Formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961, the original group comprised singer-musician-composer and bandleader Brian Wilson, his brothers Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Wilson neighbor David Marks appeared on their first four albums and was a member from 1962 to 1963 as a temporary replacement for Jardine, who had left the group to pursue a career in dentistry.
On their first few studio albums, the group primarily played surf music, but this changed after 1964 as their songs became more sophisticated and autobiographical. The 1965 album Today! particularly represented this shift in sound. Bruce Johnston joined the group that same year. Session drummer Hal Blaine is quoted: "We all studied in conservatories; we were trained musicians. We thought it was a fluke at first, but then we realized Brian was writing these incredible songs. This was not just a young kid writing about high school and surfing."
Following their most esteemed work, Pet Sounds (1966), the band became symbols of psychedelic counterculture. The highly anticipated follow-up, Smile, was left unfinished, and Brian soon relinquished his creative hold on the group. A trilogy of lo-fi releases followed: Smiley Smile (1967), Wild Honey (1967), and Friends (1968). Brian would not be credited as a primary composer for any Beach Boys album until 1977's Love You, an album on the fringe of synth-pop, new wave, and punk.
In Brian's absence, the Beach Boys still managed to release music that was regarded favorably by fans and critics despite poor sales: Sunflower (1970) and Surf's Up (1971). South African musicians Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar played and sang with the band on the next two albums: Carl & the Passions - So Tough (1972), and Holland (1973).
Many changes in both musical style and personnel have occurred in their sometimes-stormy career: Brian Wilson's mental illness and drug addiction; the deaths of Dennis Wilson in 1983 and Carl Wilson in 1998; and continuing legal battles among surviving members of the group. With the release of 1974's Endless Summer they became a more popular touring act, playing their greatest hits. They have recorded 36 Billboard Top 40 hits (including four number-one singles), have had over 100 million sales, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Official site: http://www.thebeachboys.com
Heroes and Villains
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been taken for lost and gone
And unknown for a long, long time
Fell in love years ago
With an innocent girl
From the Spanish and Indian home
Home of the heroes and villains
Once at night, Catillian squared the fight
And she was right in the rain of the bullets
That eventually brought her down
But she's still dancing in the night
Unafraid of what a dude'll do
In a town full of heroes and villains
Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done
Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done
Stand or fall
I know there shall be peace in the valley
And it's all an affair
Of my life with the heroes and villains
My children were raised
You know they suddenly rise
They started slow, long ago
Head to toe healthy, wealthy and wise
I've been in this town so long
So long to the city
I'm fit with the stuff
To ride in the rough
And sunny down snuff, I'm alright
By the heroes and
Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done
Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done
In The Beach Boys's song Heroes and Villains, the lyrics seem to reflect on the life experiences of the singer who has been in a town for too long that he feels lost and unknown. He fell in love years ago with an innocent girl from a multicultural background, the "Spanish and Indian home," which he sees as the home of the "heroes and villains." The line could be interpreted to mean that the singer sees heroes and villains in every culture, and that his true love comes from a mix of different backgrounds.
The song moves on to tell the story of Catillian, who squared off in a fight and was caught in the rain of bullets, eventually getting brought down. However, she still dances in the night, unafraid of what anyone can do to her, despite being in a town full of heroes and villains. The line "heroes and villains, just see what you've done" seems to suggest that everyone has played a role in shaping the hero vs. villain narrative, or perhaps in the conflict that brought Catillian down.
The song then goes on to talk about the singer's children, who have risen to become healthy, wealthy, and wise individuals, and that he is fit enough to "ride in the rough." The concept of heroes and villains echoes throughout the song, suggesting that they are part of everyone's life journey, and that their presence can either make or break one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been in this town so long that back in the city
I've been here for so long that people have forgotten about me in the city
I've been taken for lost and gone
People have forgotten about me since I've been here too long
And unknown for a long, long time
I'm not known by too many people here
Fell in love years ago
I fell in love with someone a long time ago
With an innocent girl
The person I fell in love with was very innocent
From the Spanish and Indian home
The person I fell in love with was from a mix of Spanish and Indian cultures
Home of the heroes and villains
The place where this person is from has both heroes and villains
Once at night, Catillian squared the fight
Once at night, there was a fight and Catillian(possibly the innocent girl) was there to fight it
And she was right in the rain of the bullets
She was in the middle of the gunfight, but she was right in doing what she did
That eventually brought her down
The fight caused something bad to happen to her
But she's still dancing in the night
Although something bad happened to her, she still dances in the night(meaning she still goes on living)
Unafraid of what a dude'll do
She is unafraid of what might happen to her
In a town full of heroes and villains
The town where she is has both heroes and villains in it
Heroes and villains
Both good and bad things are here
Just see what you've done
Look at the results of what you've done
Stand or fall
Either things will go well or not
I know there shall be peace in the valley
I know things will get better eventually
And it's all an affair
Everything that's going on is just a big mess
Of my life with the heroes and villains
Everything that's happening is just part of my life, which has both good and bad things in it
My children were raised
My children have grown up
You know they suddenly rise
They have become successful quickly
They started slow, long ago
They started out slowly when they were younger
Head to toe healthy, wealthy and wise
They are now very healthy, wealthy and wise
I've been in this town so long
I've been here for a long time
So long to the city
I've been away from the city for so long
I'm fit with the stuff
I'm prepared for anything that comes my way
To ride in the rough
I'm prepared to deal with difficult situations
And sunny down snuff, I'm alright
Even if I face tough times, I'm okay with it because I'm used to it
Heroes and
Both good and bad things
Heroes and villains
Good and bad things
Just see what you've done
Look at what your actions have caused
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Kokomo
This song is an absolute classic and I love the way that it lists all the major destinations in the Caribbean.
Philip Kassabian
on Surfin' U.S.A.
A great song by The Beach Boys hit all the major surfing destinations.
Philip Kassabian
on Catch a Wave
This song really gets you in the mood for surfing.
Philip Kassabian
on Surfer Girl
What a splendid song by The Beach Boys. They really were a great band.
Philip Kassabian
on Wouldn't It Be Nice
One of the greatest Beach Boys songs.
Les lumb
on Surf's Up
Love Good Vibrations ,God Only Knows however this is my fav Beach Boys song
Les lumb
on San Miguel
It captures the mood of the place, very atmospheric
Les lumb
on Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) [Single Version]
Great version by the Beach Boys it flows
Les lumb
on Break Away
Soothing
Leslie Lumb
on Break Away
Love the opening verses beautiful words