Laffin’ Place |
The “Hollywood” sign was famously defaced in 1976 after the decriminalization of marijuana in California |
On January 1, 1976, the iconic “HOLLYWOOD” sign was altered to read “Hollyweed” by the late Danny Finegood of Los Angeles and a few of his college friends. The stunt — celebrating the decriminalization of marijuana in California — got worldwide publicity at the time.
David Batterson |
David Batterson, now 69, wrote the lyrics to “Hollyweed USA” back in 1976. |
HOLLYWEED, USA
Music by Mark Giles / Words by David Batterson
(Registered with ASCAP)
There’s a great big sign in the Hollywood
hills
That the tourists and the natives all read
This is a story about that big ol’ sign, and
The day Hollywood became Holly-WEED
Well, they passed a law back in seventy-five
Don’t you worry if you smoke a little grass
Everybody said it was a wonderful law
Smokin’ pot was put in traffic-fine class
Hollyweed, USA
Now it’s finally safe to take a little toke
Hollyweed, USA
Let me tell you ’bout a practical joke
Four young guys one day got stoned
And they thought they’d have a little bit of
fun
They said they couldn’t think of any better
way
To see the law take effect January One
On December thirty-first well they made their
move
With their black bed sheets in hand
They changed the double Os into double Es
And they carried out their master plan
Hollyweed, USA
Now it’s finally safe to take a little toke
Hollyweed, USA
It was just a little practical joke
So the town woke up on January First
And they saw quite an infamous deed
The famous sign that the world all knows
Was changed into Holly-WEED
There’s a great big sign in the Hollywood
hills
That the tourists and the natives all read
This is the story about that glorious day
When they turned Hollywood into Holly-WEED
Hollyweed, USA
Now it’s finally safe to take a little toke
Hollyweed, USA
It was all just a practical joke
Hollyweed, USA
Now it’s finally safe to take a little toke
Hollyweed, USA
Just a practical joke.