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
At My Window
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And down spinnin' round
Flyin' all around
From my window
A little brown sparraw came
Flutterin' down
Le moineau est venu
Se poser ma fenjtre
He came to my window
And as I watched him
I found myself reelin' and turnin' around
And the faster I ran
I ran out of breath and I fell to the ground
(Poof)
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
He came to my window
He came to my window
He came to my window
From their eyes
The people must look like miniature toys
Do do do do do
Do do do do do do
Fly away
Fly away
Fly away
"At My Window" is a soothing and whimsical song performed by the Beach Boys, evoking the joy and simplicity of observing nature outside one's window. The lyrics describe the flight of birds, as they flit up and down, spinning around in the air, flying "all around" outside the singer's window. The song celebrates the beauty and freedom of birds and their ability to soar, even as we remain grounded inside our homes. Suddenly, a "little brown sparrow" appears, fluttering down to the window, inspiring the singer's awe.
The French lyrics "Le moineau est venu, se poser a ma fenêtre" (The sparrow came to my window) add an emotional depth and perhaps a sense of exoticism to the song. The singer is transfixed by the bird, watching as it spreads its wings, perhaps taking off into the sky once again. As he watches the sparrow, he finds himself "reeling and turning around," perhaps symbolizing the transcendental experience of being one with nature. The chorus repeats the sparrow's visit to the window and encourages the bird to fly away and continue its journey.
Overall, "At My Window" is a lovely homage to the natural world, and the experience of seeing a little part of it up close, even if it is just outside your window. The melody and lyrics come together perfectly to transport the listener to a peaceful and reflective state of mind, which is a common theme throughout the Beach Boys music.
Line by Line Meaning
Birds fly up
Birds are seen flying in the sky, upward.
And down spinnin' round
The birds also spiral in a circular motion, while flying up in the sky.
Flyin' all around
The birds are flying in every direction while in the sky.
From my window
This observation of birds in the sky is being made through the window.
A little brown sparraw came
A small brown sparrow came to visit the window.
Flutterin' down
The sparrow descended gracefully as it flew down towards the window.
He came to my window
The sparrow came down to the singer's window.
And as I watched him
The artist is closely observing the sparrow.
I found myself reelin' and turnin' around
The artist felt disoriented and dizzy due to watching the bird's movement closely.
And the faster I ran
The artist started running quickly, but this only added to the disorientation felt.
I ran out of breath and I fell to the ground
The singer becomes breathless and fell down due to the dizziness felt from watching the sparrow.
(Poof)
The artist experiences a sudden and short-lived moment of dizziness.
From their eyes
The singer suggests that from the perspective of the birds, humans appear as small and insignificant figures.
The people must look like miniature toys
To the birds, humans may appear like tiny toys.
Do do do do do
This is a series of nonsensical syllables used as filler sounds in the song.
Do do do do do do
This is a repeated line of the filler sounds mentioned previously.
Fly away
The artist urges the birds to fly away, to return to their natural habitat.
Fly away
This is a repeated line of the previous verse.
Fly away
This is a repeated line of the previous verse.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: ALAN C JARDINE, BRIAN 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