The first official release credited to Wilson as a solo artist was the 1966 Beach Boys single "Caroline, No" (b/w "Summer Means New Love"), due to being the single's arranger and sole vocal presence. Around the same time, Wilson also produced cuts for other artists such as The Beach Boys' spear counterpart The Honeys (member Marilyn Rovell was Wilson's first wife), and Jan & Dean, whose "Surf City" became a #1 hit single. The 1977 album Love You and the unreleased Adult/Child (recorded during the same sessions) were tentatively considered for release as Brian Wilson solo albums, although the idea fell through. Love You would be last Beach Boys albums to feature Wilson's extended involvement for the better part of 35 years.
Brian's solo career, despite a few false starts, began in earnest with the 1987 single "Let's Go to Heaven in My Car" (b/w "Too Much Sugar"), featured in the film Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol. A year later, his debut solo album, the eponymous Brian Wilson, was released, at the time hailed as a 1980s equivalent of what is widely regarded as Wilson's magnum opus, 1966's Pet Sounds. A follow-up in much the same vein, Sweet Insanity, was scrapped due to various personal issues.
Also left on the shelf was a fruitful collaborative project with multi-instrumentalist Andy Paley, informally known as "The Paley Sessions". Over the years, a few tracks were released through various albums, but dozens more have been bootlegged, and a comprehensive release has yet to be assembled.
Instead, 1995 saw the release of two albums: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, a collection of re-recordings seemingly meant to reintroduce him to the public, and Orange Crate Art, a song cycle written by one-time lyricist Van Dyke Parks with contributions by Wilson, were released. An album of new compositions entitled Imagination followed in 1998.
Wilson began performing live again in 1999, and with his confidence as a performer growing ever stronger, he chose to release a live album documenting the Imagination tour (Live at the Roxy Theatre). In 2002, he began incorporating Pet Sounds in its entirety into his live performances; this, too, was documented in a live album titled Pet Sounds Live.
In 2004, Wilson revived and completed SMiLE, his unfinished 1967 album, performing the work in its entirety on a celebrated tour. The positive response lead him to record a studio version which met similar acclaim; the album cut "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental. That same year, he released Gettin' in Over My Head (containing many songs originating with the ill-fated Sweet Insanity album), featuring guest musicians Elton John, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and brother Carl, who passed away in 1998. Brian's song "Lay Down Burden" was written in tribute of his brother.
Brian released a collection of Christmas songs entitled What I Really Want For Christmas in 2005. His 2008 album, That Lucky Old Sun, marked his return to Capitol Records. As part of a two-album deal with Disney, Wilson released Reimagines Gershwin (2010), a tribute to his idol George Gershwin, and In the Key of Disney (2011), a collection of cover songs from various Disney films.
2012 saw the The Beach Boys celebrate their 50th anniversary, reuniting a majority of surviving band members including Brian, for a worldwide tour as well as the release of an album, That's Why God Made the Radio, composed almost entirely by Wilson with an assortment of co-writers. The album became the group's biggest chart success in decades, peaking at #3 on the Billboard album charts. Status quo was restored as the group members went their separate ways again after the conclusion of the tour.
In 2015, Wilson released his eleventh studio album, No Pier Pressure. Originally conceived as a follow-up to That's Why God Made the Radio before The Beach Boys reunion fell through, the album features guest appearances by contemporary artists such as Kacey Musgraves, She & Him, and Nate Ruess (of fun.), as well as former Beach Boys Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin, and David Marks. Summer 2015 will also see the public release of Wilson's autobiographical motion picture Love and Mercy (named after Wilson's 1988 comeback single), with actors Paul Dano and John Cusack starring as a younger and older Wilson.
Surfin
Brian Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then ev'rybody'd be surfin' like Californ-I-A.
You'd see 'em wearin' their baggies. Huarachi sandals, too.
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo. Surfin' U.S.A.
You'll catch 'em surfin' at Del Mar. Ventura County Line.
Santa Cruz and Trestles. Australia's Narabine.
All over Manhattan, and down Doheny way.
We'll all be plannin' out a route we're gonna take real soon.
We're waxin' down our surfboards. We can't wait for June.
We'll all be gone for the summer. We're on safari to stay.
Tell the teacher we're surfin'. Surfin' U.S.A.
At Haggarty's and Swami's. Pacific Palisades.
San Onofre and Sunset. Redondo Beach, L.A.
All over La Jolla, and Waimea Bay.
Ev'rybody's gone surfin'. Surfin' U.S.A.
Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' in the U.S.A has been a popular activity for decades, and Brian Wilson's song Surfin' U.S.A. encapsulates that spirit. The lyrics center around the excitement and anticipation of the surfing community, with the singer painting a picture of a country united by its love of the sport. The singer imagines a world where everyone has an ocean to surf, and in California, where it all began, everyone is wearing the iconic surf attire: baggies, Huarachi sandals, and a bushy blonde hairdo. The singer lists popular surf spots, such as Del Mar, Ventura County Line, and Santa Cruz, and calls for the whole country to join in the fun.
The lyrics also highlight the temporary nature of the surfing lifestyle, with the singer planning out a route and waxing down their surfboards in anticipation of summer. The line "Tell the teacher we're surfin'" sends a message of rebellion and freedom, urging listeners to choose the beach over the classroom. Throughout the song, the singer's enthusiasm is infectious, and the repetition of the phrase "everybody's gone surfin'" emphasizes the sense of unity and community that surfing can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
If ev'rybody had an ocean across the U.S.A.
If there was an ocean that ran across the United States for everyone to enjoy,
Then ev'rybody'd be surfin' like Californ-I-A.
Everyone would be surfing just like they do in California.
You'd see 'em wearin' their baggies. Huarachi sandals, too.
People would be wearing baggy shorts and Huarachi sandals.
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo. Surfin' U.S.A.
People would have long, bushy, blonde hair while they surf in the United States.
You'll catch 'em surfin' at Del Mar. Ventura County Line.
You can catch people surfing at Del Mar and the Ventura County Line.
Santa Cruz and Trestles. Australia's Narabine.
People surf at Santa Cruz, Trestles, and in Australia at Narabine.
All over Manhattan, and down Doheny way.
People in Manhattan and Doheny also surf.
Ev'rybody's gone surfin'. Surfin' U.S.A.
Everyone is out there surfing - this is the vibe across the United States.
We'll all be plannin' out a route we're gonna take real soon.
Soon, everyone will be planning their surfing route.
We're waxin' down our surfboards. We can't wait for June.
Everyone is preparing their surfboards for June and excited to start surfing.
We'll all be gone for the summer. We're on safari to stay.
Everyone is going to leave for the summer and go surfing.
Tell the teacher we're surfin'. Surfin' U.S.A.
Even the teachers know that everyone is out there surfing.
At Haggarty's and Swami's. Pacific Palisades.
Surfing can also be done at Haggarty's, Swami's, and Pacific Palisades.
San Onofre and Sunset. Redondo Beach, L.A.
More surfing destinations include San Onofre, Sunset, and Redondo Beach in Los Angeles.
All over La Jolla, and Waimea Bay.
People are also surfing in La Jolla and Waimea Bay.
Ev'rybody's gone surfin'. Surfin' U.S.A.
Again, this emphasizes that everyone is out there surfing in the United States.
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind