Uploaded January 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
"Signs", by Canadian rock group The Five Man Electrical Band (formerly The Staccatos), was written by lead vocalist Les Emmerson. It was released as a B-side single in 1970 from their "Good-byes and Butterflies" album and then re-released as an A-side single in 1971 where it reached #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart who ranked it as the No. 24 song for that year. It is reported to have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide, earning a gold award, and has become the band's signature recording. The lyrics are intended to give voice to those without power or property rights, which in many cases were young people. Emmerson wrote the song after taking a road trip on Route 66 in California where he noticed a scores of billboards that obscured the beautiful scenery begging the question: Who is allowed to put up signs that interfere with nature, and who gets to make the rules that appear on them? ....One thing is certain, contrary to the intent of the song, no doubt there probably were signs outside The Five Man Electrical Band's concert venues that read something like "Must have a ticket to enter".
"Signs", by Canadian rock group The Five Man Electrical Band (formerly The Staccatos), was written by lead vocalist Les Emmerson. It was released as a B-side single in 1970 from their "Good-byes and Butterflies" album and then re-released as an A-side single in 1971 where it reached #3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart who ranked it as the No. 24 song for that year. It is reported to have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide, earning a gold award, and has become the band's signature recording. The lyrics are intended to give voice to those without power or property rights, which in many cases were young people. Emmerson wrote the song after taking a road trip on Route 66 in California where he noticed a scores of billboards that obscured the beautiful scenery begging the question: Who is allowed to put up signs that interfere with nature, and who gets to make the rules that appear on them? ....One thing is certain, contrary to the intent of the song, no doubt there probably were signs outside The Five Man Electrical Band's concert venues that read something like "Must have a ticket to enter".
