"Sister Golden Hair" is a song by the band
America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
from their fifth album ''
Hearts'' (1975), written by
Gerry Beckley
Gerald Linford Beckley (born September 12, 1952), better known as Gerry Beckley, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, and a founding member of the band America.
Early life
Beckley was born to an American father and an English moth ...
. It was their second single to reach number one on the U.S.
''Billboard'' Hot 100, remaining in the top position for one week.
Background
Beckley says "There was no actual Sister Gold Hair."
The lyrics were largely inspired by the works of
Jackson Browne
Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and political activist who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States.
Emerging as a precocious teenage songwriter in mid-1960s Los Angeles, he h ...
. Beckley commented, "
ackson Brownehas a knack, an ability to put words to music, that is much more like the L.A. approach to just genuine observation as opposed to simplifying it down to its bare essentials... I find Jackson can depress me a little bit, but only through his honesty; and it was that style of his which led to a song of mine, 'Sister Golden Hair', which is probably the more L.A. of my lyrics."
[Corbett, John (May 29, 2004)]
America Revisited - Part 3
AccessBackstage.com. Beckley adds that "Sister Golden Hair" "was one of the first times I used 'ain't' in a song, but I wasn't making an effort to. I was just putting myself in that frame of mind and I got those kind of lyrics out of it."
Instrumentation
Gerry Beckley said he played the 12-string guitar, and overdubbed the prominent slide guitar. "I had a lovely lap steel that
David Lindley had picked out."
Music video
The music video for the song features the band performing the song on ''
The Midnight Special'', a popular musical television show.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
External links
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1975 songs
1975 singles
Songs written by Gerry Beckley
America (band) songs
The Dandy Warhols songs
Song recordings produced by George Martin
Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Warner Records singles