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
In My Car
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Horses of gas and steel
The highway is my home
In fiberglass and chrome
Fantasy car shiny Corvette
Let's take a ride you can't forget
Come on pretty lady ride with me
I'm captain of my destiny
In my car
Pretty babe come cruise with me
Come for a drive
And we'll arrive
Feelin' alive
I'm master of my fate
When I accelerate
My new Vette is my throne
When on the road we roam we roam we roam roam
Cruisin' like we're in a dream
Feelin' like we're still sixteen
Being a part of the great American scene
In my car
I'm captain of my destiny
In my car
Pretty babe come cruise with me
Come for a drive
And we'll arrive
Feelin' alive
Cruise cruise cruise with me baby
Now move move up in the stratosphere
Zoom zoom zoom with me darlin' now
We're still cruisin' after all these
Cruisin' after all these years
Wind blowing in my hair
I feel like a millionaire
Radio is blasting strong
We're breaking out in song
Blazing trails both near and far
Park my car behind a star
Life is full of possibilities
In my car
I'm captain of my destiny
In my car
Oh pretty babe come cruise with me
Come for a drive
And we'll arrive
Feelin' alive
In my car
I'm captain of my destiny
In my car
Oh pretty babe come cruise with me
The Beach Boys’ song “In My Car” is a tribute to the freedom and excitement that comes with driving a car. The lyrics describe the joy of traveling on the open road, feeling free and independent while behind the wheel. The opening lines of the song, “When I'm behind the wheel, Horses of gas and steel, The highway is my home, In fiberglass and chrome,” creates an imagery of the driver's love for his automobile. This verse is followed by the chorus, where the singer emphasizes his control over his destiny while driving the car, “In my car, I'm captain of my destiny. In my car, pretty babe come cruise with me. Come for a drive, and we'll arrive, feelin' alive.”
The song's second verse emphasizes how the car is the driver's throne, and the road is his kingdom, “My new Vette is my throne, When on the road we roam we roam we roam roam, Cruisin' like we're in a dream, Feelin' like we're still sixteen, Being a part of the great American scene.” The driver feels like a part of the American scene while in his car, cruising like he's in a dream, and he feels young and alive as though he is still sixteen.
The song also highlights the romance of the open road, where the driver is inviting his love interest to come on a ride with him, “Come on pretty lady ride with me," and “Oh, pretty babe come cruise with me, Come for a drive, And we'll arrive, Feelin' alive.” The experience of being in a car with someone you love, feeling the wind in your hair, and cruising down the road creates a sense of euphoria and excitement that is unmatched. The song's overall message is that being behind the wheel of a car is an empowering, exciting, and fulfilling experience that brings joy, freedom, and happiness to life.
Line by Line Meaning
When I'm behind the wheel
When I am driving
Horses of gas and steel
The power of the car fuels my imagination
The highway is my home
I feel comfortable on the open road
In fiberglass and chrome
My car is made of shiny materials
Fantasy car shiny Corvette
My dream car, a beautiful and shiny Corvette
Let's take a ride you can't forget
A memorable experience on the road with me
Come on pretty lady ride with me
Inviting a woman to ride with me
In my car
When in my car
I'm captain of my destiny
I am in control of my life and direction
Pretty babe come cruise with me
Inviting a woman to ride with me
Come for a drive
Join me on a trip
And we'll arrive
We will reach our destination
Feelin' alive
Feeling exhilarated
I'm master of my fate
I am in control of my life and direction
When I accelerate
When I increase my speed
My new Vette is my throne
My new Corvette is the symbol of my success
When on the road we roam we roam we roam roam
Driving on the road is like exploring new places and experiences
Cruisin' like we're in a dream
Driving on the open road feels like a fantasy
Feelin' like we're still sixteen
Feeling young and carefree
Being a part of the great American scene
Identifying with the classic American dream and way of life
Cruise cruise cruise with me baby
Join me on a leisurely drive
Now move move up in the stratosphere
Moving up to a higher level of excitement
Zoom zoom zoom with me darlin' now
Accelerating with me
We're still cruisin' after all these
We are still enjoying driving together after all these years
Cruisin' after all these years
Still enjoying driving together for a long time
Wind blowing in my hair
Feeling the wind while driving
I feel like a millionaire
Feeling successful and happy
Radio is blasting strong
The music playing loudly in the car
We're breaking out in song
Singing and enjoying the music
Blazing trails both near and far
Exploring new places and experiences in the car
Park my car behind a star
Achieving something great and parking my car in a memorable place
Life is full of possibilities
There are many opportunities and experiences in life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WildBuster
Happy birthday to the greatest composer of the Rock and Roll era, the legendary Brian Wilson!
Thanks for all the music, like this '80s classic.
@GirlFromNippon
I never get tired of listening to this one. :O
@paulkeyton2870
Love the Beachboys and this song
@MeditationMuse999
Amazing song!
@matheusmiranda1151
this song is part of the soundtrack of my life
@SeahorsesJay
I actually don't believe it to be that overproduced, it has the same amount of layers going on as most standard Brian Wilson arrangements, it's just a ridiculously complex song to begin with. With classically refined instrumentation like temple blocks and tympani you can get away with it, but with synths and overdriven guitars it sounds abrasive. I think the original uploader has seriously undermined this effort with the "fun little track" comment, 'In My Car' is up there with Brian's most complex compositions.
@jonathanmanuel5461
It just have alot of reverb and it's irritating
@OucherOwltheUninflatable
@Jonathan Manuel Honestly the sheer crazy, unleashed, uninhibited positive energy of this song is what grabs me. All stops out, no holds barred.
Abrasive to some.
Magical to me.
@qasanoba
production sounds fine to me
@magictransistorradio4933
I agree. He was just using synthesizers instead of the Wrecking Crew. But arrangements are just as good. At first I hated this song, but it is very catchy and subtly complex. Similar to I Get Around.