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
Little Saint Nick
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Christmas comes this time each year
Ooh, ooh
Well way up North where the air gets cold
There's a tale about Christmas
That you've all been told
And he spends the whole year workin' out on his sled
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
Just a little bobsled we call the old Saint Nick
But she'll walk a toboggan with a four speed stick
She's candy apple red with a ski for a wheel
And when Santa hits the gas, man, just watch her peel
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
Run run reindeer
Run run reindeer (whoa)
Run run reindeer
Run run reindeer (he don't miss no one)
And haulin' through the snow at a frightening speed
With a half a dozen deer with Rudy to lead
He's got to wear his goggles 'cause the snow really flies
And he's cruisin' every path with a little surprise
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
Ooh
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
(Christmas comes this time each year)
Ooh
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
(Christmas comes this time each year)
Ooh
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
(Christmas comes this time each year)
The Beach Boys’ “Little Saint Nick” is a catchy and upbeat Christmas song that tells a fun story about Santa Claus and his “little Saint Nick” sled. The song has a classic rock and roll sound with a melody that is simple yet infectious. The lyrics begin with the band wishing Saint Nick a Merry Christmas and stating that Christmas comes every year. The song then describes a story of how Santa Claus spends the whole year working on his sled up in the cold North. The “real famous cat all dressed up in red” then takes his sleek and candy apple red sled out for a spin on Christmas Day.
The sled is known as the “little Saint Nick” and it is fast! It can even walk a toboggan with a four-speed stick. Santa Claus’s sled is an intricate machine that has a ski for a wheel and is incredibly powerful. As the song states: “And when Santa hits the gas, man, just watch her peel”. Santa Claus has his goggles on because the snow flies and he is cruising every path with a little surprise for all the good boys and girls. The song ends with another festive chorus of wishing Saint Nick a Merry Christmas and acknowledging that Christmas comes every year.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh
Expressing excitement and anticipation.
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
A joyous greeting to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of Christmas.
Christmas comes this time each year
An observation that Christmas falls on the same day each year.
Well way up North where the air gets cold
Referring to the North Pole, where it is very cold.
There's a tale about Christmas
Alluding to the many myths and legends surrounding the holiday of Christmas.
That you've all been told
Assuming the listener is familiar with the aforementioned tales.
And a real famous cat all dressed up in red
Santa Claus is referred to as a 'cat' due to his cool, collected demeanor.
And he spends the whole year workin' out on his sled
Santa Claus is always preparing for his yearly trip around the world on his sled, pulled by reindeer.
It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)
The focus of this song is on Santa's sled, called the 'little Saint Nick.'
Just a little bobsled we call the old Saint Nick
Describing the sled as a simple bobsled with a nickname - the old Saint Nick.
But she'll walk a toboggan with a four speed stick
Although the sled is modest, it is able to travel at high speeds thanks to its sophisticated design.
She's candy apple red with a ski for a wheel
The sled is described as being visually striking, with a bright red color and a ski for a front wheel.
And when Santa hits the gas, man, just watch her peel
When Santa Claus accelerates the sled, it takes off with great speed.
Run run reindeer
An exhortation to Santa's reindeer to run quickly.
Run run reindeer (whoa)
A pause in the exhortation, as if to say 'wait, slow down.'
Run run reindeer
Continuing the exhortation to go quickly.
Run run reindeer (he don't miss no one)
Making the point that Santa Claus never forgets to deliver gifts to anyone.
And haulin' through the snow at a frightening speed
Santa Claus races through the snow at an alarming pace.
With a half a dozen deer with Rudy to lead
There are six reindeer pulling the sled, led by Rudolph, the most famous of the bunch.
He's got to wear his goggles 'cause the snow really flies
To protect his eyes from the snow, Santa wears goggles while he rides the sled.
And he's cruisin' every path with a little surprise
As Santa delivers gifts, he leaves behind a little bit of magic and wonder for each recipient.
Ooh
Repeating the expression of excitement and anticipation.
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Once again greeting Saint Nicholas joyously.
(Christmas comes this time each year)
Repeating the observation made earlier that Christmas is an annual holiday.
Ooh
Repeating the expression of excitement and anticipation once more.
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Another joyous greeting to Saint Nick before the song ends.
(Christmas comes this time each year)
Repeating the earlier observation one final time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Love, Brian Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexandrabee
Beach Boys references:
0:02 - Brother Records logo (man on horse) near the shore
0:06 - Yellow pickup truck featured on the Surfin' Safari album cover
0:10 - Sign for Paradise Cove (the place where the album covers for Surfin' Safari and Surfer Girl were taken)
0:13 - The blue hot rod from the Little Deuce Coupe album cover on the lower right
0:17 - Smile and Feel Flows on the wooden sign and surfboard
0:19 - Movie poster for Almost Famous (Girl with sunglasses) - Feel Flows was part of the film's soundtrack
0:20 - Various Beach Boys songs and album title labels on many of the items
0:25 - Surf's Up art framed on the wall
0:26 - Friends album cover on the box
0:27 - "To Bruce J." written on the blue box (Bruce Johnston)
0:45 - Marcella (BB song from 1972) on the tiki bar sign
1:27 - Surf's Up sand sculpture and Friends album cover in the sky
1:32 - Plane with Wild Honey banner
1:39 - Pose from their Christmas album front cover
1:53 - Pet Sounds goat and surfboard
1:57 - Art style resembling the Love You album cover
@batemann3062
You can tell a real Beach Boys fan animated this. Lots of little details and references.
@kayarocioc.4703
Ikr! I'm just geeking out now
@IAmisMaster
Definitely. Lots of references to their albums and history.
@murtlobein130
But arn't the guitars of Carl and Alan swapt
@davidaston5773
Bate, I had a BIG Smile (pun intended) when I saw the "Friends" album cover behind the band?
They caught Dennis' drumming movement perfectly. Some proper Love put into this. Peace.
@Flapperdame16
I love the Beach Boys Love You cover at the end, so great!!!
@Noah1997callahan
The beach boys make me so genuinely happy like no other. Through happiness and darkness, they’ve gotten me through it all. Beach boys forever man
@Phelps-1247
Same here! I always look forward to christmas, just for their christmas album alone.
@janfromnycsavesmoney8723
Yes yes and yes
@GrowingForever
Wonderful, thank you for this beautiful video!