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
Airplane
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see everything below
The houses they look so tiny
The cars look like dots
We've only got fifteen minutes to go
The clouds in the sky caress my mind so tenderly
The sun shines down on the great big beautiful scene
The sound of the engine fills my ears up
I'm hopin' this rainy weather clears up
My lover is waiting at the airport
Soon she'll be kissing me hello
The woman sitting next to me tells me 'bout her guy
And I tell her all about you and I
Airplane, airplane
Carry me back to her side
Airplane, airplane
I need God as my guide
Down, down on the ground
Can't wait to see her face
(A-1, a-2, a-1, 2, 3)
I can't wait (can't wait)
To see (her face)
I can't wait (can't wait)
To see (her face)
I can't wait (can't wait)
To see (her face)
I can't wait (can't wait)
To see (her face)
I can't wait (can't wait)
To see (her face)
I can't wait (can't wait)
To see (her face)
I can't wait (can't wait)
To see (her face)
I can't wait (can't wait)
To see (her face)
I can't wait (can't wait)
To see (her face)
The Beach Boys' song Airplane speaks of the excitement and anticipation of being in an airplane on the way to see a loved one. From above, the city and everything below looks minuscule, indicating a sense of detachment from the world in order to prioritize their personal life. The clouds around the plane seem to give a mental hug, and the beauty of the horizon provides a moment of serenity. The noise of the engine against the eardrums of the singer provokes a mild sense of anxiety, but the possibility of seeing their lover after landing brings great joy. A conversation with a fellow passenger who, like the singer, is eager to see their significant other, makes for a heart-to-heart interaction while the journey continues. The recurring "I can't wait to see her face" highlights the yearning the singer has for their lover's presence and the eagerness to be together as soon as possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Over the city in an airplane
I'm flying in an airplane and I can see the city below
I can see everything below
From up high, I can see all the houses and cars that look small and insignificant
The houses, they look so tiny
From the sky, the houses appear small and insignificant
The cars look like dots
From above, the cars look so small they appear like dots on the ground
We've only got fifteen minutes to go
We're almost there, only fifteen more minutes left until we land
The clouds in the sky caress my mind so tenderly
The soft and gentle clouds in the sky are calming and soothing my thoughts
The sun shines down on the great big beautiful scene
The sun is shining on the beautiful landscape below
The sound of the engine fills my ears up
The noise produced by the airplane's engine is loud and distracting
I'm hopin' this rainy weather clears up
I'm hoping that the rainy weather will go away soon
My lover is waiting at the airport
My significant other is waiting for me at the airport
Soon she'll be kissing me hello
When I land, my lover will greet me with a kiss
The woman sitting next to me tells me 'bout her guy
The woman seated next to me is talking to me about her significant other
And I tell her all about you and I
I share with her the story of my significant other and I
Airplane, airplane
The refrain of the song
Carry me back to her side
The singer is asking the airplane to bring him back to his significant other's side
I need God as my guide
The singer is asking for guidance and help from a higher power
Down, down on the ground
The singer is landing and will be back on the ground soon
Can't wait to see her face
The singer is eager and excited to see his significant other
I can't wait (can't wait)
Repetitive line in the refrain
To see (her face)
Repetitive line in the refrain
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Brian Douglas Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Kokomo
This song is an absolute classic and I love the way that it lists all the major destinations in the Caribbean.
Philip Kassabian
on Surfin' U.S.A.
A great song by The Beach Boys hit all the major surfing destinations.
Philip Kassabian
on Catch a Wave
This song really gets you in the mood for surfing.
Philip Kassabian
on Surfer Girl
What a splendid song by The Beach Boys. They really were a great band.
Philip Kassabian
on Wouldn't It Be Nice
One of the greatest Beach Boys songs.
Les lumb
on Surf's Up
Love Good Vibrations ,God Only Knows however this is my fav Beach Boys song
Les lumb
on San Miguel
It captures the mood of the place, very atmospheric
Les lumb
on Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) [Single Version]
Great version by the Beach Boys it flows
Les lumb
on Break Away
Soothing
Leslie Lumb
on Break Away
Love the opening verses beautiful words