They are best-known during the late 1960s and early 1970s for popularizing the hits "Up, Up and Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "One Less Bell to Answer", "(Last Night) I Didn't Get to Sleep at All", and "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", as well as the eponymous 5th Dimension and The Magic Garden LP recordings.
The five original members were Billy Davis, Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamonte McLemore, and Ron Townson. They have recorded for several different labels over their long careers. Their first work appeared on the Soul City label, which was started by Imperial Records/United Artists Records recording artist Johnny Rivers. The group would later record for Bell/Arista Records, ABC Records, and Motown Records.
Some of the songwriters popularized by The 5th Dimension later went on to careers of their own, especially Ashford & Simpson, who wrote "California Soul". The group is also notable for having more success with the songs of Laura Nyro than Nyro did herself, particularly in the cases of "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", and "Save the Country" The group also covered music by well known songwriters such as the song "One Less Bell to Answer", written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. And perhaps best of all, they became great interpreters of the songs and music of Jimmy Webb, who penned their original mega-hit "Up, Up, and Away", including an entire recording of memorable Webb songs called The Magic Garden.
Age of Aquarius
The 5th Dimension Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
The age of Aquarius
Aquarius
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revelation
And the mind's true liberation
Aquarius
Aquarius
When the moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
The age of Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius
Aquarius
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in
Oh everyone sing along
Come on!
Now everybody just sing along
And let the sunshine on in
Open up your heart
And let it shine on you
And when you're lonely
Hey! let it shine, yea
You got to open up your heart
And let it shine on in
When you feel like you've been mistreated
And your friends are turning backs upon you
Just open up your heart
And let it shine in
You've got to feel it
You've got to feel it
Just open up your heart
And let it shine on in
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in
I want you to sing along with the 5th Dimension
Just open up your heart
And let it shine on in
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in
Hey, you gotta feel it
You gotta feel it
Open up your heart
And let the sunshine in
Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine in
The sunshine in
The Age of Aquarius is a prophetic song by American pop group The 5th Dimension that gives us an insight into the ideals and values of the coming age. The song is all about the astrological concept of the "Age of Aquarius," which refers to the astrological sign that will dominate the world once the earth completes its twelve-thousand-year cycle of precession. The lyrics depict a utopian world in which peace, love, and harmony will guide the planets, while a mystical and crystal revelation will provide true freedom to people's minds.
The song opens with the line, "When the moon is in the Seventh House, and Jupiter aligns with Mars, then peace will guide the planets, and love will steer the stars." This line suggests that a cosmic event that aligns the planets and ushers in the Aquarian era will occur. The chorus highlights this point with the repeated phrase, "This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius."
The following lyrics describe how this new age will come, bringing an increased understanding between all people ("Harmony and understanding, sympathy, and trust abounding"), an end to deception and falsehood ("No more falsehood or derisions"), and the realization of both personal and societal dreams and visions ("Golden living dreams of visions"). The song concludes by encouraging people to open their hearts and let the sunshine in, suggesting that we should embrace the new era's values and ideals with open minds and hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
When the moon is in the Seventh House
When the almighty moon is positioned in the astrological Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
When the largest planet Jupiter perfectly aligns with the planet Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
At this remarkable juncture, peace will govern the entirety of planets in the universe
And love will steer the stars
This most favorable moment will be characterized by unconditional love which will direct the movement of every star
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius
These events take place at the inception of a new era, the age of Aquarius
The age of Aquarius
A time period with a distinct astrological identity - Aquarius' age
Aquarius
Refers to the zodiac sign governing this particular period of time
Harmony and understanding
This age will be characterized by a great sense of agreement and intellectual perception
Sympathy and trust abounding
The environment during the new age will be accompanied by intense compassion and faith
No more falsehoods or derisions
Deception and ridicule will be no more
Golden living dreams of visions
Positive and fulfilled dreams will be realized
Mystic crystal revelation
A profound epiphany or experience that reconnects followers with their spirituality
And the mind's true liberation
An opportunity for one's mind to be truly free of constraints and limitations allowing for expansiveness of thought and growth
Let the sunshine
Encourage positivity and vibrant energy
Let the sunshine in
To allow the warmth and positive energy of the sun to radiate within oneself
Now everybody just sing along
Encourage involvement and collaboration from others to experience the benefits of this new era
Open up your heart
Encouraging a sense of vulnerability, thus opening oneself up to new experiences
And when you're lonely
When feeling down or isolated
Just open up your heart
Encouraging the opening of oneself to shift the energy to a positive one
You've got to feel it
Encouraging oneself to deeply connect with the positive energy around them
Hey, you gotta feel it
Repeated encouragement to tap into one's feelings of positivity
Contributed by Luke M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@erinellen3955
Now I understand this song.
Awakened at 37 years young.
I thank God for every step I have taken to get to this exact point in my life.
All is worth it.
All is shining.
All is truth.
All of me.
Infinity.
♾️
@lindawallace726
Happy 2024! I was 10 years old when this song was released. It has been my hope for the world since then. We need it now more than ever!
@gregallan2842
Likewise. 65 in a couple of days. Best of luck to you.
@AnimalReikiDeb
Mine as well. We’re here and I feel really good about it! ❤
@marthariddle2085
I was also 10 at the time. We’ve been waiting awhile, haven’t we? It’s time.
@carolwelch4925
I wa one year old and love it so much
@michaelearendil6843
Other than a brief regression into Capricorn this summer and autumn, intense and transforming Pluto will be in Aquarius until 2043! The last time Pluto was in Aquarius was during the Enlightenment, and the American and French revolutions!
@luizh.colecoes5667
1969: "Wow, this song is amazing!"
2023: "Wow, this song is amazing!"
8050: "Wow, this song is amazing!"
@devasingh212
Nobody said this in 1969, it was just another day at the office 🎉
@ApplezBeReal
They was spot on for Today😮🎉❤
@williamdemourajose5163
I'm Aquarius.
I'm there, in 8050.
They say it indeed.