Kokomo
The Beach Boys Lyrics


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Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take ya
Bermuda, Bahama, come on, pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego, baby, why don't we go? Jamaica

Off the Florida Keys, there's a place called Kokomo
That's where you wanna go to get away from it all
Bodies in the sand, tropical drink melting in your hand
We'll be falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band
Down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take you to
Bermuda, Bahama, come on, pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego, baby, why don't we go?
Ooh, I wanna take you down to Kokomo
We'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow
That's where we wanna go, way down in Kokomo

La Martinique, that Montserrat mystique

We'll put out to sea and we'll perfect our chemistry
And by and by we'll defy a little bit of gravity
Afternoon delight, cocktails, and moonlit nights
That dreamy look in your eye gave me a tropical contact high
Way down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take you to
Bermuda, Bahama, come on, pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego, baby, why don't we go?
Ooh, I wanna take you down to Kokomo
We'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow
That's where we wanna go, way down in Kokomo

Port au Prince, I wanna catch a glimpse

Everybody knows a little place like Kokomo
Now if you wanna go and get away from it all
Go down to Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take you to
Bermuda, Bahama, come on, pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego, baby, why don't we go?
Ooh, I wanna take you down to Kokomo
We'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow
That's where we wanna go, way down in Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take you to




Bermuda, Bahama, come on, pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego, baby, why don't we go?

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' hit song "Kokomo" is an ode to tropical paradise and the yearning to escape from the stress and daily grind of life. The song is about various exotic locations, including Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Bahama, Key Largo, Montego, and, of course, Kokomo, which is a fictional island. The song paints a picture of a sandy beach, a tropical drink, and a steel drum band that makes one feel like they are falling in love. The lyrics are all about relaxing, forgetting one's worries, and enjoying the moment.


The song tells the story of a couple who are looking for a break from their busy lives and want to escape to Kokomo. The lyrics even suggest that the couple will perfect their chemistry while defying gravity on the beach. The song is filled with optimism, making listeners believe that anything is possible if they just let themselves go.


Line by Line Meaning

Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take ya
The singer is expressing a desire to take someone on a trip to Aruba and Jamaica, using the word 'ooh' to show excitement.


Bermuda, Bahama, come on, pretty mama
The singer is now inviting the person they want to take on the trip to Bermuda and Bahama, using the phrase 'come on' to encourage them.


Key Largo, Montego, baby, why don't we go? Jamaica
The singer suggests that they visit Key Largo and Montego but ultimately decide to go to Jamaica, asking the person they invited 'why don't we go?'


Off the Florida Keys, there's a place called Kokomo
The singer is providing information about a place called Kokomo, which is located off the coast of Florida Keys.


That's where you wanna go to get away from it all
The singer is suggesting that Kokomo is the perfect place to go if you want to escape from the daily routine and relax.


Bodies in the sand, tropical drink melting in your hand
The singer is painting a picture of what it would be like in Kokomo - people lying on the beach with drinks in their hands, enjoying the sun and sand.


We'll be falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band
The singer suggests that they will fall in love with each other while listening to music played by a steel drum band.


Down in Kokomo
The singer is emphasizing that all of this is taking place in Kokomo.


La Martinique, that Montserrat mystique
The singer is mentioning two other islands (La Martinique and Montserrat) to convey the exotic, dreamy atmosphere of the locations they hope to find in Kokomo.


We'll put out to sea and we'll perfect our chemistry
The singer suggests that they will spend time together by going out to sea and building a deeper connection with each other.


And by and by we'll defy a little bit of gravity
The singer implies that they will experience an adventurous time while floating on the sea and feeling free like they are defying gravity.


Afternoon delight, cocktails, and moonlit nights
The singer is listing enjoyable experiences at Kokomo, such as having fun in the afternoon, drinking cocktails, and spending time under the moonlight.


That dreamy look in your eye gave me a tropical contact high
The singer is saying that the other person's look of joy at the experiences in Kokomo is contagious, and it has given them a feeling of euphoria or 'contact high.'


Port au Prince, I wanna catch a glimpse
The singer mentions another place (Port au Prince) they want to see, implying a sense of wanderlust and adventure beyond Kokomo.


Everybody knows a little place like Kokomo
The singer is using this line to suggest that most people know of a small, secluded place like Kokomo that they can go to and get away from the world.


Now if you wanna go and get away from it all
The singer is addressing the listener directly, saying that if they too want to escape the daily grind, they should consider going to a place like Kokomo.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Michael Edward Love, Terry Melcher, Scott Mckenzie, John Phillips

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Philip Kassabian

This song is an absolute classic and I love the way that it lists all the major destinations in the Caribbean.

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