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

Goin' South
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I think of goin' south for the winter
It's getting mighty cold
I watch the fire glow
The moon shining 'cross the snow
Maybe Florida or Mexico
Is where I oughta go

Somewhere where everything is green

Oo the change of scene
Might do a me good
When the swallows go
When they leave Capistrano
Fly away so gracefully
Maybe that's for me

Snowdrifts blowing up against my door
Going clear up to the roof
I could be lying on some sun-washed shore
Truth is, don't know what I'm waiting for

Think I'm goin' south for the winter
It's getting mighty cold
I watch the fire glow
The moon shinin' 'cross the snow
Maybe Florida or Mexico
Is where I oughta go

South of the border
Think I'm goin' south
Get my life in order
Think I'm goin' south

For the winter
It's gettin' mighty cold

Overall Meaning

In the song "Goin' South," The Beach Boys contemplate escaping the cold winter months by travelling to a warmer location. With lyrics such as "I think of goin' south for the winter, it's getting mighty cold," the Beach Boys express the idea that the winter season brings feelings of loneliness and isolation. The chorus of the song repeats this thought as they consider destinations such as Florida or Mexico. The sight of snowdrifts against the door, reaching up to the roof, contributes to the feeling of entrapment and anxiety that the Beach Boys express. By leaving to go south for the winter, they hope to escape their feelings of restlessness and depression.

The song also talks about a change in environment being necessary and beneficial for improving one's mood. The lyrics suggest that a fresh start in a new location with green surroundings and a change of scenery may help in lifting the writer's mood. With the phrase "maybe that's for me," the Beach Boys express their uncertainty about their future, longing for salvation and an end to their desolate feelings. Ultimately, the Beach Boys find a glimmer of hope in their decision to go south for the winter, with the belief that a change of environment and lifestyle can improve their well-being.

Line by Line Meaning

I think of goin' south for the winter
I am considering traveling to a warmer climate for the winter

It's getting mighty cold
The current temperature is very low

I watch the fire glow
I am observing the flames of a fire

The moon shining 'cross the snow
The moonlight is reflecting on the snow

Maybe Florida or Mexico
I am contemplating traveling to Florida or Mexico

Is where I oughta go
It would be wise for me to travel to one of those places

Somewhere where everything is green
I desire to go to a place where there is foliage and plants

Oo the change of scene
The variation in surroundings would be beneficial

Might do a me good
It could be good for my well-being

When the swallows go
As the birds fly away for the winter

When they leave Capistrano
When the birds migrate from Capistrano