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
Cabinessence
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cabin essence timely hello
Welcomes the time for a change
Lost and found, you still remain there
You'll find a meadow filled with grain there
I'll give you a home on the range
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
I want to watch you windblown facing
Waves of wheat for your embracing
Folks sing a song of the grange
Nestle in a kiss below there
The constellations ebb and flow there
And witness our home on the range
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Who ran the iron horse?
Have you seen the grand coolie workin' on the railroad?
Workin' on the railroad? Workin' on the railroad?
Over and over
The crow cries, uncover the cornfield
Over and over
The thresher and hover the wheat field
Over and over
The crow cries, uncover the cornfield
Over and over
The thresher and hover the wheat field
Over and over
The crow cries, uncover the cornfield
The song "Cabinessence" by The Beach Boys is a unique track that incorporates a mix of country and early psychedelic sounds. The lyrics of the song are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The beginning of the song is an invitation, promoting the idea of change and the welcoming of a new era, which is highlighted by the lyrics "Light the lamp and fire mellow, Cabin essence timely hello, Welcomes the time for a change." The song then goes on to describe a journey of sorts, with the singer offering to provide a home on the range for the person they are addressing in the lyrics. They reference a meadow full of grain and encourage the listener to embrace nature.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Who ran the iron horse?" multiple times, which is perhaps a nod to the expansion of railroads in the United States during the 1800s. There is an underlying theme of progress and change throughout the song, but it is somewhat obscured by the eccentric lyrics. The song touches on the beauty of nature and the changing times, while also questioning the impact of industrialization on the landscape.
Overall, "Cabinessence" remains a mysterious and intriguing track, exploring complex themes through abstract and poetic lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Light the lamp and fire mellow
Prepare for the upcoming changes
Cabin essence timely hello
The welcoming of new experiences
Welcomes the time for a change
Embrace change
Lost and found, you still remain there
Despite challenges, you are still present
You'll find a meadow filled with grain there
Opportunities to grow and flourish exist in your surroundings
I'll give you a home on the range
A promise of a safe haven
Who ran the iron horse?
Questioning the force behind industrialization
I want to watch you windblown facing
To witness the beauty of the natural world
Waves of wheat for your embracing
Gratitude towards nature's abundance
Folks sing a song of the grange
Appreciating the simple joys of rural living
Nestle in a kiss below there
Finding comfort and affection in the peaceful atmosphere
The constellations ebb and flow there
Observing the changing patterns in the sky
And witness our home on the range
Appreciating the belongingness to a community
Have you seen the grand coolie workin' on the railroad?
Questioning the labor exploitation in the name of progress
The crow cries, uncover the cornfield
The cycle of life and nature's warning signs
The thresher and hover the wheat field
Working hard to reap the blessings of nature
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks
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