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.
Pretty Song From "Psych-Out"
Strawberry Alarm Clock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We can live forever, God and God is wonderful
And your face I′ve never seen it
Quite like this before
Though the moon is out, the sun still shines
You're beautiful
You are on the run and all your problem
In the silent world
You see the words I say to you
I am lost in a poet's dream
Where skies are burgundy
Just to wave my hands and say the words
They will be blue
Put your trust in me
And try to see
That all you need is here
For the white dove is a prophecy
And the farway is near
Dancers, the ball scenes
The gay colored children of happiness
Waiting the artists surround it
With flowers and holiness
With all that surrounds you
Your problems will have no more meaning
Your mind will be free
And you will see it all
Look into the sky the sun is rising
See the light
That extends the purest yellow, gold
Into the sky
As the world awaits
It suffice we still are holding on
To a tender kiss that mean so much
We start to cry
We start to cry .
The lyrics of Strawberry Alarm Clock's song "Pretty Song From "Psych-Out"" expresses a sense of wonder and freedom that comes from the beauty of the moment. The singer describes a feeling of eternity as they stand with someone, seeing each other for the first time in a new light. The song highlights the power of the present and the importance of putting trust in those around us. The lyrics also speak to the idea of being lost in a dream world where everything can be whatever we make it. The concept of the song is reflected in the psychedelic and dreamy tones of the music, with its bright colors and hazy sounds.
The lyrics of the song were written by Strawberry Alarm Clock's rhythm guitarist, Lee Freeman. The song was featured in the 1968 movie "Psych-Out," which starred Susan Strasberg and Jack Nicholson. The soundtrack album of the movie included the song, and it became one of Strawberry Alarm Clock's most well-known songs. The song's mesmerizing tune and catchy lyrics have since become an enduring classic of the psychedelic rock genre.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see you, you can see me as we stand
We are aware of each other's presence, standing together.
We can live forever, God and God is wonderful
Eternal existence is possible, and it's a wonderful thing thanks to God.
And your face I've never seen it, quite like this before
Your face is unique, and I'm seeing it in a new way.
Though the moon is out, the sun still shines, you're beautiful
Even at night, you're radiant and lovely.
You are on the run and all your problems, I'm aware
You're seeking escape from your issues, and I understand.
In the silent world, you see the words I say to you
Even if we're in a world of quiet, you comprehend what I'm saying.
I am lost in a poet's dream where skies are burgundy
I'm in a dream-like state of poetic imagination where the skies are reddish.
Just to wave my hands and say the words, they will be blue
I can command the poetic universe with a simple gesture and make things blue.
Put your trust in me and try to see that all you need is here
Believe in me and realize that you have everything right here.
For the white dove is a prophecy and the faraway is near
The white dove signifies a prediction, and the distant is within reach.
Dancers, the ball scenes, the gay colored children of happiness waiting the artists surround it with flowers and holiness
There are joyful dancers and children at the ball, and artists are making the environment even more heartwarming with flowers and purity.
With all that surrounds you your problems will have no more meaning, your mind will be free and you will see it all
Once you recognize the goodness around you, your troubles will be insignificant, and you'll have a liberated mind and a panoramic perspective.
Look into the sky the sun is rising, see the light that extends the purest yellow, gold into the sky
Observe the dawn with the yellow sun spreading light and purity.
As the world awaits it suffices we still are holding on to a tender kiss that means so much we start to cry we start to cry
As the world anticipates something, it's enough to have a sentimental kiss that makes us emotional.
Writer(s): King Edward C, Freeman Lee
Contributed by Chase C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@brutalyzedbytv
I can see you, you can see me as we stand We can live forever god and goddess wonderful And your face I've never seen it quite like this before Though the moon is out the sun still shines You're beautiful
You are on the run and of your problem I'm aware In a silent world you see the words I say to you
I am lost in a poet's dream where skies are burgundy Just to raise my hand and say the word they will be blue
Put your trust in me and try to see that all you need is here For the white dove is a prophecy and the far away is near
Dance through the park see the gay colored children of happiness Awaiting the artists surrounded with flowers and holiness With all this around you your problems will have no more meaning Your mind will be free and you will see it all
Look into the sky the sun is rising see the light That extends the purest yellow gold into the sky As the world awakes it finds we still are holding on To a tender kiss that means so much we start to cry
We start to cry
This is a glimpse from an alternate universe of how things could have been. Its inhabitants thought and hoped that the dream would continue.
Instead we exchange cynical quips from the bowels of Mordor and count ourselves clever.
ha ha just kidding
@mustaphaabdullah6743
I can see you, you can see me as we stand
We can live forever, God and God is wonderful
And your face I've never seen it
Quite like this before
Though the moon is out, the sun still shines
You're beautiful
You are on the run and all your problem
I'm aware
In the silent world
You see the words I say to you
I am lost in a poet's dream
Where skies are burgundy
Just to wave my hands and say the words
They will be blue
Put your trust in me
And try to see
That all you need is here
For the white dove is a prophecy
And the farway is near
Dancers, the ball scenes
The gay colored children of happiness
Waiting the artists surround it
With flowers and holiness
With all that surrounds you
Your problems will have no more meaning
Your mind will be free
And you will see it all
Look into the sky the sun is rising
See the light
That extends the purest yellow, gold
Into the sky
As the world awaits
It suffice we still are holding on
To a tender kiss that mean so much
We start to cry
We start to cry
@lucia2666
sometimes i cry when i listen this song , this song have something very special ,lyrics are beauty
@kato76109
Making me tear up just reading your post. I totally get how you feel!
@edgarleon3138
yeah, I`m feeling like the hippies , flying
@richieboy6825
Well girl, I assure you, you’re not alone. Those of us who understand this song are united & together. Peace!!
@anthonybarnes2355
Your absolutely rite !
@WinChun78
Music of the soul...forever free with joy...
@tonyajohnson1059
This gives me visions of beautiful things.. Warmth and togetherness..Sunshine and splashing colors of nature ...childlike wonder...
@richieboy6825
Yep
And I’m feeling it RIGHT NOW!!
You can access it anytime you want!!
So glad I’m not the only one who gets this
@amickoamora7844
Yeah without the drugs right!?
@casperleegrace2161
This song is how you see the world on a good trip