Sister Golden Hair
Written by Gerry Beckley, ©1975
Found on
Hearts,
History,
America Live,
America's Gold,
Live In Central Park,
America In Concert (85),
The Very Best Of America,
America In Concert (95),
You Can Do Magic,
Premium Gold Collection,
Centenary Collection,
Greatest Hits,
Live,
Highway,
Hits You Remember Live,
The Definitive America,
The Complete Greatest Hits,
The Grand Cayman Concert, and
Here & Now.
Well I tried to make it Sunday, but I got so damn depressed
That I set my sights on Monday and I got myself undressed
I ain't ready for the altar but I do agree there's times
When a woman sure can be a friend of mine
Well, I keep on thinkin' 'bout you, Sister Golden Hair surprise
And I just can't live without you; can't you see it in my eyes?
I been one poor correspondent, and I been too, too hard to find
But it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind
Will you meet me in the middle, will you meet me in the air?
Will you love me just a little, just enough to show you care?
Well I tried to fake it, I don't mind sayin', I just can't make it
Well, I keep on thinkin' 'bout you, Sister Golden Hair surprise
And I just can't live without you; can't you see it in my eyes?
Now I been one poor correspondent, and I been too, too hard to find
But it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind
Will you meet me in the middle, will you meet me in the air?
Will you love me just a little, just enough to show you care?
Well I tried to fake it, I don't mind sayin', I just can't make it
Doo wop doo wop ...
Note: This song was translated and released in Spain.
Click here for the Spanish version.
Highway Highlight (from the box set booklet)
Released in March 1975, Hearts launched a hit single right out of the
boxy with "Sister Golden Hair," a buoyant Beckley number that went to #1 in
June of that year. The song had existed in demo form before Holiday but
didn't make it the first time around. Was this a romantic ode to anyone in
particular? "No, no," says Beckley. "Again, this is all poetic license.
With 'Sister Golden Hair,' as far as my folks were concerned, I was writing a
song about my sister, and I couldn't quite fathom it; they must not have
listened to the lyrics." The song has a lyric revision courtesy of Jackson
Browne: "We toured with Jackson a couple of times, and we'd always play each
other songs backstage. I sang 'Meet me in the middle, will you meet me
in VA [short for Virginia].' And he thought I was singing, 'Meet me in the
air.' He was singing along, and he sang that line, and I said, 'Oh, that's
better.'"
"Sister Golden Hair" took America back to the top of the Pop chart for the
first time since "A Horse With No Name." "We didn't think #1 records were a
given," says Beckley. "We struggled back with Holiday, and we had a far
clearer picture about just how tough this can be. I do recall that we were
elated to have this success. We were touring, and the last night of the tour
was in Honolulu, and we had been following the charts like crazy. I was out
swimming in the ocean, and [comanager] Harlan Goodman yelled out, 'It's #1!'
We got to announce that onstage that night."
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