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

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
When I came up to stay with my grand
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

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
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

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

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
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

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

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 WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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