I'm Bugged at My Ol' Man
The Beach Boys Lyrics


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I'm bugged at my ol' man
Cause he's making me stay in my room
(Darn my dad)

I came in a little late
And my ol' man he just blew his mind
(Blew it bad)
Why did he sell my surfboard?
He cut off my hair in my sleep

I wish I could see outside
But he tacked up boards on my window
(Gosh it's dark)

I can't hit the surf, can't drag
Can't do a dog-goned thing
(Wish I could)

I tried to call up my chick
But he jerked my phone right out of the wall

They gave me some breadcrumbs
And a little glass of water
And they're out there eating steak
(Smells so good)

I ripped up my wardrobe
And I'm growing a beard
Oh when will they let me come out

I'd listen to my radio
But he took it and he's using it in his own room
(Now it's gone)

I wish I could do some homework
But I got suspended from school
(Blew my cool)





I'm bugged at my ol' man
And he doesn't even know where it's at

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' "I'm Bugged at My Ol' Man" is a song about a son's frustration with his father's overbearing nature. The lyrics describe the singer's feeling of being trapped in his room, with his father restricting him from everything he loves, like surfing or talking to his girlfriend.


The song begins with the son being angry at his father for forcing him to stay in his room. The father's disciplinary actions are harsh, which makes the son resentful. He's not allowed to surf, hang out with his girlfriend, or listen to his radio, and there are even boards on his windows so he can't see outside. The father took everything away from him, even his surfboard, because he came home late one night, which shows how controlling he is.


The son is isolated, with only breadcrumbs and a little water to eat while the rest of the family eats steak. His frustration mounts as he tears up his wardrobe and grows a beard, hoping to get out soon. The ending chorus repeats "I'm bugged at my ol' man, and he doesn't even know where it's at," which underscores the son's feeling that his father doesn't understand him or his teenage needs.


Overall, "I'm Bugged at My Ol' Man" is a relatable song about the generation gap between parents and their children. The son's anger and desire for freedom resonate with many people who have struggled with overbearing parents.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm bugged at my ol' man
I'm really mad at my dad


Cause he's making me stay in my room
He's punishing me by not letting me leave my room


I came in a little late
I arrived home a little after curfew


And my ol' man he just blew his mind
And my dad got really angry


Why did he sell my surfboard?
Why did he get rid of my surfboard?


He cut off my hair in my sleep
He shaved my head while I was sleeping


I wish I could see outside
I wish I could look out the window


But he tacked up boards on my window
But he covered my window with boards so I can't see outside


I can't hit the surf, can't drag
I can't go surfing, can't do anything fun


Wish I could
I really wish I could go surfing or do something else


I tried to call up my chick
I tried to call my girlfriend


But he jerked my phone right out of the wall
But he pulled the phone out of the wall so I couldn't call her


They gave me some breadcrumbs
They only gave me a tiny bit of food


And a little glass of water
And only a small amount of water


And they're out there eating steak
Meanwhile, everyone else gets to eat delicious steak


Smells so good
The smell of the steak is making me really hungry


I ripped up my wardrobe
I tore all my clothes apart


And I'm growing a beard
And I'm not shaving so now I have a beard


Oh when will they let me come out
When will they finally let me leave this room


I'd listen to my radio
I'd like to listen to the radio


But he took it and he's using it in his own room
But he took my radio and now he's using it in his own room


Now it's gone
Now I don't have a radio anymore


I wish I could do some homework
I wish I had the chance to do my homework


But I got suspended from school
But I got in trouble at school and was suspended


Blew my cool
I lost my temper and did something to get suspended


And he doesn't even know where it's at
And he doesn't even understand why I'm so mad at him




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

비정한세상

I'm bugged at my ol' man
Cause he's making me stay in my room
(Darn my dad)

I came in a little late
And my ol' man he just blew his mind
(Blew it bad)

Why did he sell my surfboard?
He cut off my hair in my sleep

I wish I could see outside
But he tacked up boards on my window
(Gosh it's dark)

I can't hit the surf, can't drag
Can't do a dog-goned thing
(Wish I could)

I tried to call up my chick
But he jerked my phone right out of the wall

They gave me some breadcrumbs
And a little glass of water
And they're out there eating steak
(Smells so good)

I ripped up my wardrobe
And I'm growing a beard
Oh when will they let me come out

I'd listen to my radio
But he took it and he's using it in his own room
(Now it's gone)

I wish I could do some homework
But I got suspended from school
(Blew my cool)

I'm bugged at my ol' man
And he doesn't even know where it's at



RC1888

I'm bugged at my ol' man
Cause he's making me stay in my room
(Darn my dad)

I came in a little late
And my ol' man he just blew his mind
(Blew it bad)

Why did he sell my surfboard?
He cut off my hair in my sleep

I wish I could see outside
But he tacked up boards on my window
(Gosh it's dark)

I can't hit the surf, can't drag
Can't do a dog-goned thing
(Wish I could)

I tried to call up my chick
But he jerked my phone right out of the wall

They gave me some breadcrumbs
And a little glass of water
And they're out there eating steak
(Smells so good)

I ripped up my wardrobe
And I'm growing a beard
Oh when will they let me come out

I'd listen to my radio
But he took it and he's using it in his own room
(Now it's gone)

I wish I could do some homework
But I got suspended from school
(Blew my cool)

I'm bugged at my ol' man
And he doesn't even know where it's at



Tommaso Tedeschi

I'm bugged at my ol' man
Cause he's making me stay in my room
(Darn my dad)

I came in a little late
And my ol' man he just blew his mind
(Blew it bad)

Why did he sell my surfboard?
He cut off my hair in my sleep

I wish I could see outside
But he tacked up boards on my window
(Gosh it's dark)

I can't hit the surf, can't drag
Can't do a dog-goned thing
(Wish I could)

I tried to call up my chick
But he jerked my phone right out of the wall

They gave me some breadcrumbs
And a little glass of water
And they're out there eating steak
(Smells so good)

I ripped up my wardrobe
And I'm growing a beard
Oh when will they let me come out

I'd listen to my radio
But he took it and he's using it in his own room
(Now it's gone)

I wish I could do some homework
But I got suspended from school
(Blew my cool)

I'm bugged at my ol' man
And he doesn't even know where it's at



All comments from YouTube:

Choco

When they all start laughing... my heart. I love these guys so much

Tereasa Cofield

I love everything anything bout the beach boys i raised on their music i still listen to the music i saw them 70s bham alabama oct 5 2023 they r suppose to come bham alabama i hope to c them i love them to death

Kendra

Brotherly love......doesn't get any better than this. RIP Carl and Dennis.

Kalel Ty

@Atticus Colten instablaster ;)

1 More Replies...

Michael David

Brian was always good at making people laugh. On another documentary he got Al to squeeze his nose and then did an impression of Mike singing California Girls. Carl and Al lost it.

Diane Morris

I saw it too, hilarious

keato

oh my gosh! which documentary?

JDD

Don't think he was trying to make anyone laugh. He was trying not to cough while singing, and it came out sounding hilarious to his siblings. He then recognizes how funny it sounded lol.

1 More Replies...

C. Miles

I just love this! It's funny anyway, but when Brian starts coughing..and then his laugh - Ha ha! Just cracks me up every time I see it! So good to see all three brothers having fun together ❤

Joan Gute

I really enjoyed seeing Brian, Dennis & Carl having fun with this. Thanks.

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