Initially managed by the Wilsons' father, Murry Wilson, the group gained national recognition in 1963 with the release of "Surfin' U.S.A." The song marked the beginning of a series of top-ten singles associated with the "California sound," a style reflecting themes of surfing, cars, and romance. The Beach Boys were among the few American bands to maintain commercial success during the British Invasion. Beginning with the 1965 album "The Beach Boys Today!", the band shifted focus from surf-themed content to more introspective lyrics and complex arrangements. The 1966 album "Pet Sounds" and the single "Good Vibrations" were significant in establishing the group's reputation for musical innovation. Plans for a follow-up album, "Smile," were abandoned in 1967, after which Brian Wilson reduced his involvement in the band.
The band's popularity in the United States declined in the late 1960s, and their work was often overlooked by contemporary music critics at the time. In the early 1970s, the group underwent a change in public perception and musical direction, with Carl Wilson assuming a leadership role. During the mid-1970s, the group increasingly focused on live performances and retrospective compilations. Dennis Wilson died in 1983, and Brian Wilson later distanced himself from the band. Following Carl Wilson's death from lung cancer in 1998, Mike Love obtained legal rights to tour under the group's name. In the early 2010s, the surviving original members briefly reunited for a 50th anniversary tour. As of the 2020s, Brian Wilson and Al Jardine do not perform with the touring version of the Beach Boys led by Mike Love, though they are still officially considered members.
The Beach Boys have sold over 100 million records globally. Their work has had an influence on a variety of musical genres, including psychedelia, power pop, progressive rock, punk, alternative, and lo-fi. From the 1960s through the 2020s, the group achieved 37 Top 40 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number-one hits. In 2004, they were ranked number 12 on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest artists of all time. Albums such as "The Beach Boys Today!", "Pet Sounds," "Smiley Smile," "Sunflower," and "Surf's Up" have been frequently cited in critics' polls. The original members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Additional members over the years have included David Marks, Bruce Johnston, Blondie Chaplin, and Ricky Fataar.
On June 11th 2025, Brian Wilson died at the age of 82.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beach_Boys
Studio albums
Surfin' Safari (1962)
Surfin' U.S.A. (1963)
Surfer Girl (1963)
Little Deuce Coupe (1963)
Shut Down Volume 2 (1964)
All Summer Long (1964)
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (1964)
The Beach Boys Today! (1965)
Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1965)
Beach Boys' Party! (1965)
Pet Sounds (1966)
Smiley Smile (1967)
Wild Honey (1967)
Friends (1968)
20/20 (1969)
Sunflower (1970)
Surf's Up (1971)
Carl and the Passions – "So Tough" (1972)
Holland (1973)
15 Big Ones (1976)
The Beach Boys Love You (1977)
M.I.U. Album (1978)
L.A. (Light Album) (1979)
Keepin' the Summer Alive (1980)
The Beach Boys (1985)
Still Cruisin' (1989)
Summer in Paradise (1992)
Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 (1996)
That's Why God Made the Radio (2012)
Cotton Fields
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My mama done rock me in the cradle
In them old cotton fields back home
It was back in Louisiana
Just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cotton fields back home
Let me tell you now well got me in a fixI caught a nail in my tire doing lickitey splits
I had to walk a long long way to town
Came along a nice old man well he had a hat on
Wait a minute mister can you give me some directions
I gonna want to be right off for home
When I was a little bitty baby
My mama done rock me in the cradle
In them old cotton fields back home
It was back in Louisiana
Just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cotton fields back home
Don't care if them cotton balls get rotten
When I got you baby, who needs cotton
In them old cotton fields back home
Brother only one thing more that's gonna warm you
A summer's day out in California
It's gonna be those cotton fields back home
It was back in Louisiana
Just about a mile from Texarkana
Give me them cotton fields
(it was back in Louisiana)
Let me hear it for the cotton fields
(just about a mile from Texarkana)You know that there's just no place like home
Well boy it sure feels good to breathe the air back home
You shoulda seen their faces when they seen how I grown
In them old cotton fields back home
The Beach Boys’ song Cotton Fields is a classic tribute to the rural American lifestyle and the hardships of living in a cotton field region. The song features a repetitive melody that highlights the monotony of life in the fields, while the lyrics paint a vivid picture of childhood memories and the difficulties of living in a rural area. The song starts with the lead singer reminiscing about his childhood, where his mother used to rock him in the cradle in the old cotton fields. The song then moves onto a tale of a flat tire, and a man he meets along the way who helps him with directions back home.
The chorus of the song – “Don't care if them cotton balls get rotten, When I got you baby, who needs cotton, In them old cotton fields back home” – emphasizes the idea that the most important thing in life is not materialistic wealth or possessions but the love and the people that surround oneself. The final verse returns to the original theme – of the beauty of living in a rural area and the joy of coming back home.
The song's lyrics were written by Blues musician Lead Belly (Huddie William Ledbetter), and The Beach Boys recorded their rendition of the song in 1968. The song was included in their 1969 album '20/20'. The song was later featured on their posthumous 2012 album 'That's Why God Made The Radio'.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a little bitty baby
As a newborn, I was taken care of by my mother
My mama done rock me in the cradle
My mother comforted me by rocking my cradle
In them old cotton fields back home
The familiar and nostalgic cotton fields from my hometown
It was back in Louisiana
The cotton fields were located in Louisiana
Just about a mile from Texarkana
They were located approximately one mile away from Texarkana
Let me tell you now well got me in a fix
I encountered a problem
I caught a nail in my tire doing lickitey splits
My tire was punctured while driving fast
I had to walk a long long way to town
I had to walk a great distance to reach town
Came along a nice old man well he had a hat on
I met a friendly old man who was wearing a hat
Wait a minute mister can you give me some directions
I asked the old man for directions
I gonna want to be right off for home
I wanted to return home as soon as possible
Don't care if them cotton balls get rotten
I am indifferent to the state of the cotton crops
When I got you baby, who needs cotton
I do not need cotton because I have you, my significant other
Brother only one thing more that's gonna warm you
There is only one thing that will bring you warmth
A summer's day out in California
A sunny day spent in California
It's gonna be those cotton fields back home
Nothing can compare to the familiarity of the cotton fields in my hometown
Give me them cotton fields
I desire the cotton fields from my hometown
(it was back in Louisiana)
They were located in Louisiana
Let me hear it for the cotton fields
I want to appreciate and celebrate the cotton fields
(just about a mile from Texarkana)
They were located close to Texarkana
You know that there's just no place like home
There is no place as comfortable and familiar as home
Well boy it sure feels good to breathe the air back home
It is a satisfying feeling to be back in my hometown
You shoulda seen their faces when they seen how I grown
People were surprised by how much I have grown since leaving my hometown
In them old cotton fields back home
I find comfort in the familiar cotton fields from my hometown
Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: Huddie Ledbetter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Les lumb
Great version by the Beach Boys it flows
@木倉谷哲也
Lyrics:
When I was a little bitty baby
My mama done rock me in the cradle
In them old cotton fields back home
It was back in Louisiana
Just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cotton fields back home
Let me tell you now well, I got me in a fix
I caught a nail in my tire doing lickitey splits
I had to walk a long, long way to town
Came along a nice old man
Well, he had a hat on
Wait a minute, mister, can you give me some directions?
I’m gonna want to be right off for home
When I was a little bitty baby
My mama done rock me in the cradle
In them old cotton fields back home
It was back in Louisiana
Just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cotton fields back home
Don’t care if them cotton balls get rotten
When I got you, baby, who needs cotton?
In them old cotton fields back home
Brother, only one thing more that’s gonna warm you
A summer’s day out in California
It’s gonna be those cotton fields back home
It was back in Louisiana
Just about a mile from Texarkana
Give me them cotton fields (It was back in Louisiana)
Let me hear it for the cotton fields (Just about a mile from Texarkana)
You know that there’s just no place like home
Oh, boy, it sure feels good to breathe the air back home
You shoulda seen their faces when they seen how I grown
In them old cotton fields back home
@ColossalVeloc
This video absolutely sucks.
It's slow, boring, pointless, and has nothing to do with the Beach Boys or the lyrics of the song it's supposed to represent.
A fan would probably produce a 10x better video for free.
Don't Worry Baby is undeniably one of the greatest songs of all time and deserves a whole lot better than....whatever this is meant to be.
Whoever is in charge of the Beach Boys catalogue is seriously dropping the ball with this.
@guybeachboy
Reached #1 in Australia, and Norway; #2 in Denmark, South Africa and Sweden; #3 in Ireland; #5 in the UK.
@goldtown6747
Unfortunately only a # 29 in Germany; nevertheless far better than the # 103 chart position in the US single charts. 😉
@vickistokes4545
Huge here in Australia ...how could anyone not like this song .
@guybeachboy
Great to hear, loved it for over 50 years!
@gcm323
They nailed the vocal harmonies along with universal appeal by blending a touch of surf rock with a hint of country twang into a feel good tune for all.
@guybeachboy
Very well said, Al did a great production and lead vocal on this one!
@zachsmith3
I like the choice of adding the reverby intro of the album version. Best of both versions right here
@danerd8978
Matt Jardine on the intro as a kid. An all Al production too.
@peterlewis6820
Ah cotton fields,Love the South