1) The Rat Pack is the nickname given to a group of popular entertainers mo… Read Full Bio ↴1) The Rat Pack is the nickname given to a group of popular entertainers most active between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s. Its most famous line-up featured Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop, who appeared together in films and on stage in the early 1960s. Despite its reputation as a masculine group, the Rat Pack did have female participants, such as movie icons Shirley MacLaine, Lauren Bacall, and Judy Garland.

As of 2007, Joey Bishop is the only male member of the Rat Pack who is still alive.

2) In 1984, RAT PACK singer/founder Matt Ratt was covering the vocal duties for Rich Kids on LSD, while singer Jason Sears was away on "medical leave". During this time Rich Kids on LSD was signed on to record for the now infamous"NARDCORE" album on Mystic Records. Just prior to recording, Jason returned from his leave of absense. So left with the dilema of an album to record, and suddenly no band, Matt was told to throw something together quickly and record for the album anyway. So after a few rehearsals with Chris Rest and Alpo D.(borrowed from Rich Kids on LSD) Dave Casillas from STALAG 13 and Mike Torres from NARTHEX STRUCTURE, RAT PACK was born! Although originaly only meant to be a recording project for the NARDCORE album, RAT PACK ended up doing three records for Mystic, 1985's self titled 7", 1987's "Ice Cream Acid and Cigarettes" 7" and 1990's self titled full length Lp. Through the years RAT PACK has gone through long periods of hibernation, with many line up changes...people that have played in and recorded with RAT PACK include current and former members of bands such as NOFX, SOCIAL DISTORTION, STALAG 13, ADOLESCENTS, D.I., SUGAR CULT, HOLLYWOOD HATE, FOO FIGHTERS, Rubber Neck, LAGWAGON, Rich Kids on LSD, NO USE FOR A NAME, and ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES.

I Left My Heart In San Francisco
Rat Pack 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 lyrics to the Rat Pack's classic song "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" tell a love story of someone who has left their heart in San Francisco, a place that holds great sentimental value to them. The song speaks about a hill that calls out to the singer, urging them to return to a place where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars. Despite the chill of the morning fog, the singer does not care as their love awaits them above the blue and windy sea.

The overall sentiment of the song seems to be one of romantic longing, with the singer unable to forget the special memories they have of San Francisco. The city is represented in the song as a unique and special place, with a sense of grandeur and beauty that captivates the listener. The trolley cars mentioned in the lyrics are one of the iconic symbols of San Francisco, representing a bygone era of transportation.

What makes the song even more special is the fact that it was written specifically for the city of San Francisco by two songwriters who had never even been there. George Cory and Douglass Cross, who wrote the song in 1954, were inspired by photos and stories of the city's beauty and history. Interestingly, the song was almost never recorded by the Rat Pack, who initially thought it was too "corny" and "sentimental" for their style. However, they eventually recorded it as a tribute to their friend, Tony Bennett, who had made the song famous.

Line by Line Meaning

I left my heart in San Francisco.
San Francisco captivated me and took a piece of my heart with it.

High on a hill it calls to me
San Francisco's captivating presence is felt from atop one of its many hills.

To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars!
I long to be where San Francisco's iconic cable cars take me up high towards the sky.

The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care!
Even if the San Francisco fog brings a chill to the air, I still don't want to leave.

My love waits there in San Francisco, above the blue and windy sea.
My beloved is in San Francisco, where the sea is a beautiful shade of blue and the wind adds to the charm.

When I come home to you, San Francisco, your golden sun will shine for me!
When I return to San Francisco, its golden sun will shine on me like a welcoming beacon.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOUGLAS CROSS, GEORGE CORY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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