Album: Simon Says (1968)

Charted: 2 4

License This Song 

• I'd like to play a game
  That is so much fun
  And it's not so very hard to do
  The name of the game is Simple Simon says
  And I would like for you to play it to
  
  Put your hands in the air
  Simple Simon says
  Shake them all about
  Simple Simon says
  Do it when Simon says
  Simple Simon says
  And you will never be out
  
  Simple Simon says
  Put your hands on your head
  Let your back bone stretch
  Simon says
  
  Simple Simon says
  Put your hands on your head
  Let your back bone stiff
  Simon says
  
  Put your hands on your head
  Simple Simon says
  Bring them down by your side
  Simple Simon says
  Shake them to your left
  Simple Simon Says
  Now shake them to your right
  
  Put your hands on your head
  Simple Simon says
  Bring them down by your side
  Simple Simon says
  Shake them to your left
  Simple Simon Says
  Now shake them to your right
  
  Now that you have learnt
  To play this game with me
  You can see its not so hard to do
  Lets try it once again
  This time more carefully
  And I hope the winner will be you
  
  Clap your hands in the air
  Simple Simon says
  Do it double time
  Simple Simon says
  Slow it down like before
  Simple Simon says
  Ah, your looking fine
  Simple Simon says
  Now clap them high in the air
  Simple Simon says
  Do it double time
  Simple Simon says
  Slow it down like before
  Simple Simon says
  Ah, your looking fine Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 11

• Ralphm from Sebring FlKevin from Oregon: Get off the stuff NOW! NO one hears that or ever has....except you, who obviously partakes. SMH......
• Kev from Rogers, ArI remember this song from 1968. I was in a summer recreation program, and my teacher/coach was driving us around town trying to find a place where we kids could run around and be kids. But it was kind of cold on that day, early June 1968, and I think she finally gave up. But I remember that song on her car radio :)
• Perry from OttawaDear Kevin from Oregon. 99.9% of people who listen to this song hear Simple Simon Says as...Simple Simon Says! Only you have made that connection to an hallucinogenic most people never heard of. That's why nobody else mentioned it. Whatever the hell you're on Kevin, get off it!
• Jan from DevonKevin from Oregon: Simple Simon was a game way, way before the song. We used to play it at the end of the school day. Teacher would say, Simon says put your hands on your knees (head, toes, touch your nose, touch your ears etc.) if you got it wrong your were out. No underlying psychedelic meaning, no mushrooms or any other vegetables involved at all.
• Kevin from Oregon I can't confirm it for sure but the way they say Simple Simon sounds alot like psilocybin: the psychoactive ingredient to many psychedelic mushrooms... no ones mentioned it yet on here but it cant be a coincidence.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 9th 1968, the 1910 Fruitgum Company performed "Simon Says" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
  At the time the song was at #4 on Billboard’s Hot Top 100 chart {See the next post below}...
  On the same 'Bandstand' the New Jersey quintet also performed "May I Take A Giant Step (Into your Heart)"; and the following month on April 14th, 1968 it entered the Top 100, eventually it peaked at #63 and spent 9 weeks on the chart.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 3rd 1968, "Simon Says" by the 1910 Fruitgum Co. peaked at #4 (for 4 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on January 21st at position #77 and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 6 of those 14 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
  Between January 1968 and August 1969 the quintet had seven records on the Top 100; with three making the Top 10 (besides this one, the other two were "1,2,3, Red Light" (#5 for 2 weeks in 1968) and "Indian Giver" (#5 for 1 week in 1969).
• Mamie from Cleveland, OhI'm curious as to why Mark always looks so unhappy, to me, he looks unhappy when he sings this song. i have seen two vidoes of the song and he does not look happy to sing it in either video. i've always loved the song still do. just wonder why mark looks the way he does in both videos, like he hates the song. and it is such a happy song. always thought he was the cutest member of the band.
• Dave from Scottsdale, AzPukey
• Xavier from Plantation, FlMy all-time favorite childhood song.
• Mark from London, EnglandThe flip-side of this record, Reflections From A Looking Glass, is a lost psychedelic classic.

More Songfacts:

Born on the BayouCreedence Clearwater Revival

John Fogerty was not born on the bayou - he's from Berkeley, California. He got the idea for the song when CCR was on tour in Louisiana.

ReasonsEarth, Wind & Fire

"Reasons" by Earth, Wind & Fire is a popular wedding song, but it's actually about a one-night stand.

Uptown GirlBilly Joel

Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl" is about Christie Brinkley, who he married, but it started as a song about Elle McPherson, who he also went out with.

My GenerationThe Who

Roger Daltrey stutters the vocal on "My Generation" by The Who. The idea was to sound like a British kid on speed.

Do You Want To DanceBobby Freeman

Bobby Freeman's '50s hit "Do You Want To Dance" was also a Hot 100 hit for Del Shannon, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, Bette Midler and the Ramones.

Hound DogElvis Presley

The songwriting team Leiber and Stoller wrote "Hound Dog" for a blues singer named Big Mama Thronton, who first recorded the song in 1953. Elvis covered it in 1956, and it became his biggest hit.

Editor's Picks

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.

Amanda PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

John ParrSongwriter Interviews

John tells the "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" story and explains why he disappeared for so long.

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.