It's A Beautiful Day
The Beach Boys Lyrics
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Livin' down in L.A.
Such A Beautiful day
Whoa whoa
Whoa whoa
The skies are clear
It's a beautiful day in l.a.
People in motion
Indoors, outdoors, in the sun
There are people everywhere havin' fun, fun, fun
And when the moon and stars come out at night
We'll know what to do when we turn out the lights (turn out the lights, out the lights)
The freeways there are jammed with all kind of folks on their bikes
With fastball surfers, their all doin' their lefts and their rights
Roller skating, joggin', or a fancy bike
You can get around most anyway you really like
And when the sun is down and the stars are bright
I can hardly wait to get to hold you tight (hold you tight, hold you tight)
OOOOOOOOOOOh
Living down in L.A.
Such a Beautiful Day
Whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa
Riding the fastlanes, and ballet in leisurely flight
People in motion the streets there a beautiful sight
In goodtimes, sunshine, you'll feel alright
We'll maybe even do an afternoon delight
You're sure to get as high as the clouds above
Participatin' in this little dance of love (dance of love, dance of love)
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOW
Living down in L.A.
Such a Beautiful Day
The freeways are jammed now
The cars have disappeared from the scene
Cause' gone to work or to play
They use a whole 'nother kind of machine
OOOOOOOOOOW
Living down in L.A.
Such a beautiful day
In "It's A Beautiful Day", The Beach Boys describe the joys of living in Los Angeles. The first verse sets the scene for a perfect day, with clear skies and people having fun indoors and outdoors. The second verse praises the variety of ways people get around in LA, including roller skating and cycling, and expresses excitement for spending the night with someone special. Finally, the third verse talks about the different types of transportation used in LA, with the cars disappearing from the scene as people use other means of getting around.
The song captures the laid-back, carefree spirit of LA in the 1970s, with references to surfing and roller skating, which were popular activities at the time. The lyrics also reflect the Beach Boys' signature harmonies and upbeat sound, which helped define the California sound of the era.
Line by Line Meaning
OOOOOOOOOW
Interjection expressing excitement or enthusiasm
Livin' down in L.A.
Residing in Los Angeles
Such A Beautiful day
It is a lovely day
Whoa whoa
Interjection expressing surprise or awe
The skies are clear
The weather is pleasant
It's a beautiful day in l.a.
The day is beautiful in Los Angeles
People in motion
There is a lot of movement, people are active
Our wheels movin all kind a ways
We are traveling in various ways
Indoors, outdoors, in the sun
Activities done inside, outside, and in the sun
There are people everywhere havin' fun, fun, fun
People are enjoying themselves a lot
And when the moon and stars come out at night
During nighttime, under the sky's stars and moon
We'll know what to do when we turn out the lights (turn out the lights, out the lights)
We will engage in intimate activities when the lights are turned off
The freeways there are jammed with all kind of folks on their bikes
The highways have numerous people on bicycles, causing gridlock
With fastball surfers, their all doin' their lefts and their rights
Surfers are riding the waves, moving both left and right
Roller skating, joggin', or a fancy bike
People are roller skating, jogging, or riding a fancy bike
You can get around most anyway you really like
People can travel in various modes of transportation
And when the sun is down and the stars are bright
During nighttime, under the sky's stars and moon
I can hardly wait to get to hold you tight (hold you tight, hold you tight)
I am eager to embrace you tightly
OOOOOOOOOOOh
Interjection expressing excitement or enthusiasm
Riding the fastlanes, and ballet in leisurely flight
Traveling quickly, while also having a graceful, leisurely journey
People in motion the streets there a beautiful sight
The sight of active people on the streets is lovely
In goodtimes, sunshine, you'll feel alright
During good times and sunshine, you will feel good
We'll maybe even do an afternoon delight
We may engage in sexual activity during the afternoon
You're sure to get as high as the clouds above
You will experience euphoria and happiness
Participatin' in this little dance of love (dance of love, dance of love)
Taking part in sexual activity, a form of expression of love and affection
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOW
Interjection expressing excitement or enthusiasm
The freeways are jammed now
The highways are congested
The cars have disappeared from the scene
The cars are no longer present
Cause' gone to work or to play
They left for work or leisure
They use a whole 'nother kind of machine
They are using an entirely different mode of transportation
OOOOOOOOOOW
Interjection expressing excitement or enthusiasm
Living down in L.A.
Residing in Los Angeles
Such a Beautiful Day
It is a lovely day
Contributed by Austin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Wolfsky9
This ought to have been a monster hit for The Boys!! I have the 45, & always wondered why it didn't get airplay. Carl's awesome vocal--OMG, miss him more as the years go by. Wolfsky9
@dali141965
I agree. Problem was the movie was weak. (that's being kind) I just re-saw it last night and there were tiny moments of amusement, but mostly it was a waste of good talent. Especially John Ritter and Fred Willard given one note characters. The director also had no clue on how to use cameos, especially musician cameos like Elvis Costello. So, the movie bombed and that was unfair to the soundtrack, which was definitely the best thing about the movie. This Beach Boy's song, especially, (like you said), SHOULD have been a chart topper, but since the movie bombed, so did the soundtrack.
@planthing
It did in NYC at the time
@richardosullivan8102
Bought the movie sound track album to get this track in the UK can't remember this getting airplay in the UK but Almost Summer by Celebration did.
Earlier in around 1975 The Wembley concert on a glorious sunny day with Elton John, Eagles and Joe Walsh their performance was widely praised in the media and 15Big Ones was promoted well in the UK but using Rock and Roll Music as album opener amd single was a mistake given the Beatles cover meant it was nothing new and didn't capture that good time Californian feeling, especially after the homage paid in Holland's California Saga.
@stevedegaetano8188
“Riding the fast lane is a ballet in leisurely flight.”
Yep, it sure was. Great line.
@MIKELIN8
This is a great performance by The Beach Boys. I bought this dopey soundtrack album just for it. Now we need somebody to post "Chasing the Sky" from the "Up the Creek" soundtrack. It's got another great Carl Wilson lead vocal.
@DRUMTOY2002
The back ground vocals & harmonies are frickin AWESOME!!!
@jaokguy
oh i adore this song......this should have been a HUGE hit for the guys. the song is perfect. i remember flipping over it as a kid in "79". awesome lyrics, fantastic melody (i love that there are actually 3 different little melodies and all of them are A-1 steak sauce). can't believe this tune never charted. the beach boys are so wonderful. they have so many terrific songs that not enough people have heard.
@trfesok
I paid $1.50 to see the film when it came out. This song was the best thing about it! The opening narration said, "Now, 40 years and going strong, the Beach Boys!!" Little did they know! In my "Beach Boys 77-80" playlist. Thanks for the upload!
@NelsonStJames
The film actually has a pretty damn good soundtrack. This movie introduced me to Elvis Costello.