The Beach Boys is an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in… Read Full Bio ↴The Beach Boys is an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The original lineup included brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. Known for their vocal harmonies and lyrics often centered on youth culture, the band drew influence from older pop vocal groups, 1950s rock and roll, and rhythm and blues. Under Brian Wilson's leadership, their music sometimes incorporated elements of classical and jazz, as well as experimental recording techniques.

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)

Girl Don't Tell Me
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hi little girl, it's me
Don't you know who I am?
I met you last summer
When I came up to stay with my gran'
I'm the guy who left you with tears in his eyes
You didn't answer my letters
So I figured it was just lie

Your hair's getting longer and your shorts
Mm, they sure fit you fine
I'll bet you went out every night during ol' school time
But this time I'm not gonna count on you
I'll see you this summer
And forget you when I go back to school

Girl, don't tell me you'll write
Girl, don't tell me you'll write
Girl, don't tell me you'll write me again this time

Hi little girl, it's me
Don't you know who I am?
I met you last summer
When I came up to stay with my gran'
Said I'm the guy who left you with tears in his eyes
You didn't answer my letters
So I figured it was just lie

Girl, don't tell me you'll write
Girl, don't tell me you'll write
Girl, don't tell me you'll write me again this time

Girl, don't tell me you'll write me again this time

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' "Girl Don't Tell Me" is a song that speaks to the frustration and uncertainty of unrequited love. The song tells the story of a boy who met a girl while visiting his grandparent's place over the summer. He was smitten with her but left her with tears in his eyes, not sure if he would ever see her again. Despite writing her letters, she never responded, leading him to assume that their connection was a lie. In the present day, the boy visits his grandparent's place once again, hoping to see the girl once more. However, he's convinced that things will be different this time, and that he won't count on her to make the same mistake again. Nonetheless, the boy is still unsure of the girl's feelings towards him, and pleads with her not to write him again if her feelings aren't sincere.

There's a sense of longing and uncertainty in the boy's voice as he sings the lyrics. He wants to believe that the girl will see him differently this time, but he's not sure if that's realistic. He's been hurt in the past, and he's cautious about putting himself in that position again. The refrain of "Girl don't tell me you'll write me again this time" is a plea for the girl to be honest with him about her feelings, even if they're not what he wants to hear.

One thing that's notable about this song is the vocals. The Beach Boys were known for their tight harmonies and layered vocals, and this song is no exception. The high harmonies in the chorus give the song an ethereal quality, and the vocals blend together seamlessly. Additionally, the guitar work in this song stands out. The opening riff, along with the fills throughout the song, are simple but effective. They add to the overall melancholy feeling of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Hi little girl, it's me
I'm addressing you, the girl I met last summer

Don't you know who I am?
Do you remember me?

I met you last summer when/When I came up to stay with my grand
I met you when I was visiting my grandparent's place last summer

I'm the guy-uy-uy who/Left you with tears in his eyes
I'm the person who made you cry before

You didn't answer my letters/So I figured it was just lie
I never received any response to my letters, so I assumed you were not interested

Your hair's getting longer and your shorts/Mmm they sure fit you fine/I'll bet you went out/Every night during ol' school time
I noticed that your hair is longer and your shorts fit you well. I bet you had fun going out every night during school

But this ti-I-ime I'm not gonna count on you/I'll see you this summer/And forget you when I go back to school
This time, I'm not going to rely on you. I'll see you this summer, but I'll forget about you when I go back to school

Girl don't tell me you'll write-ite-ite/Girl don't tell me you'll write-ite-ite/Girl don't tell me you'll write me again this time
Please don't tell me that you'll write me again this time

Hi little girl, it's me/Don't you know who I am?/I met you last summer when/When I came up to stay with my grand
Repeating the first few lines to emphasize my presence

Said I'm the guy-uy-uy who/Left you with tears in his eyes/You didn't answer my letters/So I figured it was just lie
Repeating the lines about my past mistakes and your lack of response

Girl don't tell me you'll write-ite-ites/Girl don't tell me you'll write-ite-ite/Girl don't tell me you'll write me again this time
Repeating a plea to not hear about receiving letters from you

Girl don't tell me you'll write me again this time
Final plea to not receive letters from you

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Willson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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