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
I Went to Sleep
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The gardener walked out and the sprinklers went on
They watered the lawn and I went to sleep
Ten thirty I turned my radio on
Some group was playing a musical song
It wasn't too long and I went to sleep
High up above me the trees gently sway
A bird flew away and I went to sleep
The Beach Boys' song "I Went to Sleep" describes a leisurely day spent in a park. The singer begins by taking a walk and sitting down, observing the gardener starting the irrigation system. As the sprinklers turn on and water the lawn, the singer falls asleep. Later, the singer turns on the radio and hears a group playing music. The song lulls the singer to sleep once again. In the final verse, the singer is back in the park on a summer day. The trees sway gently and a bird flies overhead, and once again, the singer falls asleep.
The lyrics paint a peaceful picture of restful moments in nature, allowing the listener to feel as if they too are enjoying the fresh air and relaxation of being outdoors. The repetition of the singer falling asleep through the different verses suggests a peaceful, meditative state that allows the singer to simply be present in the moment.
The song's gentle rhythms, soothing harmonies, and dreamy melody contribute to the peaceful, meditative feel of the lyrics. The use of nature imagery, such as the swaying trees and flying bird, further emphasizes the sense of tranquility and calmness.
Line by Line Meaning
I took a walk and sat down in a park
I strolled leisurely through the park and settled in for a rest
The gardener walked out and the sprinklers went on
As I relaxed, the gardener came by, triggering the sprinklers to water the grass
They watered the lawn and I went to sleep
The soothing sound of the sprinklers lulled me into a peaceful nap
Ten thirty I turned my radio on
I woke up at 10:30 pm and switched on my radio
Some group was playing a musical song
I heard a group playing a pleasant melody on the radio
It wasn't too long and I went to sleep
Before I knew it, the music had relaxed me again and I drifted off once more
Again at the park on a nice summer day
On another warm summer day, I returned to the same park
High up above me the trees gently sway
As I lay there, the trees swayed gracefully above me
A bird flew away and I went to sleep
Even the brief sight of the bird prompted me to drift off into a slumber once again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rafa Aguirre
one of my favorite song of all time. this is a hidden gem, a hidden gem, my fellow friends; so psychedelic and smooth at the same time
Marie-Claude Recchia
Nice, soft, soothing lullaby !
Audio Instigator
The world loves you guys <3 My first album was the single Kokomo. I was just a little boy..... Dont think I will ever make it there but man if I could my life would complete. I love you guys, thanks for your wonderful contribution to this world... Iam so glad I got to be a part of your time here <3 See you down in Kokomo, thats where I wanna go :(
Richard O'Sullivan
20/20 had the right mix of guitar driven, laid back and avant-garde songs
Sebastian
Brian is THE melody-meister...created the most beautiful songs and melodies only comparable w/Burt Bacharach and McCartney!
ShonziTho
what a coincidence, i keep listening to this since a couple nights ago!
Redd Wood
This song is my life
Bap Shoowaddy
Fabulous
RedGoldGreen-Dub1975
nice piece
Kent Borges
OH THE RIGHTEOUS HARMONIES HERE !