The Lemon Pipers’ Journey to Stardom with “Green Tambourine”

“Green Tambourine” is a psychedelic pop song recorded by the American band The Lemon Pipers. Released in 1967, the song was written by Paul Leka and Shelley Pinz.

“Green Tambourine” is characterized by its catchy melody, distinctive sitar riff, and playful lyrics. The song’s lyrics describe a street performer playing a tambourine and collecting money in a hat, creating a whimsical and colorful atmosphere. The use of the sitar, a traditional Indian instrument, gives the song its psychedelic and exotic flavor, which was characteristic of the late 1960s music scene.

The song became a massive hit, reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States in early 1968. Its success established The Lemon Pipers as one-hit wonders, but “Green Tambourine” remains a notable and enduring example of the psychedelic pop sound of the late 1960s.

The song’s playful lyrics and catchy tune have contributed to its status as a nostalgic classic, often associated with the flower power era and the counterculture movement of the time.