the artist laughs and claps their hands after hearing that the artist is a singer.
And then she begins
The person who had been attending to the artist starts to sing.
"I like to go to San Francisco
The person who had been attending to the singer starts singing a song about wanting to go to San Francisco.
I like to go
The person who had been attending to the singer continues to sing about their desire to go to San Francisco.
Put flowers in my hair
The person who had been attending to the artist sings about putting flowers in their hair in San Francisco.
I like to go to San Francisco
The person who had been attending to the artist reiterates their desire to go to San Francisco.
I like to meet
The person who had been attending to the artist sings about wanting to meet people in San Francisco.
Some people there"
The person who had been attending to the singer ends the song by singing about wanting to meet some people in San Francisco.
She looks just like a sparrow, but she's strong just like a wrestler
The artist describes the person who had been attending to them as looking like a sparrow but being strong like a wrestler.
She kneads and pulls and climbs on top
The person who had been attending to the singer engages in certain activities which inflict discomfort on the singer.
It hurts, but I will try to take it
The singer acknowledges that they are feeling discomfort but is determined to endure it.
Ask her if she's ever been
The singer asks the person who had been attending to them if they have ever been to San Francisco.
Been to San Francisco
The artist reiterates their question about whether the person who had been attending to them has ever been to San Francisco.
She tells me that she can't leave
The person who had been attending to the artist responds by saying that they cannot leave (presumably to go to San Francisco).
They won't let her leave
The person who had been attending to the singer further elaborates that they are not allowed to leave to go to San Francisco.
And in Golden Gate Park
The song shifts to describing events and settings in San Francisco.
She'll throw a Frisbee
The song describes the person who had been attending to the artist throwing a Frisbee in Golden Gate Park.
She'll bring a dog
The song continues to describe the person who had been attending to the artist bringing a dog to Golden Gate Park.
And she'll meet a boy
The song describes the person who had been attending to the artist meeting a boy in Golden Gate Park.
And they'll fall in love
The song continues to describe the person who had been attending to the singer falling in love with the boy in Golden Gate Park.
And she'll feel so free
The song describes the person who had been attending to the artist feeling free while in San Francisco.
Still walk on his back
The song ends with the singer reflecting on their experience and still feeling unsure about the situation but leaving a generous tip.
Wonder 'bout the place I'm in and how they treat the girls
The singer reflects on their experience and is left wondering about the situation and how the people who work there are treated.
I know that it's legitimate
Although the situation is unfamiliar to the singer, they understand that it is legitimate.
But still it makes me wonder
Despite understanding the legitimacy of the situation, the artist is still left wondering about it.
She gets up to leave
The song indicates that the person who had been attending to the artist is wrapping up their service.
And I put back on my clothes
The singer changes back into their clothes.
I tip her well, she bows to me
The singer leaves a generous tip and the person who had been attending to them bows in gratitude.
I really hope one day she gets to go
As the song ends, the artist expresses their hope that the person who had been attending to them is able to one day go to San Francisco.
Contributed by Katherine P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ginarivera1031
I love this song!! I still live near there and work there. Thank you! <3!!
@rogerrrubin
Great song, reminds me of Haight Street 1965. That time was very, very brief. People in San Francisco (where I have lived since 1964) climbed out of the box circa 1965. The Haight was THE place to be, and many thousands of came here the next 5 years. And those were just the musicians. The music scene expanded from universal to cosmic. And you, my friend get to see and hear it all right here and right now. Be happy for today and wish for a brighter tomorrow. Best Wishes from San Francisco
@mjoyyourself
Margaret Cho in the house!💜🔥🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
@egunther9583
Nice lyrics and voice…
@auberjean6873
Jill Sobule you've still got IT! This song sounds so hopeful and cheers me up every time I hear it. Well written, well played, well sung.
💞✨🥀🦄🎶🎸🎶🦄🥀✨💞
@cowtippingrocks
"I kissed a girl" (Your version of course) brought me here. Nice to see you are still rockin!
@1142VS
Wow Jill I never knew you did a song about San Francisco! Wonderful I enjoyed listening to it this fine Denver day. I hope you are still living out there.
@johncinfloridausa2236
She's S0 good!
@maverickk714
My daughter Sophia likes this song
@TMGLost
Oh, those goddamn San Francisco Values! This has become my favorite JS tune (Underdog close 2nd). Grat job by Margaret and all participants. Bless you.