Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In

Album: The Age Of Aquarius (1969)
Charted: 11 1
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  • When the moon is in the Seventh House
    And Jupiter aligns with Mars
    Then peace will guide the planets
    And love will steer the stars

    This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
    Age of Aquarius
    Aquarius
    Aquarius

    Harmony and understanding
    Sympathy and trust abounding
    No more falsehoods or derisions
    Golden living dreams of visions
    Mystic crystal revelation
    And the mind's true liberation, Aquarius
    Aquarius

    When the moon (when the moon) is in the Seventh House
    And Jupiter (Jupiter) aligns with Mars
    Then peace will guide the planets
    And love will steer the stars

    This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius
    Age of Aquarius
    Aquarius
    Aquarius
    Aquarius
    Aquarius

    Let the sunshine, let the sun shine in
    The sun shine in
    Let the sunshine, let the sun shine in
    The sun shine in
    Let the sunshine, let the sun shine in (oh, let it shine)
    (Come on) the sun shine in (now everybody just sing along)
    Let the sunshine (and let the sun shine on in), let the sun shine in
    (Open up your heart) the sun shine in (and let it shine on you)
    (And when you lonely) let the sunshine (hey, let it shine), let the sun shine in
    (You gotta open up your heart) the sun shine in (and let it shine on in)
    (And when you feel like you been mistreated)
    Let the sunshine, let the sun shine in (and your friends turn their backs upon ya)
    (Just open up your heart) the sun shine in (let it shine on in)
    (You got to feel it) let the sunshine (you got to feel it), let the sun shine in
    (Oh, open up your heart) the sun shine in (and let it shine on in)
    (Now, let me tell you one thing)
    Let the sunshine, let the sun shine in (I want you to sing along with the 5th dimension)
    (Hey, and open up your heart) the sun shine in (oh c'mon)
    Let the sunshine (and let it shine), let the sun shine in
    (Glory day) the sun shine in
    (Hey, you got to feel it) let the sunshine (you got to feel it), let the sun shine in
    (When you open up your heart) the sun shine in (you got to let the sun come on in)
    (Now I say, in the morning) let the sunshine, (late in the evening), let the sun shine in
    (Open up your heart) the sun shine in
    (Hey, when you're feeling low) let the sunshine Writer/s: Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 35

  • Eric from NetherlandsDawn of Aquarius (24-07-2024), Songs! "The 5th Dimension 1967" and "Party Animals 1996"
  • Garrett from Las Vegas, NvThere are actually TWO versions of "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)". The version they play on the radio with the strings that come before the song's second verse is actually the album version, while the single version that went to #1 omits this, and is hardly ever played anymore and is not known if it was included on any The 5th Dimension compilation.
  • Armin from Dallas/fort WorthRegarding the issue of whether we are currently in the age of aquarius or pisces, the short answer is aquarius, in the sense of what the song's lyrics describe as an astrological awareness. The cycle of zodiacal constellations in astronomy moves from aquarius to pisces, with aquarius having already passed by. Thus, the astronomical age is pisces.
    Each zodiacal age lasts approximately 2160 years as 1/12 of the earth's precessional rotation about its axis, i.e., the wobble of the earth as it rotates (like a toy top). The age is determined by the constellation at the horizon where the sun rises on the vernal (spring) equinox.
    In astrology, the cycle moves in the opposite direction (pisces to aquarius) but, as a pseudo-science, there is much debate among the astrological community of whether the aquarian age has arrived or not.

    "Traditionally, Aquarius is associated with electricity, computers, flight, democracy, freedom, humanitarianism, idealism, modernization, astrology, nervous disorders, rebellion, nonconformity, philanthropy, veracity, perseverance, humanity, and irresolution.
    A common position expressed by many astrologers sees the Age of Aquarius as that time when humanity takes control of the Earth and its own destiny as its rightful heritage, with the destiny of humanity being the revelation of truth and the expansion of consciousness, and that some people will experience mental enlightenment in advance of others and therefore be recognized as the new leaders in the world (Wikipedia)."
  • Dean from Hudson, MaIsn't the first 'let the sunshine in' in a different key than all the others???
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1969 {April 6th} "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" by the 5th Dimension peaked at #1 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, it remained in the top spot for six weeks and spent a total of seventeen weeks on the Top 100...
    "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" prevented three other records from reaching #1, "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Blood, Sweat, and Tears peaked at #2 for three weeks, "It's Your Thing" by the Isley Brothers fpeaked for one week at #2, and the Cowsills' "Hair" peaked at #2 for two weeks...
    Between 1966 and 1976 the Los Angeles quintet had thirty records on the Top 100 chart, six made the Top 10 with two* reaching #1, the above "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" and "Wedding Bell Blues" for three weeks in November of 1969...
    Original 5th Dimension member Ron Townson passed away on August 2nd, 2001 at the age of 68...
    May he R.I.P.
    * They just missed having a third #1 record when their "One Less Bell To Answer" peaked at #2 {for 2 weeks} in December of 1970, after two weeks at #2 it spent the next three weeks at #3...
    And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Top 10 on April 6th, 1969:
    At #2. "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Blood, Sweat, and Tears
    #3. "Dizzy" by Tommy Roe {the previous week's #1 record}
    #4. "Galveston" by Glen Campbell
    #5. "Time of The Season" by The Zombies
    #6. "Only The Strong Survive" by Jerry Butler
    #7. "It's Your Thing" by The Isley Brothers
    #8. "Hair" by The Cowsills
    #9. "Run Away Child, Running Wild" by The Temptations
    #10. "Twenty-Five Miles" by Edwin Starr
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaDrummer was the great Hal Blaine of the Wrecking Crew. In fact that is the Crew playing in the back ground as well.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 29th, 1968, the original Broadway production of the musical 'Hair' premiered at the Biltmore Theater in New York City...
    Between 1968 and 1979 six covered versions of songs from the play have made Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart:
    "Where Do I Go" by Carla Thomas {#86 in 1968}
    "I Got Life" by Nina Simone {#94 in 1969}
    "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" by The 5th Dimension {#1 for 6 weeks in 1969}
    "Hair" by The Cowsills {#2 for 2 weeks in 1969}
    "Good Morning Sunshine" by Oliver {#3 in 1969} and by the Strawberry Alarm Clock {#87 in 1969}
    "Easy To Be Hard" by Three Door Night {#4 in 1969} and by Cheryl Barnes {#64 in 1979}
  • Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation'Lips Unsealed: A Memoir by Belinda Carlisle': "I didn't have enough money to buy more albums until high school. But every so often I scraped together enough change for a 45. My favorite was the 5th Dimension's version of “Aquarius.” It was the first single I bought, and I like it today as much as I did back then."
  • Camille from Toronto, OhThe Fifth Dimension. Now there was a group. So many of their hits are still some of my favorite of all time songs. None of these oldies but goodies get enough airplay on the radio these days. This group really rocked. Marilyn McCoo, what a voice and beauty, Billy Davis Jr., what a hunk, and the rest of the vocal group, their sound was rock, r& b, spiritual, jazz, pop, all rolled in to one incredible, strong, clear, unique sound that stands the test of time. It wasn't till I began putting music on my newly acquired iPod several years ago that I revisited this group and realized how much of their music I really truly loved, and still do. I love that line "I want you to SIIIING along with the 5th Dimension; HEY, AND OPEN UP YOUR HEART.....AAAUUUUHHHH!" Damn, that is really good stuff!
  • Bob Minelli from Milwaukee, WiGiven the current state of our earth's affairs and what is to come...this song has huge relevance!
  • Phil from Winnipeg, MbTo AJ from Cleveland, Gorgia and anyone else interested. The Aquarius thing is a response to the constant need for humans to stage a war with other humans year after bloody year since recorded history. The actual number of years of war-free years within the thousands of years of existance is about 5%. So a propossal of harmony, trust and understanding is extremely foreign to war loving countries throughout the earth. Making money is done most efficently during times of killing, maiming and violating our fellow mankind. Its a bad habit that has to be replaced by a good habit. Eliminate money and establish a better economic system. The need to accumulate wealth is replaced with the desire to better oneself and all others. Anyone and anything can always be better. Lets reach for the best in ourselves and others.
  • Karen from Silver Spring, Md"Let the Sunshine" was actually the last verse of the song it was taken from called "The Flesh Failures." It was an anti-war song, as the whole musical "Hair" was. To me it's strange that it was added to "The Age of Aquarius" by the Fifth Dimension because it's such apocalyptic song.
  • Mark from El Paso, TxTHE AGE OF AQUARIAS IS FROM c. 1903 to 2193,

    Sorry, Ivan from Louisville, Ky.
  • Ret from Bristol, United KingdomGreat, very evocative song of the time. Nice balance between the yearning idealism of the first 2/3 of the song and the almost fatalistic coda shifting between minor and relative major and back again. Sorry
  • Lucy from Rhinebeck, NyThe song sounds totally different when they start sing the let the sunshine in part.
  • Ken from Louisville, KyThis was the only 5th Dimension song to have a prominent vocal solo by a male group member. Billy Davis, Jr - Marilyn McCoo's future husband - did the soulful part during the "let the sunshine in" part.
  • Tim from Morristown , TnThe USS Johnston, the destroyer I went to the Mediterranean on in 1970 used this as our "breakaway" song....when we had completed refueling/replenishing from another ship while underway, it was customary to pipe the breakaway song throughout the ship, as well as over the "outside" speakers so the deckhands on both ships could hear it as we "broke away" from the side by side formation, usually throwing a good sized rooster tail up from the stern as the propellers tried to dig in. May sound odd to someone who's never experienced it on a calm, moonlit night far from home...but if you have, it's something you know you'll always remember...
  • Richard from Talladega, AlGreat song. To this day, it still gives me the chills, especially the "let the sunshine" jamming. Great drums and bass line. Excellent headphone fodder.
  • Guy from Wellington, New ZealandWay cool song. Love the complete shift into Let the Sunshine In. Great brass. Beautiful singing by 5th Dimension. Love the Gospel effect...'Whoa let it shine...Open up your heart' etc. Great dance tune. Another classic from the decade with the music.
  • Susan from Chantilly, VaThe 5th Dimension saw a production of "Hair" together. After the performance, all the members agreed that they should record the song, Aquarius, as it was a perfect song for a group. They were right. I tihnk the song was originally performed by Ronnie Dyson in the "Hair" production.
  • Sebestian from Oakridge, OrPerhaps the worst way to end the 60's.
  • Mike from Germantown, MdAnyone know what That trippy instrument is in the beginning?
  • Cody from Clarendon Hills, IlDid anyone see this in "The 40 Year Old Virgin"?
    Freakin Hilarious
  • Joseph Gatt from Pieta, Malta, ArMay I second Ivan's assertion that we are currently in the Age of Pices, and NOT in the Age of Taurus, as declared by the first "songfact" on this page !
  • Steve from Fenton, MoOne of the best songs of the 60's, a decade of great songs.
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnThis was The Fifth Dimension's biggest hit single. It's best known for the line "I want you to sing along with The Fifth Dimension."
  • Rick from San Juan, United StatesProduced by Bones Howe, the structure of "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" is very similar to The Beatles' "Hey Jude". Both songs were #1 hits for multiple weeks (Hey Jude 9 and Aquarius 6), both were over-average in length (Hey Jude clocked 7:11 and Aquarius' single edit 4:45), and their second halves are loops, recurring in crescendo about 18 times in Hey Jude and 11 in Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In.
  • Travis from Maryville, MoThis song is used in a big Bollywood musical scene in the movie "The 40 Year Old Virgin". The movie features lots of great songs including Asia's "Heat of the Moment" and more.
  • Aj from Cleveland, GaI really don't understand the whole "Aquarius" thing, but a good song nonetheless
  • Mike from Seattle, WaThe other member of the wrecking crew on this one was studio wizard Mike Deasy Sr playing guitar.
  • Nicoletta from Bronx, Nymy dad was in the movie "hair" .. he was the drummer in the central park scene
  • Ivan from Louisville, KyWe are currently in the Age of Pices. This is determined which constellation is on the horizon on the morning of the spring equinox.
  • Charles from Charlotte, NcThree other songs from 'Hair' made the Top Forty in 1969. They were 'Good Morning Starshine' recorded by Oliver, 'Easy To Be Hard' by Three Dog Night and of course 'Hair' by The Cowsells (forerunner of The Partridge family)
  • Steve from San Jose, CaThe backup band was the "Wrecking Crew" with Hal Blaine on drumsand Joe Osborne on bass.
  • Kirri from Newcastle, Australia'Let The Sunshine In' was sampled on the track 'The Sunshine Song' by Australian DJ Groove Terminator.
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