The band's long career has seen them successfully adopt many different musical genres; including glam pop, power pop, electronic dance music and mainstream pop. Despite these many styles, a recognizable "Sparks sound" remains throughout, and they have enjoyed a large cult following since their first releases. Sparks have been highly influential on the development of popular music, in particular on the late 1970s scene, when in collaboration with Giorgio Moroder (and Telex subsequently), they reinvented themselves as an electronic pop duo, and abandoned the traditional rock band line up. In contrast to the esteem in which they are held by such peers as Depeche Mode, New Order, Morrissey and They Might Be Giants, who all cite Sparks as a major influence, their almost constantly changing styles and unique visual presentations have sometimes seen them dismissed as a novelty act.
The 2002 release of Lil' Beethoven, their self-described "genre-defining opus", and 2006's Hello Young Lovers (their 20th studio album) have brought Sparks renewed critical and commercial success, and seen them continue to "steer clear of pop conventions."
The 2021 documentary film 'The Sparks Brothers', directed by Edgar Wright, has renewed interest in the band for a new audience.
Let's Go Surfing
Sparks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In our land-locked town
Skies are always gray
Let's go surfing, babe
Somewhere there is hope
Somewhere there are dreams
Far from soot and smoke
Let's go surfing, babe
From our room with security bars
There's a westerly wind that is blowing both our minds
And both our feet
Walk through sand that's as white as the snow
Past the people named Kelley and Joe
Who have nothing in common with anyone we know
We know they're
Too Wagnerian
Too Shakespearian
Too impossible
Let's go surfing, babe
Somewhere there is hope
Far from everything
Far from misanthropes
Let's go surfing, babe
Tonight, from a room only Dickens could love
Wearing moth-eaten sweaters and gloves
We will open the window and feel an on-shore wind
A-blowing in
Grab our boards from the back of our van
Paddle out 'til we can't see the sand
Spin around and drop into the wave we hope will never end
Somewhere there is hope
Somewhere there are dreams
Far from everything
Let's go surfing, babe
Tonight, grab our boards from the back of our van
Paddle out 'til we can't see the sand
Spin around and drop into the wave we hope will never end
Catch a wave, a wave, a wave
Catch a wave, a wave, a wave
Somewhere there is hope
Somewhere there are dreams
Far from everything
Let's go surfing, babe
The Sparks’ song “Let’s Go Surfing” is an anthem for people who are yearning for an escape from their mundane and gray lives. The song suggests the idea of going on a surfing trip to find hope and dreams somewhere far from their land-locked town with nothing but soot and smoke. The lyrics describe how the singers of the song look at the moon and the stars from their room, feeling trapped behind security bars, dreaming about the westerly wind that is blowing through their minds, and waiting for an adventure to take them away from their reality.
The song paints a vivid picture of the journey of the singers as they leave behind their mundane lives, drive to the beach, and paddle out to find the perfect wave that they hope will never end. The lyrics emphasize the idea of hope, dreams, and the freedom that comes with a journey towards the unknown, far away from misanthropes who represent anything that is too Wagnerian or too Shakespearian or too impossible.
In conclusion, “Let’s Go Surfing” is a song for anyone who feels the urge to escape their mundane lives and seek adventure and freedom. It is about finding hope and dreams in a place far away from the everyday life that brings nothing but gray skies, soot, and smoke.
Line by Line Meaning
Rain is pouring down
The weather is bad and depressing
In our land-locked town
Our town is not near any oceans or beaches
Skies are always gray
The weather is constantly overcast and gloomy
Let's go surfing, babe
Let's escape our current situation and hit the waves
Somewhere there is hope
There are better places and situations to be in
Somewhere there are dreams
There are places and situations where we can fulfill our aspirations
Far from soot and smoke
We want to escape the pollution and grey atmosphere of our current location
Let's go surfing, babe
Let's find a place where we can surf and be free
Tonight as we look at the moon and the stars
As we contemplate our future and our dreams
From our room with security bars
From our confined and restrictive environment
There's a westerly wind that is blowing both our minds
We are both moved by the idea of escaping and discovering new things
And both our feet
We are both ready and willing to take action
Walk through sand that's as white as the snow
To reach the beaches, which are pure and untouched
Past the people named Kelley and Joe
Past people who are irrelevant to us and our journey
Who have nothing in common with anyone we know
They are strangers in a strange land
We know they're
We are sure that they are
Too Wagnerian
Too grandiose and dramatic
Too Shakespearian
Too theatrical and overdone
Too impossible
Too unrealistic and fantastic
Let's go surfing, babe
Let's focus on our own journey
Far from misanthropes
Far from people who hate others and the world
Tonight, from a room only Dickens could love
From a cramped and depressing space that only Charles Dickens could appreciate
Wearing moth-eaten sweaters and gloves
Wearing old and worn-out clothing
We will open the window and feel an on-shore wind
We will experience the ocean breeze and freedom
A-blowing in
Blowing in with a refreshing and rejuvenating effect
Grab our boards from the back of our van
Preparing ourselves for the adventure
Paddle out 'til we can't see the sand
Going further and further out to sea
Spin around and drop into the wave we hope will never end
Riding the waves with exhilaration and joy
Catch a wave, a wave, a wave
Full immersion into the surfing experience
Somewhere there is hope
Believing in the possibility of a better life
Far from everything
Away from our problems and the mundane routine of our current lives
Let's go surfing, babe
Embracing the freedom and excitement of surfing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RON MAEL, RUSSELL MAEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Scheherazade
A great Sparks song.
Philip Kassabian
on Aeroflot
This song is amazing.
Philip Kassabian
on Irreplaceable
Sparks is an absolutely fantastic band.
Philip Kassabian
on It's Educational
An absolutely great Sparks song.
Philip Kassabian
on The Calm Before the Storm
A great and fantastic Sparks song.
Philip Kassabian
on Perfume
A very catchy and great Sparks song.