The Beach Boys are an iconic American rock band, frequently cited as one of… Read Full Bio ↴The Beach Boys are an iconic American rock band, frequently cited as one of the most influential and commercially successful groups in the history of popular music due to their intricate vocal harmonies, studio experiments, and novel approaches to pop songwriting. Rooted in doo-wop and rock and roll, their early string of vocal surf hits defined the '60s California Sound. For a period afterward, they notably delved into progressive pop styles. often combining elements from classical and jazz in innovative ways.

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

"Cassius" Love Vs. "Sonny" Wilson
The Beach Boys Lyrics

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Hi, this is Al this scene takes place at a typical beach boys practice
Session. we're in the midst of preparing for an upcoming show when a feud
Breaks out between Brian and Mike.
Alright you guys we have a, uh dowuh
Come on
We have a show this weekend
Open your mouth
What do we have this weekend?

What are you trying to say?
Come on mike, what are you trying to tell us Mike?
Well I'm trying to tell you we have a show this weekend and we could be
Sharper. so what do you say we go over the ending of "Little Deuce Coupe"
One more time?
Alright
Alright yeah, come on
A-one a-two -a one two three
Little deuce coupe you don't know what I got
You don't know what I got
Little Deuce Coupe you don't know
Well I'm not bragging babe so don't put me down
Woooooa
What's going on?
Uh listen Mike, with a voice like yours when you open your mouth it's a
Big put down.
What? What? Ohhh
Yeah like in "Surfin' Safari":
Let's go surfing now
Everybody's learning how
Come on and safari with me
Early in the morning we'll be starting out
Some honey's will be coming along
Oh yeah? well when I, at least when I'm singing it doesn't sound like
Mickey mouse with a sore throat.
Oh no, ahh man.
I could come from miles away
Ain't got (ain't got, ain't got) no place to stay
Where have you gone
Farmer's mother
Oh no
Hey wait a minute, wait a minute hold on hold it Mike, Mike no one really
Complains when Brian sings those pretty ballads
You mean "In My Room"?
Yeah and "Surfer Girl" too
Ahhh ooooo ahhhhh woooo oooooo
Wait a minute Carl, nobody complains about the way Mike sings his fast songs.
You're talking about "Surfin' U.S.A."?
Yeah and "Shut Down" too
Tach it up, tach it up
Buddy gonna I shut you down
Well what do you think?
Well I think they ought to quit arguing and start practicing,
What do you say Mike?
Well if Brian promises no more "early in the morning we'll be starting out's
Well what do you say Brian?
Okay as long as he cools it with those mouse jokes
Oh alright girls
Now look let's...
Hey wait a minute alright girls, now that that's settled what do you say
We go over the ending of "Fun, Fun, Fun" one more time?
Okay alright let's go then
Alright
And we'll have fun, fun fun
Now that daddy took the t-bird away
Fun, fun fun
Now that daddy took the t-bird away
And we'll have fun, fun fun
Now that daddy took the t-bird away
Fun, fun fun
Now that daddy took the t-bird away
And we'll have fun, fun fun
Now that daddy took the t-bird away
Fun, fun fun
Now that daddy took the t-bird away
And we'll have fun, fun fun
Now that daddy took the t-bird away
Fun, fun fun
Now that
What are you doin' Mike?
Well I'm just showing you that anybody can squeak like a mouse
Ahh ooo
Oh, some real tough job you've got: well she got her daddy's car and she
Cruised through the I'm a, I'm a hit it guys
Oh no
Oh no
Oh boy you really think you're some kind of an opera star don't you?

Man, man at least I don't sound like my nose is on the critical list!
Oh no, ah ha ha, woo hoo

Overall Meaning

The song "Cassius" Love Vs. "Sonny" Wilson by The Beach Boys is a recording of a rehearsal session for an upcoming show. The lyrics largely consists of a heated argument between band members Mike Love and Brian Wilson about their singing styles. Love is angry that Wilson called his voice a "big put down" and compared it to Mickey Mouse with a sore throat, while Wilson argues that Love's voice lacks subtlety. The other band members try to diffuse the situation, reminding them that they are all in this together and they need to focus on the upcoming show. Overall, the song is a poignant and humorous glimpse into the dynamics of a band and its members.

Line by Line Meaning

Hi, this is Al this scene takes place at a typical beach boys practice
Al introduces himself and sets the scene for the upcoming conversation about a Beach Boys practice session.

Alright you guys we have a, uh dowuh
Someone (presumably Mike) is attempting to speak but struggling to find the right words.

Come on
Someone is urging Mike to speak up or continue his thought.

We have a show this weekend
There is an upcoming Beach Boys concert that they need to rehearse for.

Open your mouth
Someone is again urging Mike to speak up or continue his thought.

What do we have this weekend?
Al is asking the group which show they have coming up.

What are you trying to say?
Someone (again presumably Al) is further urging Mike to communicate his thoughts clearly.

Come on mike, what are you trying to tell us Mike?
The group is focusing on Mike specifically to hear what he has to say about the rehearsal.

Well I'm trying to tell you we have a show this weekend and we could be Sharper.
Mike explains to the group that they have a concert coming up and could improve their performance with more rehearsal.

So what do you say we go over the ending of Little Deuce Coupe one more time?
Mike suggests focusing on rehearsing the ending of a specific song so they can improve their performance for the upcoming show.

Uh listen Mike, with a voice like yours when you open your mouth it's a Big put down.
Brian criticizes Mike's voice and implies that it brings the quality of the group down.

Yeah like in Surfin' Safari: Let's go surfing now Everybody's learning how Come on and safari with me Early in the morning we'll be starting out Some honey's will be coming along
This is a reference to the Beach Boys song 'Surfin' Safari' and a comparison between how Mike sings versus how Brian sings.

Oh no, ahh man.
Mike responds to Brian's criticism with disappointment and perhaps frustration.

Wait a minute Carl, nobody complains about the way Mike sings his fast songs.
Carl brings up Mike's other musical contributions, suggesting that he performs well on faster songs.

You're talking about Surfin' U.S.A.? Yeah and Shut Down too Tach it up, tach it up Buddy gonna I shut you down Well what do you think?
This is another reference to specific Beach Boys songs (Surfin' U.S.A. and Shut Down) and a continuation of the comparison between Mike and Brian's singing styles.

Well I think they ought to quit arguing and start practicing, What do you say Mike?
Al attempts to diffuse the tension and get the group to focus on what's important - practicing for the upcoming show.

Well if Brian promises no more 'early in the morning we'll be starting out's, Well what do you say Brian?
Mike agrees to practice more if Brian agrees to stop singing certain parts of their songs.

Okay as long as he cools it with those mouse jokes
Brian agrees to stop singing certain parts of their songs if Mike stops making fun of his voice.

Hey wait a minute alright girls, now that that's settled what do you say We go over the ending of Fun, Fun, Fun one more time?
The group has settled their differences and so Al suggests continuing to rehearse for the upcoming show.

And we'll have fun, fun fun Now that daddy took the t-bird away Fun, fun fun Now that daddy took the t-bird away
Lyrics to the Beach Boys song 'Fun, Fun, Fun' which they are rehearsing for the upcoming show.

What are you doin' Mike?
Someone (perhaps Carl?) is asking Mike what he's up to.

Well I'm just showing you that anybody can squeak like a mouse Ahh ooo
Mike makes fun of Brian's voice by imitating a mouse.

Oh no, ah ha ha, woo hoo
The group laughs in response to Mike's imitation.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL LOVE, BRIAN WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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