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

Hey Little Tomboy
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey little tomboy, sit here on my lap
I got things that I gotta tell you
No more skateboards, put away your baseball mitt
Your rough livin' days are through

You could find new places to go
You could see that boys love you so
They're doin' it all over the world

Hey little, hey little, hey little tomboy
Time to turn into a girl
Hey little, hey little, hey little tomboy
They're doin' it all over the world

Hey little tomboy, I've had my eyes on you
Thinkin' what a girl you could be
Mm, I smell perfume, let's try some cut-off jeans
Look at all the changes I see

I'm gonna teach you to kiss
You're gonna feel just like this
They're doin' it all over the world

Hey little, hey little, hey little tomboy
Time to turn into a girl
Hey little, hey little, hey little tomboy
They're doin' it all over the world

Hey little, hey little, hey little tomboy
I'm gonna make you a girl
Hey little, hey little, hey little tomboy
You'd make a beautiful girl

Hey little, hey little, hey little tomboy
They're doing it all over the world

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' song Hey Little Tomboy is a song about a girl who has lived a rough and tumble childhood and is being encouraged to embrace her feminine side by the singer. The lyrics suggest that the girl should give up her skateboards and baseball mitt and instead start wearing perfume and cut-off jeans. The singer goes on to teach her how to kiss and tells her that boys love her. The chorus repeats the phrase "hey little tomboy, time to turn into a girl" and emphasizes the idea that this is a common trend around the world.

The song's lyrics suggest a problematic attitude towards gender roles, as the singer equates being a "girl" with giving up traditionally "masculine" hobbies and interests. The lyrics also seem to imply that the girl's worth is tied to her ability to attract boys. However, there are some interpretations that argue that the song is actually subversive, using the language of traditional gender roles to critique them.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey, little tomboy, sit here on my lap
The singer is trying to make the tomboy sit on his lap so that he can teach her some life lessons.

I got things that I gotta tell you
The singer has some important things to share with the tomboy which he wants to teach her.

No more skateboards, put away your baseball mitt.
The singer wants the tomboy to change her lifestyle and give up skateboarding and other rough activities.

Your rough livin' days are through
The singer suggests that the tomboy should start living a more refined and delicate life.

You could find places to go
The singer believes that the tomboy has the potential to explore herself and discover new places.

You could see that boys love you so
The singer tries to make her realize that she has admirers who love her for who she is.

They're doin' it all over the world
The singer asserts that it is a common phenomenon for boys to like girls in different parts of the world.

Hey little hey little hey little tomboy
The singer is repeatedly addressing the tomboy to turn into a girl and start exploring her feminine side.

Time to turn into a girl
The singer indicates that it is time for the tomboy to embrace her feminine qualities and start living a more feminine life.

Hey, little tomboy, I've had my eyes on you
The singer is trying to tell the tomboy that he has noticed her and wants to help her transition into a girl.

Thinkin' what a girl you could be
The singer is thinking about how beautiful the tomboy could look if she transforms into a girl.

Mmm, I smell perfume, let's try some cut-off jeans
The singer is encouraging the tomboy to try new things to look more feminine, like wearing perfume and cut-off jeans.

Look at all the changes I see
The singer is amazed to see all the changes that are happening in the tomboy as she starts to explore her feminine side.

I'm gonna teach you to kiss
The singer wants to teach the tomboy basic intimate things that will make her feel more like a girl.

You're gonna feel just like this
The singer assures the tomboy that once she learns the basic things like kissing, she will feel more feminine.

I'm gonna make you a girl
The singer is determined to transform the tomboy into a girl.

You'd make a beautiful girl
The singer is complimenting the tomboy and trying to make her feel confident and beautiful.

They're doing it all over the world
The singer is emphasizing that the transformation from tomboy to girl is happening worldwide and is a natural process.

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BRIAN DOUGLAS WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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