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From: MissAbrams
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  • I'm from San Francisco, born in 1960, and I remember this song. Brings back sweet memories. Thanks for posting! :)

  • @bedroombody1

    Thank you! Nice to her this!

  • In the television show M*A*S*H, the character "BJ Hunicutt" proudly let folks know he was from Mill Valley California.  It would be interesting to know if this song, which only predated M*A*S*H by a few years, was instrumental in the creation of the character, an "all around family man". Born in '62, the children I see singing this song....are my age peers now! Thanks for the memory!

  • @bowman62rd

    I had heard that about MASH. Yes, the kids are pushing 50 now, hard as it is to believe! Good to hear we're part of your memories.

  • what a faggy town

  • @hymerdinker thank you !

  • I get requests for Mill Valley on my oldies radio show Cruisin' 92.1 WVLT - FM) I remember seeing on an afternoon tv show, back in the 70's. thanks!

  • @crazybobdj

    Hi--thanks for keeping us on the radio!!

  • @Ritajaneful I play the "Songs that are stuck in your head". I get a lot of requests for Mill Valley! Beautiful, addictive melody, & spot on, lyrics! We stream on the web at WVLT dot com

  • I loved this song when it came out. I was a college student at the time but wished I could have been a kid in Miss Abrams' class.

    Even now the song is so sweet it moves me to tears every time.

    Thank you so much for posting it! I'd never seen the video. But how did Francis Ford Coppola happen to direct it?

  • Dear Rita;

    Thank you so much for posting this. I grew up on the Peninsula and had many friends in Marin, especially Strawberry & Mill Valley, this brings back so many fond memories.

  • Aw, I found it! First heard this song in 1972 when it was played on KDEF 1150 here in Albuquerque. I haven't heard it since that time, but I always knew I would one day find it again. Love that Google. And I really love this song.

  • The1st time I heard your song play on the radio I was getting seasick while deep sea fishing off the New England coast. Yet, this tune reminded me that I would soon

    be back on 'terra firma' ! Thank-you for adding to the American Experience in no small way ; for everyone should have a Mill Valley to go home to in their heart !

  • i'm a teenager in mill valley and i've lived here all my life. ah, how i wish i could have been here in the 70's.

  • how the fuck did i get on this

  • Miss Abrams, I have had this song on my heart for many years now. I was 13 when it came out, and like another poster here, it took me to a wonderful place when my own home was not what it should have been. It didn't matter that I was in Bothell, Washington :) I am so happy to find it here! I look forward to getting to know your other music now that I know where to find your work.

  • @MsColleenS

    Thank you for this very sweet message! And I hope you enjoy my other music.

    I hope things are better for you now!

  • @MissAbrams Oh my yes, I have a wonderful life, I was a teacher like you for several years! I have 4 grown children already, and a wonderful man to retire with (when we get 'that old' lol) You are a delightful lady. Thank you so much for your quick reply! I had never seen your face, or the video before today...I found a photo of me at 18 the summer before I went to college, we could have been 'sisters' ;)

  • @MsColleenS Hi Colleen...I'm the other poster who was taken to a wonderful place by this song. It's been digitized and is available on iTunes. The sound quality is so wonderful and really enhances Miss Rita's glorious voice! I never tire of it or the melody. Jim

  • Hey Rita,

    We just me at the reading for the 4 messengers on Sat. Eve. Mill Valley Song is great and I love the film. Inspires me to do this with my own kids in Newark, NJ. Thank you for sharing.

  • I grew up in Mill Valley in the 70's and 80's, went to Park School though. But I remember we used to sing this. Fond memories.

  • you can't be as friendly as you want. Unless you care to obtain criminal charges

  • is that little girl drinking a hamms beer at 1:13? hahahah this is weird i live in mill valley . this is pretty funny/creative i guess. . shelter bay all day . i think i mighgt have to make the remix!! lol they show one little black girl. that hilarious.

  • is that little girl drinking a hamms beer at 1:13? hahahah this is weird i live in mill valley . this is pretty funny/creative i guess. . shelter bay all day . i think i mighgt have to make the remix!! lol

  • I visited mill valley for the 2nd time in my life because my cousins live there I loved the town it was amazing

  • I was about 8 years old and replaced the words with, "talkin' 'bout Mil-pitas, California..." because that was MY home and the tune fit it nicely, haha...

  • Thanks to Miss Abrams for this! I left the beautiful jewel of a village in 2001 and have lamented it ever since then. God was smiling and chuckling when He created our Mt. Tam, and thought maybe she ought to have a village to tower over. How wonderful to call M.V. my home! Harreit

  • HEY ALL OF YOU MILL VALLEYITES - LISTEN UP! YOU LIVE IN THE MOST GOD-BLESSED SPOT ON EARTH. I LEFT IT IN 2001 AND HAVE LAMENTED THAT ACT EVER SINCE. MT. TAM AND M.V. MARKET AND BOYLE PARK PICS BRING TEARS TO MY EYES. KUDOS AND THANKS TO MISS ABRAMS. HARRIET

  • Rita, thank you for this movie :) I was so surprised to see that it was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. I love Mill Valley which rests at the base of Mount Tamalpais, my favorite place on this earth ! It is always wonderful to see joy & happiness in the faces of people.

  • Hi Rita: Just interviewed John Sebastian and was reminded Erik Andersen produced this. Cool tune. What are you up to these days? Peter G

  • Miss Abrams

    Just want to say thank you for such a cool song! I grew up in South Bay (San Jose) and remember this song playing on the local AM radio stations like KYA, KFRC. I was in grade school at the time. So nice to hear this song again! Sure brings back fun memories from so long ago. Amazing job on the video by Mr. Coppola.....very creative!!

  • wow! remember singing this in school mid 79 when i stayed in cali for a few months aged 9. happy happy memories. i've still got the signed softball the class gave me. love to all

  • nice song!

  • The baby guzzling Hamm's beer... priceless.

  • Hi All--I love hearing your memories, and appreciate every message. Thank you for sending them. Warmly, Rita

  • @MissAbrams I worked at KDIG San Diego in 1973 (FM stereo 98, now KIFM jazz), and the program director

    " Ross" put this song into the top 40 format back then. We got calls all the time asking "who does that song?". Well, I was only an engineer so I didn't have an answer for them. But it sure is a cute song, and it's good to see your video made it up on youtube. I still like the words and melody...'never got tired of it.

  • I remember sitting in a field at Edna Maguire with my three children shortly after we moved here 15 years ago. A teacher was playing the guitar and we were all singing your song. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, there was a gentle breeze, and I looked around at all of the happy people, the beautiful mountain, and felt the warmth and joy of the gathering. I have the clearest memory of feeling that this was the sweetness of life, and every child (and adult) should have the opportun

  • Joe Raposo writing "Can You Tell Me How To Get To Sesame Street?" ripped you off IMO.

  • Miss Abrams I love your pony-tails!

  • I used to live on Mt Tamalpial (spelling?) This was a great song. Brings back lots of great memories. I'm so glad I came across this on Youtube. Great stuff. What a great time to be alive and a kid!

  • Comment removed

  • I visited MV recently, saw the article on the anniversary, and finally heard the song. Sweet!

  • Mill Valley is so cool!!! Look what they let one year olds do: 1:14. I wish I grew up there!!

  • This song was played on the radio in West Palm Beach, FL...I don't care for this song but, I do think that Marin Co. and Mill Valley are lovely places!

  • I grew up in MV from '71 thru '88. I remember back in the 70's, singing this song with Dave Fromer at Alto Edna Maguire elementary. The tune brings me back.

    Mill Valley has changed so much since then and I'm not sure for the better.

    This song really captures the true essence of Mill Valley as I remember, thank you.

  • @p053r46

    I went to school at Park and hung out at Reed's house for years. It was a great place to grow up and I miss everyone I knew from MV. I graduated from Tam in 86', so I'm sure we knew each other or of one another.

  • Been looking for this for a long time. Remember hearing the song way back and it made me happy. Sat next to a guy in Reno and he was Mill Valley, asked him about the song and he said the kids in the video just had a reunion. Would like that link if possible. What a great song..........

  • Wow, I remember singing this song in elementary school in Mill Valley. I had no idea this was playing around the country. Crazy.

  • Strawberry is not Mill Valley.

    It was strange that people from Strawberry sang a song about Mill Valley.

    I grew up in Mill Valley and felt very different than the people on the other side of the freeway. At the time, there were definite differences being that Mill Valley was an actual town and Strawberry was just a little mall, apartments and houses. It's too bad that this song inspired people to move to MV. They moved here for the beauty then cut down the trees and built big houses.

  • @cri8tor Yep, you've got that Marin attitude alright (one of the reasons why I left).

  • Were the children who lived in Tiburon able to opt out of singing this song? It's a great song and achievement. I just know that as I child from Tiburon I would have had a difficult time singing such a wonderful song about my neighboring town.

  • @cpkook02  Hi--none of the kids who sang on the record lived in Tiburon. They all lived in the Strawberry section of Mill Valley. I guess Tiburon needs a song too! Thanks for writing. -Rita A.

  • @MissAbrams whoo Strawberry portion of Mill Valley represent!

  • i was 9 years old in 1970, growing up in southern illinois. i'll spare you my (mostly sad) memories of that world...but i once heard your song and saw the video. from it came my dream of one day finding a beautiful place like mill valley. it's very moving to discover the song again; i can tell you were a wonderful and loving teacher to those children.

  • @JimPaloAlto Hi Jim. Just reread your very sweet, poignant note. Thank you again. - Rita A.

  • @JimPaloAlto

    Woah woah you grew up in Southern Illinois?

    I went to school there.

    Weird.

    I love Mill Valley.

  • It's as sweet to look at and listen to as it was back when it first came home.

    Almost brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for doing this. I still love it.

  • Good thing you met that record producer or we may never have heard the song. I tried for years to buy the record but was never able to. I was told there was a huge waiting list. Eventually I did get the song from a friend who taped it for me. Unfortunately, his copy was taped from the radio and the quality was very bad but better than nothing. ---- Nice Lyrics. Decent Melody. Well Done.

  • @musclehulk1

    Hi--I'm sorry it was hard for you to get the record. These days you can order it online, download it, or buy it from Amazon. The "kids" and I are so happy you like our song!!

  • I'm so happy to see this on YouTube! Like others have posted, I too remember this song being played on the radio - lived in the East Bay at the time. The chorus has stuck in my mind all these years and it's great to finally hear the whole song again!

  • @ItIsYourMom

    I like your email address. And thanks for the nice words! Rita A.

  • Oh my goodness! This is the first time I've heard this song since I was in 3rd grade in 1970! I have such fond memories of this song played on our local AM radio station while playing with Matchbox cars in my living room. Thank you, Miss Abrams, for such a fond memory that brings a tear to my eye!

  • @cfishel15

    Hi--how sweet. And where did you live then? Thanks for writing, Rita A.

  • @MissAbrams

    I grew up in Virginia Beach, then a sleepy little resort town on the East Coast.

  • Grew up in Mill Valley for a few years. Great place.

  • Priceless! 

  • I used to think Mill Valley was gay until I saw a kid take a sip of beer 1:15 in.

    Now I want to move there so my kids can sip beer and sing gay songs!!!

  • My daughters went to strawberry point school years ago now. My oldest graduated two years ago and the other is a senior at Tam this year. Wonderful memories of this song and their childhood. Thank you, Ms. Abrams. It made my day to see this video and read the article in the chronicle. I wish all children could grow up in this idyllic setting.

  • Totally tubular to the max!

    xoxo

    The Clarences

  • My cousin Brian Friedman was one of Ms. Abram's singing kids. It was great fun reading the article and watching this video with Brian as a laughing little kid. Great memories! Congratulations again, Ms. Abrams.

  • Despite the exposure for "Mill Valley" the single only made it to #70 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, which is hardly considered "major".

  • @vividwatch47

    Hi Vivid. Actually the single made it to #5 on the Easy Listening Billboard Chart. Thanks for watching, Rita A.

  • @MissAbrams, I made an error! It actually made it to #90.

  • @vividwatch47 Dear Viv--Another lesson in not believing everything you read in the papers. The #90 may have been correct for the top pop 100--not sure--but the Easy Listening chart was another category, and that's where we made #5. If you've ever been written up you understand. I also don't do kids albums with Dr. Elmo--just grown-up albums. Nonetheless, Joel Selvin is a great writer.

  • @MissAbrams, in case you're wondering where I got the chart information, i got it from Joel Whitburn's Billboard book "Top Pop Singles 1955-2002" where it lists information on every single that made the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart.

  • Congratulations! I saw the story on the front page of the Chronicle today. I was the same age as the students at the time of the recording, growing up on the Peninsula, and wondering endlessly about Mill Valley . Now, so many decades later, I own a home in nearby Larkspur. Mt. Tamalpais has had a special place in my heart for many years now, and the line "and there's a mountain that belongs to everyone" couldn't be more true. Thanks for the fond memories! :-)

  • @NatureGirl62

    Thanks so much for your warm words! Love Larkspur too. Best, Rita

  • @ 1:13 Kid drinkin' a Hamms Beer Tall-boy! Did Coppola direct him to do that?!

  • Is that kid drinking a Hamm's Beer at 1:15?

  • One for the time capsule! Sweet.

  • mhering@cpinc.org

  • Rita,

    What a great video! I have always loved the song and this is just a bonus bright spot in my day!

    Cheers,

    Lisa W.

  • I too happened to listen to this interview. It was a great feeling that music can do such wonder...One of the caller mentioned that this song brought a kid back from coma...amazing...kudos to the writer/director and to entire team...you all should be really proud of making such a beautiful song...

    a similar incident happened in India recently..

    Search for "Music brought her back from the brink" in google and the very first link...

  • I just heard the KQED interview. I remember the song from when I was a little boy growing up in Oregon. I thought it was very cool then, and I still do. Apparently Francis Ford Coppola did the video as a young film maker. 

  • @morset13, Francis Ford Coppola's first feature films as a director were "Demenia 13" and "Tonight For Sure" (both 1962). He cowrote the screenplays for "Finian's Rainbow" and "Patton". His career was hardly "young" at this point.

  • Just heard you on Michael Krasny (KQED Radio) this morning so I had to look up the video. Congratulations on your anniversary of this timeless song! Peace.

  • @archiestone --Thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate them. All the best to you, Rita

  • Wow, the spirit of the music and video just screams a pleasant and sentimental flashback! I viewed this last year, and I loved watching it. Now that this turns 40 (#90 in August (8th or 15th--don't have the Whitburn handy) 1970), this really seems special to watch it today.

  • 1:15 in - little kid drinking a Hamm's 16 oz. beer

  • That was nice of you to give Francis Ford Coppola his big break.

  • How sweet ! Brings back memories of my childhood. Really brightened my day.

  • a song from my youth! On a lark I decided to see if it is on YT! much to my delight it was! I recall my sister 11 years my elder singing this song to me then hearing it on AM radio in the car! Sweet memories! :)

  • AM Radio, KMBY, Monterey, CA 1970. I got very sentimental watching the video. This song was on heavy rotation on the radio. I think it was #1. As a kid, I wondered where this magical place must be...if the kids are singing about it and the lady singing has such a sweet voice, it must be a magical place. Whatever this was about, I'm sure it had to be a good thing. I just had to chime in and say that. Nice job.

  • I heard this song ONCE on the radio while growing up in NY, and then not again until I found it on youtube. Amazing how the melody lingered.

    Took my visiting in-laws to Mill Valley in March to look around. It doesn't look a whole lot different from the days of Cyra McFadden and The Serial--still "mellow and laid back", and just as whitebread in every respect.

  • @nevadasestamibi I saw this film once on television when I was a kid, and I've been singing it ever since. I had no idea it was on the radio or the pop charts. A catchy tune; I used to whistle it often when I was living there in the late '70s.

  • Hi All and thank you for all your comments! Feeling a little sentimental since this is the week it was released 40 years ago!!

    Your comments and memories always welcome! And I'm hoping there will be a book about it soon.

    Warmly, Rita A.

  • Congrats Rita Abrams for 40 years of the best song in the whole wide world! Mill Valley will always be my home :)

  • haha This is so cool! My Marine Bio teacher was telling us about this today. He was one of the kids in the class.

  • I grew up in the harder parts of the bay area( at 12)...but this song was a ray of hope...So, I'm glad for everything this song brought you..Miss Abrams...

  • Nice white peoples song. Nah, just kidding. I always liked this song as a kid. Blessings to whom ever posted it.

  • WOW...have not heard this in years and years and years....I love it... Thanks for sharing!

  • Mill Valley California that's my home!

  • I just watched 'Sound of Music' and remembered this song. Miss Abrams is the living legacy of a truly magic era of America. Thank you

  • Is that a baby drinking a brewskie at 1:14 ??

  • appears to be, hm?

  • I grew up in Piedmont and always wanted it to be more like MV.

  • Hi Betty--Mill Valley thanks you for the compliment. But Piedmont isn't so bad.

    Best,

    Miss A.

  • Of course it is very lovely, but not much of a town centre plus it was sad being located next to the poverty you could find in Oakland.

    Mill Valley was one of the "Mayberrys" of the Bay Area during the 70's.

  • I love the kid drinking a Hamms at minute 1:15

  • saw that! hahaha!

  • Hamms is so 60's.

  • I remember this song SOO well! i grew up in San Francisco, and heard this song all the time. Thanks so much for posting it. I may be mistaken but I seem to remember that she wrote the song not only as a love song for her family and hometown but also because the school she worked for needed money and this was a way to raise some cash? As i said it WAS 40 yrs ago. and I'm sooo much older now. God bless you for adding this song to youtube.

  • Miss Abrams, I grew up on the Peninsula (Belmont), and was a 4th grader when this song was on the radio all the time. What a wonderful thing you and those MV kids created. It amazes me to read all the posts from people who heard the song on the radio in places like North Dakota and the Maldive Islands! I now live in MV, with kids at Old Mill. They sang your song at an assembly some time ago, and the lump formed in my throat and tears welled up. Love the video, can't wait for the book!

  • Now that I am all grown up it's hard to believe it's the 40th anniversary of the song. THANK YOU Miss Abrams for making me a part of this awesome adventure!

    What was my Mom thinking with that shirt?

  • Mill valley that's my home!!

    I'm a little late cuz I'm only 16 but can't wait for the book cuz mv is the most peaceful place around..very loveable

  • I used to ROCK that Fireman hat !!!

  • WOW!! Francis Ford Coppola!! LOL

    I grew up in Mill Valley in the 70's and 80's... I LOVED IT. I live in Brooklyn, NY now and often think of Mt Tam, Tam Valley and downtown often.

  • I'm from Mill Valley too; went to Strawberry Point School from 1962-1970. This happened a little after my time, but I loved it. I'm glad to see it again. Makes me nostalgic for the MV of my childhood, certainly 360 degrees from what it is now.

    Thanks -- then and now.

  • Spent the first 28yrs of my life in this lil burb. My mom use to run around the house singin this song all the time. Great lil tune and makes me miss home so much !!!! Thanks so much for posting

  • I remember this song as a kid. About 20 years ago I was in San Fran visiting by sister and her family when we drove through Mill Valley and I immediately thought of the song from the 60's even though I hadn't heard it in probably 25 years. I never hear it on the oldies stations, what a shame. A nice little song.

  • When I heard this song on the radio all the way in Milwaukee, I decided to see Mill Valley for myself. So in 1972, I hitched to California and I went there. Nice little town. I was 19 years old when I was there. I wound up staying in santa barbara for eight years before coming back to Milwaukee.

  • Hi! What a nice comment to wake up to today! It will be 40 years ago this Christmas Day that I wrote the song. Stay in touch to hear about the book. Best wishes, Rita A.

  • I certainly will. Mill Valley does indeed have a special spot in my heart.

  • I had no idea that this song was so old! My daughter sings this song every year at her elementary school in Mill Valley. Very sweet!

  • I do a radio show for WSGE 91.7FM in Dallas NC and someone gave me MP3's of everything that charted on the big board from 56 thru about 2005, what a wonderous time those were musically. Stumbled accross this one and broke it out on last weeks show, fit in perfectly with my 22mo old in tow! He seemed really enjoy it!

  • Dear Classichost~ How great to read your comment, and how timely!  I'm writing a book about the song and how it happened, and your statement fits right in. Many thanks for playing our song! Best, Rita A.

  • I grew up in Mill Valley during the 70's and 80's.

    I remember singing this song too!

    Good times!

  • They were, weren't they?

    Thanks for singing along! -Miss A.

  • Where are all the negroes?

  • I love the kid finishing up a beer at 1:13 in the video! ;)

  • Great jig at 1:09 :)

  • Love it!

  • I have been in MV since 1965,

    sure has changed. Then it was a sleepy

    artists , musicians and blue collar workers. Now- eeeack.

    The song sure brought back memories of better times though.

    J.B.

  • Hope everything is going well Miss Abrams. I remember singing this and "Happiest day of my life" in your kindergarten class while you played your autoharp. I must admit after the record was released with a 3rd grade class instead of us I was disappointed. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that your kindergarten class feels a bit like Pete Best :)

  • Expect things to change, they always do. You have got to have that mental state. People come and go, but the land usually does not.

  • Hi Rita... I just had to go back and find this gem of yours. I remembered it, sort of, but after visiting Mill Valley and then meeting you at the environmental awards in SF I wanted to go back and revisit your music. It was well worth the trip. Thanks for the memory. j

  • hi miss abrams, this song brings back great memories of 7th grade september 1970 here in san jose, ca. i can remember hearing it on KLIV radio while riding on the bus to school. there were so many great songs that year especially mill valley. you look so cute with your hair in long pony tails. i wish i could meet a girl who doesn't mind wearing her hair like that. truly a sweet classic song. must of been a lot of fun recording it. well, god bless you. sincerely, james

  • Hey Miss Abrams!

    What a sweet memory! I dont think anyone who ever heard this sweet, simple song has ever forgotten it. You looked so adorable in the vid, but Im sure you still do. I only wish there was more footage of what MV looked like in those days...

    Warmest aloha from Maui, an old Mill Valley buddy,

    Pamela Polland

  • I always loved this song. I've looked for it forever...thank you for posting.

    Ms. Abrams..you still in Mill Valley? Great feel good song Rita..thank you! :)

  • Hey,I was 12-cut me some slack.

  • Along with the Bealtes,Led Zepplin, CCR, this song sticks in my head.

    Soundtrack of your life is right.

  • Directed by Francis Ford Coppola? Is that for real? What a cute, sweet song.

  • Nope. Willie Kee. A former cameraman for KTVU.

  • This is my suggestion for the shopping mall in Christchurch that wants to chase "unruly teens" out. I like Mill Valley, Village Music is GREAT, but this song should never have gotten the airplay it did, but of course, this was a period when a piece of junk like "Raindrops Keep etc etc" got an Oscar for Best Song. BTW, the Singing Nun was Soeur Sourire (Sister Smile). Had her album, loved it, but then I discovered Allan Sherman

  • Thanks for clearing that up!! I knew that I had remembered something like that, It's an age thing sometimes I can't remember yesterday.

  • I grew up in Los Gatos when this song was played on the radio all the time. I still live in Bay Area, everytime I see Mill Valley on News or hear of on the radio, I start singing this song. Glad I found it on you tube tonight. The kid with the beer justs makes me LOL!!!!!! Was the teacher a Nun before she was a teacher? I just remember that for some reason.

  • No I wasn't a Nun. You're thinking of the Singing Nun, who had a hit around the same time. Thanks for the chuckle!

    Miss Abrams

  • Actually, Dominique by the Singing Nun was 1963

  • Is there a better version available anywhere? better sound quality? I've been looking for this song for years.

  • Far out! Just transported back home to a much simpler time for a litte while...

    Wish we had time travel that's for sure...

  • I loved the song in 1970 and bought a copy, and people thought I was looney. Not cool to buy a record with children singing. But I knew it captured the special spirit I was looking for. The video exactly corresponds to the vision the song conjures up. An early Coppula masterpiece I guess! Thanks Rita, and keep up the great work, and keep the spirit alive.

  • Hello there. Strange that this song should stick in my mind after all these years. At the time, as a young man,I was running a radio station in the Maldive Islands and we received pre-release 45s from the record companies. Mill Valley came in and it struck a chord with me. I played it incessantly, but, I guess it only struck a chord with me!! Thank you anyway, after all these years.

    Mike McCann

  • this is where Micah lives.

  • I grew up in North Dakota and heard this on the radio all the time when it came out. It always brought images of some mythical place in California that I longed to be. In my scrapbook, I even have the printed lyrics to this song from my 1970 school music class. I eventually visited there in 1988 and was not disappointed. Thanks for the memories since I have not heard this since it came out. YouTube rocks!

  • Wow, brings back memories! I grew up in New Jersey and this song was constantly being played on the radio there in the early '70's. Good hearing it again. Thanks for posting this.

  • Rita

    How did you get Coppola to direct this?

  • I grew up in Novato, California from '64-'80. This song was played so much when I was a child. I LOVED it then, and now! I hadn't heard it since I was little(I turned 50 this year).It brought tears to my eyes when I heard it again. It was one of the happier childhood memories that I can recall! Thanks so much Miss Abrams!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • This is so bittersweet to see. The good ol Mill Valley we all miss so much!! I cringe when visiting that town now. Can't beat the beauty, you just have to ignore the people.

  • I grew up in Mill Valley (from 1972 on). I went to elementary, middle and high school there and I miss the Mill Valley of the song. Mill Valley is now more like Carmel-by-the-Sea (art galleries and bistros have replaced corner drugstores). Still I love it and am grateful to Rita for posting this.

  • Hi, and thanks for your comment. I''m grateful to you, and everyone who takes the time to talk about the song.

    Best

    Rita Abrams

  • What's with the toddler swigging the beer at 1:16? Hope he's not an alcoholic now! Hard to believe those children in that video are in their mid 40s now. I always loved this song since it came out in 1970 and it should be played more! Great video too! I lived in S.F. from '79 - '87 and my many trips to Mill Valley were wonderful. I'm looking foward to being there again when I play the Throckmorton Theater hopefully in September. Thank you, Miss Abrams for a great song and and beautiful memory!

  • Yeah,I caught the little boy with the beer can. The rest of the video and, of course, the

    song are neat - but the beer can just doesn't

    belong in a otherwise sweet video with young

    children singing in the background. Sorry for

    sounding like a prude.

  • Wow, I hadn't heard this song since the very early 70s, until I found it here, of course. Oldies stations don't play this song anymore. A very catchy tune! In addition, the video is a nice blast from the past....1970 style. Thanks for posting!!

  • I love Mill Valley. That's my home too ;) Wonderful tune.

  • How Nice!! Thank you!

    from Miss Abrams

  • You're so welcome Miss Abrams! Even though I may have missed the good old times of Mill Valley, my folks were there (and still are). I am 23, but realize how fortunate I am to have grown up amongst the same shadows of the sleeping lady we all cherish together. I cannot help but love your song and hope one day my kids will be singing it too...You have instilled a sense of place that will forever be home. Thanks again.