Silverstein's passion for music was clear early on as he studied for a while at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. As a songwriter, Silverstein kept a low profile but cast a long shadow. He tended to shun publicity and even photographers. Nonetheless, his musical output included many songs which were hits for other artists. Most notably, he wrote the music and lyrics for "A Boy Named Sue" that was performed by Johnny Cash (for which he won a Grammy in 1970); "One's on the Way" (which was a hit for Loretta Lynn), and "The Unicorn Song" which, despite having nothing to do with Ireland nor Irish culture, became the signature piece for The Irish Rovers in 1968 and is popular in pubs all over the world to this day. He wrote the lyrics and music for most of the Dr. Hook songs, including "Cover of the Rolling Stone", "Freakin' at the Freakers' Ball", "Sylvia's Mother", and the cautionary song about VD, "Don't Give a Dose to the One You Love Most". He also wrote many of the songs performed by Bobby Bare, including "Marie Laveau", "Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe", "The Mermaid", "The Winner", and "Tequila Sheila". The song "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan",] recorded in 1979 by Marianne Faithfull and later featured in the films Montenegro and Thelma & Louise, was also by Silverstein.
Show It At The Beach
Shel Silverstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, they won't let us show it at the beach.
They think we're gonna grab it if it gets within our reach.
And they won't let us show it at the beach.
But you... can show it in your parlor to most anyone you choose.
You can show it at a party with your second shot of booze.
You can show it on the corner wearin' overcoat and shoes,
No... they won't let us show it at the beach, friends.
Ah... they won't us show it at the beach.
Oh, they're sure we're gonna grab it if it gets within our reach.
So they won't let us show it at the beach.
But you can show it at the movies on the cineramic screen.
You can show it in the most sophisticated magazine.
You can show it while you're bouncing on the high school trampoline,
But they won't let us show it at the beach.
But if you've got a gun, it's legal to display it on your hip.
You can show your butcher knives to any interested kid.
But if it's made for lovin', then you'd better keep it hid.
And they won't let us show it at the beach.
The song "Show It At The Beach" by Shel Silverstein is a humorous commentary on the double standards and censorship of the human body. The lyrics revolve around the idea that people can show certain things in public while being prohibited from showing others. The verses allude to the fact that the human body, specifically genitalia, is considered too scandalous for public display, and the idea that this is unfair is a central theme.
The chorus repeats the line "They won't let us show it at the beach," highlighting the frustration of being restricted from something as simple as going to the beach and being comfortable in one's own skin. The lyrics point out that people can show their bodies in other ways and situations, such as at a party or on a movie screen, but not at the beach.
The song also takes a satirical tone towards the idea of weapons being more acceptable to display than the human body. The lyrics suggest that guns and knives are more permissible to show in public, but if it's "made for lovin'," it's forbidden.
Overall, "Show It At The Beach" is a lighthearted commentary on the societal taboos surrounding nudity and the human body. It portrays the frustration and absurdity of censorship, while also making a pointed commentary on the prioritization of violence over the celebration of the human form.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, they won't let us show it at the beach.
The subject is not allowed to show a certain object at the beach.
No, they won't let us show it at the beach.
The subject reiterates that he/she is not allowed to show the object at the beach.
They think we're gonna grab it if it gets within our reach.
The reason the subject can't show the object at the beach is because the authorities believe he/she will steal it.
And they won't let us show it at the beach.
The subject repeats that he/she is not permitted to show the object at the beach.
But you... can show it in your parlor to most anyone you choose.
Although the subject can't show the object at the beach, others can display it in their private space.
You can show it at a party with your second shot of booze.
The object can be displayed at a gathering where alcohol is being consumed.
You can show it on the corner wearin' overcoat and shoes,
One can display the object in public with a cover-up such as an overcoat.
But they won't let us show it at the beach.
Again, the authorities prohibit the subject from displaying the object at the beach.
No... they won't let us show it at the beach, friends.
The subject restates that he/she is not allowed to show the object at the beach.
Ah... they won't us show it at the beach.
The subject repeats that he/she is prohibited from displaying the object at the beach.
Oh, they're sure we're gonna grab it if it gets within our reach.
The authorities are convinced that the subject will take the object if given the opportunity.
So they won't let us show it at the beach.
As a result, the subject is not allowed to display the object at the beach.
But you can show it at the movies on the cineramic screen.
The object can be shown in movies on the big screen.
You can show it in the most sophisticated magazine.
The object can be featured in high-end publications.
You can show it while you're bouncing on the high school trampoline,
The object can be displayed while jumping on a trampoline at school.
But they won't let us show it at the beach.
Despite these alternative venues, the subject still cannot display the object at the beach.
But if you've got a gun, it's legal to display it on your hip.
One can show a gun on their person in public where it is legal to carry.
You can show your butcher knives to any interested kid.
Butcher knives can be displayed to interested parties, even children.
But if it's made for lovin', then you'd better keep it hid.
However, if the object is related to love or intimacy, it is better to keep it concealed in public.
And they won't let us show it at the beach.
The authorities still prohibit the subject from displaying the object at the beach.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ronja´s Dr Hook Channel
Lyrics:
Oh they won't let us show it at the beach no they won't let us show it at the beach
They think we're gonna grab it if it gets within our reach
And they won't let us show it at the beach
But you can show it in your parlor to most anyone you choose
You can show it at a party with your second shot of booze
You can show it on the corner wearin' overcoat and shoes
But they won't let us show it at the beach
No they won't let us show it at the beach friends
Ah they won't us show it at the beach
Oh they're sure we're gonna grab it if it gets within our reach
So they won't let us show it at the beach
But you can show it in the movies on the cineramic screen
You can show it in the most sophisticated magazine
You can show it while you're bouncing on the high school trampoline
But they won't let us show it at the beach
But if you've got a gun it's legal to display it on your hip
You can show your butcher knives to any interested kid
But if it's made for lovin' then you'd better keep it hid
And they won't let us show it at the beach
Mike Weber
I remember one of the Dr Hook frontmen - Ray Sawyer or Dennis Lecorriere (i'm pretty sure it was Dennis) talking about getting a call from Shel.
At 4AM.
Now, they'd already recorded a couple of Shel's songs - "Sylvia's Mother" and "Roland the Roadie" at least - and they were on good terms, but ... still.
"Shel - it's 4AM."
"Grab a pencil - i just came up with a song I wanna play for you."
"Why don't YOU write it down, Shel?"
"I can't - I'm in a phone booth."
Dennis said "Now, I knew better than to ask Shel what he was doing in a phone booth at 4Am ... with his guitar ... because more likely than not, he'd'a told me."
So he scrounged up pencil and paper, and as Shel sang and played it, he wrote down "Cover of the Rolling Stone".
Ronja´s Dr Hook Channel
Lyrics:
Oh they won't let us show it at the beach no they won't let us show it at the beach
They think we're gonna grab it if it gets within our reach
And they won't let us show it at the beach
But you can show it in your parlor to most anyone you choose
You can show it at a party with your second shot of booze
You can show it on the corner wearin' overcoat and shoes
But they won't let us show it at the beach
No they won't let us show it at the beach friends
Ah they won't us show it at the beach
Oh they're sure we're gonna grab it if it gets within our reach
So they won't let us show it at the beach
But you can show it in the movies on the cineramic screen
You can show it in the most sophisticated magazine
You can show it while you're bouncing on the high school trampoline
But they won't let us show it at the beach
But if you've got a gun it's legal to display it on your hip
You can show your butcher knives to any interested kid
But if it's made for lovin' then you'd better keep it hid
And they won't let us show it at the beach
Tina Durski
Shel was a legend
Tommy Two Toes
It's amazing how many popular songs he wrote including Boy named Sue, The Unicorn song, throw another log on the fire and many, many more.
LEONARDO THE FABULOUS
I didn't know he wrote "A Boy named Sue."!!
Lindsay Hengehold
Love his books like A Light in the Attic, the Giving Tree & Where the Sidewalk Ends
Kevin Fowler
My uncle taught me this song when over 30 years ago. One of my favorites.
John L
The Giving Tree, which he wrote, is a wonderfully written story!
John L
Yep!
Birgitte Kjær
@John L yes
Linda S Dawson
Where the Sidewalk Ends