Dale is revered as one of the pioneers of surf rock and one of the most influential guitarists of the early 1960s. His technique influenced future guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom-made Fender amplifiers. Among Dale's most well-known songs are "Misirlou", "Surf Beat", and "Let's Go Trippin'". He also released music under Dick Dale & His Del-Tones.
Born Richard Anthony Mansour to a Lebanese father and a Polish mother, he soon learned to play the drums, the ukulele, and finally the guitar. Among his early musical influences was his uncle, an oud player performing belly dance music. A plethora of Dale's early material contains middle eastern musical influences. Dale's professional career began in 1959, playing with his band The Del-Tones for surfers at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa, California. With authorities concerned about the mix of young people and guitars, one of the requirements at the Ballroom was that every male patron wear a tie, so the audience was often made up of barefooted guys in surfer garb wearing ties that were handed out at the door.
Dale is often credited as one of the first electric guitarist to employ exotic scales in his playing. When Dale started surfing he became so fascinated that he began seeking ways of channeling the energy and power of the sport through his guitar playing. While he is primarily known for introducing the use of guitar reverberation, which has since become a staple of the surf sound, it was Dale's fast staccato picking that was his trademark. Due to his left-handedness, Dale was initially forced to play a right-handed model. However, he did so without restringing the guitar, leading him to effectively play the guitar upside-down (while Hendrix would restring his guitar). Even after he acquired a proper left-handed guitar, Dale continued to use his reverse stringing.
Discography:
Albums:
1962 - Surfer's Choice (Deltone)
1963 - King of the Surf Guitar (Capitol)
1963 - Checkered Flag (Capitol)
1964 - Mr. Eliminator (Capitol)
1964 - Summer Surf (Capitol)
1965 - Rock Out With Dick Dale & His DelTones: Live At Ciro's (Capitol)
1983 - The Tigers Loose (Balboa)
1993 - Tribal Thunder (HighTone)
1994 - Unknown Territory
1996 - Calling Up Spirits (Beggars Banquet)
2001 - Spacial Disorientation
Secret Surfin' Spot
Dick Dale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I make it everyday after school is through
My secret surfin' spot where only I know
The gremmies and the hodads never go
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
Well, I'm hot-doggin' on my board 'til the sun goes down
I jump into my woodie and I make it back to town
The gremmies and the hodads never go
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
My secret surfin' spot is the talk of the school
When they ask me I play it real cool
My secret surfin' spot where only I know
The gremmies and the hodads never go
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
Yeah, I'm hot-doggin' on my board 'til the sun goes down
I jump into my woodie and I make it back to town
My secret surfin' spot where only I know
The gremmies and the hodads never go
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
I'm hot-doggin' on my board 'til the sun goes down
I jump into my woody and I make it back to town
My secret surfin' spot where only I know
The gremmies and the hodads never roam
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never go
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
In Dick Dale's "Secret Surfin' Spot," the singer begins by describing his daily routine of riding along the coast past Malibu. After school, he heads to his "secret surfin' spot," which only he knows about. This spot is secluded, and the "gremmies and hodads" never go there. The singer then talks about how he "hot-dogs" on his board until the sun sets, after which he heads back home in his woodie.
The song is all about the thrill of surfing and the joy of having a special spot that no one else knows about. The singer takes pride in the fact that he's the only one who knows about this spot and that he's able to surf there without any interference. He talks about the "gremmies and hodads," who are non-surfers, and how they never go to his secret spot.
As a whole, "Secret Surfin' Spot" is a playful and upbeat tribute to the world of surfing. It captures the excitement and freedom of riding the waves and the joy of having a special place that's all your own.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, along the coast past Malibu
I travel along the coast beyond Malibu
I make it everyday after school is through
I go every day after school ends
My secret surfin' spot where only I know
My undisclosed surfing location known only to me
The gremmies and the hodads never go
The inexperienced surfers and posers never venture there
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
I reiterate that they never visit my spot
Well, I'm hot-doggin' on my board 'til the sun goes down
I am performing fancy surfing tricks until sunset
I jump into my woodie and I make it back to town
I quickly leave the area in my wood-panel station wagon
My secret surfin' spot is the talk of the school
My surfing location is the topic of school discussion
When they ask me I play it real cool
I pretend to be nonchalant when people inquire about it
I'm hot-doggin' on my board 'til the sun goes down
I am performing fancy surfing tricks until sunset
My secret surfin' spot where only I know
My undisclosed surfing location known only to me
The gremmies and the hodads never go
The inexperienced surfers and posers never venture there
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
I reiterate that they never visit my spot
I'm hot-doggin' on my board 'til the sun goes down
I am performing fancy surfing tricks until sunset
I jump into my woodie and I make it back to town
I quickly leave the area in my wood-panel station wagon
My secret surfin' spot where only I know
My undisclosed surfing location known only to me
The gremmies and the hodads never roam
The inexperienced surfers and posers never visit
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never go
I reiterate that they never venture there
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
I emphasize again that they don't visit
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
Once again, I assert that they don't go there
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
For a final time, I state that they never visit
Contributed by Stella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rhodayackez9570
My fave Dick Dale song!
@tagreene06
My dad used to sing this whenever the beach movies came on
@walterfechter8395
One of my faves by Dick Dale (doing vocals on this). King tone from The King of Surf Guitar. Welcome summer 2014!
@danielcruz8347
Luv at end of Guitar solo break fade out throws in another quick Guitar rainbow.....
@fercla42
Great, from the movie Beach Party of 1962.
@joestephan1111
I'm sorry but Dick Dale is King of the Guitar
@fercla42
Love this, true surf sound...like The Astronauts.
@steveomusicman6645
lotsa reverb on that fender guitar solo.. awesome!
@biblioman
My secret surfin' spot where only I know
The gremmies and the hodads never go
I said, the gremmies and the hodads never roam
@donbuck8110
Who, what are the gremmies and the hodads.