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

Friends
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We've been friends now for so many years
We've been together through the good times and the tears
Turned each other on to the good things that life has to give

We drift apart for a little bit of a spell
One night i get a call and i know that you're well
And days i was down you would help me get out of my hole

Ohh
Let's be friends
Let's be friends
Let's be friends

You told me when my girl was untrue
I loaned you money when the funds weren't too cool
I talked your folks out of making you cut off your hair

We've been friends now for so many years

We've been together through the good times and the tears
Dim dipple ee dim dipple ay dim dipple oo dim dee aye oh

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' song "Friends" is a heartwarming tribute to long-lasting friendships. The opening lines of the song paint a picture of two people who have been through thick and thin together, experienced both joy and pain, and have a deep understanding of each other's lives. The lyrics suggest that they've helped each other grow and have introduced each other to new and positive experiences.

But as much as the song is about the strength of friendship, it's also about the challenges of maintaining those relationships. The second verse alludes to the fact that friends can drift apart and lose touch with each other. There's a sense of worry in the singer's voice as they're concerned about the wellbeing of their friend. The power of friendship, however, is enough to bring them back together.

The song's chorus, "Let's be friends," is a simple and beautiful sentiment that captures the essence of the song. This phrase carries the weight of all the experiences that come with a long-standing friendship, and it suggests that the singer wants to keep the bond between them forever.

Overall, "Friends" is a sweet and simple song that celebrates the beauty of friendship.

Line by Line Meaning

We've been friends now for so many years
The singer and the person they are addressing have had a strong, longstanding friendship.

We've been together through the good times and the tears
The singer and their friend have supported each other through both happy and difficult times.

Turned each other on to the good things that life has to give
The singer and their friend have introduced each other to positive experiences and opportunities.

We drift apart for a little bit of a spell
At times, the artist and their friend have grown apart temporarily.

One night i get a call and i know that you're well
The artist is relieved to receive a phone call from their friend, indicating that they are okay.

And days i was down you would help me get out of my hole
The friend has provided emotional support to the singer during times of sadness or hardship.

Ohh
This is an exclamation of something indeterminate, perhaps just an emotional response to the ideas expressed in the previous lines.

Let's be friends
The singer is directly asking their friend to continue to maintain their strong friendship.

You told me when my girl was untrue
The friend provided the artist with information about their romantic partner's infidelity.

I loaned you money when the funds weren't too cool
The artist has given financial assistance to their friend when they were in need.

I talked your folks out of making you cut off your hair
The singer convinced their friend's parents to allow them to keep their long hair, which was likely atypical or controversial at the time of the song's writing.

Dim dipple ee dim dipple ay dim dipple oo dim dee aye oh
This nonsensical phrase seems to function more as vocalization than words with meaning in context of song lyrics.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: WILL DRUMMOND, DECLAN XAVIER MELIA, MATTHEW VINCENT O'GORMAN, NICHOLAS JAMES WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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