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

Child Is Father Of The Man
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Child, the child
Father of the man
Child, the child, the child
Father of the man (father of the man)
Child, child, the child
Father of the man (father of the man)

Child, child, the child

Father of the man (father of the man)
Child, child, the child
Father of the man (father of the man)
Child, child, the child
Father of the man (father of the man)
Child, child, the child
Father of the man (father of the man)

Child, child, the child
Father of the man (father of the man)
Child, child, the child
Father of the man (father of the man)
Child, child, the child
Father of the man (father of the man)

Child, child, the child
Father of the man (father of the man)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Beach Boys' song "Child Is Father of the Man" suggest a cyclical relationship between childhood and adulthood, implying that the experiences and emotions of childhood shape who a person becomes as an adult. The repeated refrain of "Child child child, father of the man" highlights the idea that despite growing up, a person remains connected to their childhood self and that their childhood self continues to influence who they are.

The line "Father of the man" also suggests that the experiences of fatherhood are significant in shaping a person's identity. Parenthood requires a person to care for and shape the development of their child, which in turn can impact how they view themselves and their place in the world.

Overall, the lyrics to "Child Is Father of the Man" suggest that our past experiences and relationships continue to influence us throughout our lives, and that the journey from childhood to adulthood is a continuous and cyclical one.

Line by Line Meaning

Child child child
Just like a child, the individual is filled with innocence and purity, untainted by the world.

Father of the man father of the man
The lessons and experiences encountered in childhood shape who that person becomes as an adult.

Child child child
The childlike nature of an individual persists throughout their life, even as they age and mature.

Father of the man father of the man
The qualities and values instilled in a person during their childhood will continue to influence them as they grow and develop.

Child child child
Innocence, curiosity and playfulness that define a child’s formative years are often the same traits that lead to personal growth and development in adulthood.

Father of the man father of the man
Over time, the influence of one's formative years become increasingly pronounced, as people continue to embody and uphold the values that were instilled in them during childhood.

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS