The 60’s. It was a time of political controversy, rebellion, protest marches, bras burning, bare feet, and flower power. From the dust of the 60’s turmoil rose a new cultural lifestyle with a new breed of people: We called them Hippies.
They were children of peace who criticized middle class values, rebelled against established institutions and were dead against the Vietnam War. They were a new and liberated class of people who gave preference to freedom, love, and peace. They were set apart from others by the way they looked, how they thought, and how they spoke.
There emerged a language that they alone understood and this too helped set them apart from the rest of society. Below is a list of unique words that made the language of the Hippy their very own:
- Pad: Your pad was where you lived. “Let’s head over to Pete’s place and hang out.”
- Crash: To crash meant to go to sleep, usually right where you were. “I think I’ll crash on the floor.”
- Gas: If you had a gas, you had a lot of fun. “We had a gas before crashing at Pete’s pad.”
- Scarf: To eat something very quickly. “I had a gas scarfing pizza before I crashed at Pete’s pad.”
- Split: To split meant to leave. “I split Pete’s pad the next morning.
- Scene: The place where you are is the scene. A scene is where something is happening. “I was at Pete’s pad but I split the scene.”
- Happening: To be in a fun place where everyone is having a good time is a happening place. “The party at Pete’s pad was a real happening scene.”
- Groovy: When something is referred to as groovy it was cool. “Pete has a groovy pad.”
- Far out: If something was far out, it was better than groovy. “Pete’s a real far out guy!”
- Dude: A dude was a geek of the 60’s. “Pete’s brother is a dude.”
- Drag: A drag was anything boring. “Do you know Pete’s brother? That dude’s a drag.”
- Dig: To understand. “Do you dig what I’m saying dude?” “I dig it!”
- Peace Out: Goodbye. “I’m going to split, peace out brother.”
- Threads: Your clothes. “Pete’s brother’s threads are far out for a dude.”
- Hang Loose: Don’t get your tail in a knot, relax. “I know Pete’s brother is a drag but hang loose until he splits.”
- Brother: Any good person or a friend was your brother. “That brother’s no drag.”
- Gut Wadding: Fast food was called gut wadding. “Come on Pete, let’s scarf some gut wadding at the burger joint.”
Ah, the 60’s. If you were cool, you were hip. Bellbottom jeans were in, torn and frayed jeans, tie dye shirts, love beads, head bands, granny dresses, granny glasses, sandals, crocheted hats and belts, ankle bells, and bare feet were all part of the Hippy life style. Where are they now?
Many went to collage, grew up, got married while a few held fast to the Hippie life and brought it along with them into the 21st century. It’s a little harder to recognize them now but if you get a chance to hear them speak, you’ll figure it out.
Peace out brother and stay hip.