The band originally consisted of Ed King (lead guitar), Mark Weitz (keyboards), Lee Freeman (rhythm guitar), Gary Lovetro (bass), and Randy Seol (drums). On their first and most famous single, Incense and Peppermints, lead vocals were sung by Greg Munford, a 16-year-old friend of the band.
Strawberry Alarm Clock's song reached #1 on the Billboard pop singles chart in late 1967, and it has since been included in many mutli-artist collections and also appeared in many films as an iconic tune of the swinging sixties. After that success, the band added George Bunnell (bass and rhythm guitar) before making their first LP in 1967, also titled Incense and Peppermints. Bunnell would also become their main songwriter.
Membership changes were many. which sadly foretold the band's falling fortunes. Gary Lovetro left the band before their second album, Wake Up It's Tomorrow, which was also released in 1967. Their single from that album, Tomorrow, was a minor hit and their only other top 40 appearance, reaching #23 in early 1968. Although the group followed up with more LPs in 1968 (The World in a Seashell) and 1969 (Good Morning Starshine), Strawberry Alarm Clock had begun to fall apart and their audience was mostly gone The group managed to keep performing in various forms until 1971, when Strawberry Alarm Clock finally broke up.
Strawberry Alarm Clock as a band has made two notable appearances in films, first in the 1968 Jack Nicholson movie Psych-Out, where they played several songs including Incense and Peppermints, Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow, and The Pretty Song from Psych-Out. They second' appeared in the 1970 Russ Meyer camp classic Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
Ed King went on to join Lynyrd Skynyrd. Several members of Strawberry Alarm Clock reunited in the 80s to perform on oldies concert tours as well. Still, no additional albums came of that.
The original band lineup reunited one last time to perform an approximately one-hour set at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, IL, on April 29, 2007. The event was part of the last day of film critic Roger Ebert's ninth annual Overlooked Film Festival and was preceded by a screening of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Despite being unable to speak due to recent surgery, Ebert made prepared remarks with the use of a device given to him by a U of I professor.
Good Morning Starshine
Strawberry Alarm Clock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You twinkle above us
We twinkle below
Good morning starshine, you lead us along
My love and me as we sing
Our early morning singing song
Sabba sibby sabba nooby abba nabba le le lo lo
Tooby ooby walla nooby abba nabba
Early morning singing song
Good morning starshine
There's love in yoru skies
Reflecting the sunlight
In my lover's eyes
Good morning starshine
So happy to be
My love and me as we sing
Our early morning song
Can you hear me?
Singing a song, humming a song, singing a song
Loving a song, laughing a song, singing the song
Sing the song, song the sing
Song song song sing sing sing sing song...
The song Good Morning Starshine by Strawberry Alarm Clock is a cheerful and uplifting tune that celebrates the beauty of the Earth and the wonders of the universe. The lyrics are filled with whimsical imagery and playful wordplay designed to capture the childlike wonder that we often lose as we grow older. The first verse talks about the stars that twinkle above us and how they guide us along our journey through life. The second verse talks about the love that we share with one another and how it is reflected in the beauty of the natural world.
The chorus is the heart of the song, with its playful and nonsensical wordplay that invites the listener to join in the joyous celebration. The Gliddy glup gloopy nibby nabby noopy la la la lo lo and Sabba sibby sabba nooby abba nabba le le lo lo are not just nonsense words; they are a call to embrace the joy and whimsy of life, to let go of our grown-up worries and immerse ourselves in the simple pleasures of existence. The final verse is a plea to the listener to join in the singing and laughing, and to share in the joy that is all around us if we only take the time to see it.
Line by Line Meaning
Good morning starshine, the earth says hello
The dawn has broken, and life on earth awakens to the bright morning star, greeting and acknowledging its presence.
You twinkle above us
The morning star shines in the sky above us as we start our day.
We twinkle below
Just like the star, everything on earth also shines, whether it’s the glimmering dew drops or the sun's rays reflecting off the leaves.
Good morning starshine, you lead us along
The star guides us through our journey, lighting the way that extends in front of us.
My love and me as we sing
Two people in love are sharing this moment of beauty and singing together. Together, they're starting their day on a happy note.
Our early morning singing song
As they sing, they’re filled with positivity, energy, and joy that spill over into the world around them, creating an atmosphere of goodwill.
Gliddy glup gloopy nibby nabby noopy la la la lo lo
Here, the lyrics convey the kind of playfulness, goofy and happy vibe that people sometimes have in the morning when they are in a good mood
Sabba sibby sabba nooby abba nabba le le lo lo
These words don’t have any particular meaning, but are included for their sound, which adds to the feeling of exuberance conveyed by the song.
Tooby ooby walla nooby abba nabba
These verses contribute to the silly and fun nature of the song, which is about enjoying the moment without any worries or expectations.
There's love in yoru skies
The world around us is full of love reflected in the beautiful sky above us; that inspires us with hope, happiness, joy, and love.
Reflecting the sunlight
Like a mirror that reflects an image, the sky takes on a golden sheen reflecting the sunlight, adding to the feeling of love and happiness in the air.
In my lover's eyes
Looking into the eyes of the loved one, we find the reflection of love in a world that seems filled with happiness and sunshine.
So happy to be
In this moment of love and morning sunshine, everything feels right, and we feel happy to be alive, to enjoy this moment.
Can you hear me?
Asking the listener or the world around, are you listening to the melody of love and joy that we are sending out into the universe?
Singing a song, humming a song, singing a song
Here, the lyrics are highlighting the joy of singing a song, which can brighten up someone's mood, add energy and positivity, and bring people together in a shared moment of happiness.
Loving a song, laughing a song, singing the song
The song inspires our emotions and fills us with love, laughter and happiness. So, we sing and hope that it brings that same positive energy to others too.
Sing the song, song the sing
This verse reiterates that the song should be sung and expressed in a way that is spontaneous, joyful, and from the heart. It's a way of letting the world know that happiness and joy are present in the moment and in us.
Song song song sing sing sing sing song...
The repetition of 'song' and 'sing' reinforces the idea that the world needs a song today. A happy song. A spontaneous song. A song of love, laughter, and joy. So, join in and sing along—let your heart be your guide.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gerome Ragni, James Rado, Galt Mac Dermot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind