Small Faces’ “Itchycoo Park” Will Make You Remember The School Days You Ditched
via YouTube Channel (Emma0815007)
Fun & Psychedelic
Performing on the Beat- Club in 1967, Small Faces explains to us why “Itchycoo Park” is all just too beautiful…. Although this particular song did quite well in the US, it is considered the band’s “joke” hit as they used to horse around in the studio while recording it.
Interesting Quote: ‘Itchycoo Park’ basically came from me. I lifted it from a hymn, ‘God Be In My Head,’ and I also got the theme to the words in a hotel in Bath or Bristol. There was a magazine in the room with a rambling account of some place in the country and it was about ‘dreaming spires’ and a ‘bridge of sighs’ – there was a write-up on this town – and I just thought they were nice lines.” – Ronnie Lane
The lyrics encourage us to skip school and hit the park with the boys of Small Faces, to join the high train and find ourselves in rays of the sun. “Itchycoo” was a slang term for London’s Little Ilford Park, as well as for a flower called the “stinging nettle” that burns the skin when it comes into contact with it.
As a fun, upbeat and pretty tune, Small Faces’ “Itchycoo Park” hit #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in ’68 and ruled at #3 in the UK in ’67.