The Beach Boys is an iconic American rock band, frequently cited as one of … Read Full Bio ↴The Beach Boys is 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

Keepin' the Summer Alive
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When it's ice cream weather get the gang back together
Roll down your windows and ride
They'll be sleepin' in the sand dunes dancin' in the streets
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive

They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(sum sum summer ah live)
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive

(ah keep the summer)
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(sum sum summer alive)
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(try to keep the summer)

When it's ice cream weather all the girls will look better
The boys try to give them a ride
To the one last party 'fore the school bell rings
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive

They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(sum sum summer)
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(sum sum summer)
They're just tryin' to keep t alive)
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(alive)

Lay down in the sun
And watch the clouds roll by
And bein' with the one you love
In the summertime

When it's last september back in school we'll remember
The cure for the wintertime blues
Grab your girl hit the road head on down to the beach
You'll be comin' home with sand in your shoes

They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(sum sum summer )
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(sum sum summer)
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(sum sum summer)
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(alive)
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
We're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
Just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
Just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
Keep the summer alive
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
We'll just
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
Keep the summer alive
They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
Yeah tryin' to keep the summer alive
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)

(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)
(yeah yeah uh huh i know we'll keep the summer)

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' "Keepin' the Summer Alive" is a song that celebrates summer and the various aspects of it that people love. The lyrics depict a group of people who are determined to make the most of the summer months, even as they begin to wind down. The first verse describes a group of friends driving around, looking for ways to enjoy the weather. The second verse adds a touch of romance to the mix, as the boys try to impress the girls with their cars. The chorus repeats the idea that they're all just trying to hold onto a bit of summer, and the third verse suggests that beach trips are the perfect solution to the end-of-summer blues.

Overall, the song is a fun and upbeat tribute to the joy of summer, and the lengths people will go to keep it alive in their hearts. The inclusion of sand, sun, and romance makes the song feel like a perfect encapsulation of the carefree days of youth.

Line by Line Meaning

When it's ice cream weather get the gang back together
In warm weather, it's time to bring friends together to enjoy ice cream and good company.

Roll down your windows and ride
Open your car windows and enjoy the breeze.

They'll be sleepin' in the sand dunes dancin' in the streets
People will be soaking up the sun and enjoying themselves both at the beach and in their city streets.

They're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
People are trying to maintain the spirit of summer and keep having fun even as the season draws to a close.

When it's ice cream weather all the girls will look better
During warm weather, everyone looks better and more vibrant, especially the girls.

The boys try to give them a ride
Boys attempt to offer transportation to the girls to gain their favor during ice cream weather.

To the one last party 'fore the school bell rings
Everyone wants to have one last party before the school year begins again.

Lay down in the sun
Relax and soak up the warm sun.

And watch the clouds roll by
Watch the peaceful, rolling clouds pass by overhead.

And bein' with the one you love
Spending time with someone you care about in the summer is a special and intimate experience.

In the summertime
Summer is a magical time filled with love, warmth, and freedom.

When it's last September back in school we'll remember
Once summer is over and school starts again, people will fondly look back on their summer memories.

The cure for the wintertime blues
Summer memories are a way to combat sadness during the colder, darker winter months.

Grab your girl hit the road head on down to the beach
Take your loved one on a road trip to the beach and spend some quality time together.

You'll be comin' home with sand in your shoes
After enjoying the beach and making long-lasting memories, you'll have a little bit of the beach with you wherever you go.

We're just tryin' to keep the summer alive
Together, we're trying to keep the memories and feelings of summer alive as long as possible.

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BACHMAN, WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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