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

Lookin' at Tomorrow
The Beach Boys Lyrics

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I've been laying on my back
Like a freight train off a track
Trying to find a job to fit my trade
With the morning sun come 'round
Well I'll be covering plenty of ground
And I don't need nobody to pay my aid
Mmmm pay my aid

Now Bess and me were feeling bad
And all the good jobs they were had
I had to take to sweeping up some floors
Well I don't mind that so much
Or the changing of my luck
But you know I could be doing so much more

Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Bip bip bip bip bip bip bip bip bip bip

Well I'll be coming home tonight

Everything will be all right
And we'll be looking at tomorrow

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys's song Lookin' at Tomorrow is a poetic expression of one's struggles and aspirations in finding a suitable job and making ends meet. The sentiment in the lyrics is pervasive as the singer exemplifies the daily grind of life where he has to lay on his back like a freight train off a track, representing the weight and pressure of unemployment. He is trying to find a job that fits his trade, but it has been challenging. Despite the predicament, he stays optimistic, knowing that the morning sun will always come around, and he'll cover plenty of ground. He doesn't need anyone to pay his aid, as he's willing to work hard and fend for himself.

In the second stanza of the song, the singer introduces the character Bess, both feeling bad as all the good jobs have been taken. In his pursuit of a decent job, he's had to take up sweeping floors, which he doesn't mind that much. However, he is aware that he could be doing so much more and wants a better life for himself and Bess. The song's chorus reassures the listener that everything will be alright, and the singer will return home tonight, looking at tomorrow with hope and relief.

Overall, Lookin' at Tomorrow is an introspective song that speaks to the struggles of everyday life, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and a positive outlook. It conveys a universal message to keep pushing, even when things seem difficult, and there's always hope for tomorrow.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been laying on my back
I've been feeling defeated and unproductive.

Like a freight train off a track
Like a train that has derailed and is struggling to get back on course.

Trying to find a job to fit my trade
I'm trying to find work that is a good match for my skills and experience.

With the morning sun come 'round
When a new day begins.

Well I'll be covering plenty of ground
I'll be making progress and achieving my goals.

And I don't need nobody to pay my aid
I don't need anyone to provide me with financial assistance.

Mmmm pay my aid
Well, I don't need any help.

Now Bess and me were feeling bad
My partner and I were both feeling down.

And all the good jobs they were had
All of the desirable job opportunities were already taken.

I had to take to sweeping up some floors
I had to take a low-paying job as a janitor.

Well I don't mind that so much
I'm not too bothered by it.