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
Love to Say Dada
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A-wa wa ho wa
Wa wa ho wa
A-wa wa ho wa
A-wa wa ho wa
A-wa wa
A-wa wa ho wa
Wa wa ho wa
A-wa wa ho wa
Wa wa ho wa
A-wa wa
Wa, be do be do
Wa wa ho wa, be do be do
Wa wa ho wa, be do be do
Wa wa ho wa, be do be do
Wa wa ho wa, be do be do
Wa wa ho wa
The Beach Boys' Love to Say Dada consists of mostly nonsense syllables, but it is believed to be a tribute to the popular European avant-garde art movement called Dadaism, which began in 1916 during World War I. The movement focused on rejecting traditional forms of art, challenging the status quo, and celebrating the absurd. The repetition of the phrase "a-wa wa ho wa" can be interpreted as a nod to the nonsensical nature of the movement, and the addition of "be do be do" creates a playful rhythm that mirrors the playful and experimental nature of Dadaism.
The song was part of The Beach Boys' 1967 album, Smiley Smile, which was initially going to be titled Dumb Angel, a term that was used to describe the movement's mascot. However, due to their label's urging, the album was reworked and the title was changed to Smiley Smile. Despite mixed reviews upon its release, Smiley Smile has gained a cult following and is now regarded as a groundbreaking and influential album in its own right.
Line by Line Meaning
A-wa wa ho wa
The song begins with a repetitive phrase that is not intended to have any particular meaning or significance.
Wa wa ho wa
This line is also meant to be meaningless and serves as a simple repetition of the opening phrase.
A-wa wa ho wa
Again, this line is simply a repetition of the opening phrase and carries no real meaning.
A-wa wa ho wa
Once more, this line repeats the opening phrase and is not intended to convey any specific message or emotion.
Wa wa ho wa
This line continues the pattern of meaningless repetition that characterizes the opening of the song.
A-wa wa ho wa
In keeping with the song's structure, this line is also a repetition of the opening phrase and does not have any particular significance.
Wa wa ho wa
Yet again, this line serves to continue the sense of repetitive chaos that the song establishes early on.
Wa wa ho wa
This line follows the same pattern as the previous line and merely continues the feeling of purposelessness that permeates the song.
Wa wa ho wa
This line is no different from the previous three and does not convey any particular message or mood.
Wa wa ho wa
As the song approaches its end, this line continues the sense of repetition and lack of substance that has characterized it from the beginning.
Wa, be do be do
This line adds a new element to the song's structure, but it remains nonsensical and does not convey any clear meaning or message.
Wa wa ho wa, be do be do
This line combines the two types of phrases that the song uses - a meaningless repetition and a nonsensical phrase - but the result is the same, with no clear meaning or mood being conveyed.
Wa wa ho wa, be do be do
Similar to the previous line, this too combines the structure of the song which does not attempt to convey any particular emotions, thoughts, or feelings.
Wa wa ho wa, be do be do
This line, like the others, is purposefully nonsensical and does not have any deep or significant message embedded in it.
Wa wa ho wa, be do be do
Once more, this line serves to continue the song's overall structure of repetition and lack of meaningful content, and does not offer any unique insight or message.
Wa wa ho wa, be do be do
As the song comes to a close, this final line is consistent with the rest of the song, offering more of the same repetition and lack of direction.
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRIAN DOUGLAS WILSON, MICHAEL EDWARD LOVE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Kokomo
This song is an absolute classic and I love the way that it lists all the major destinations in the Caribbean.
Philip Kassabian
on Surfin' U.S.A.
A great song by The Beach Boys hit all the major surfing destinations.
Philip Kassabian
on Catch a Wave
This song really gets you in the mood for surfing.
Philip Kassabian
on Surfer Girl
What a splendid song by The Beach Boys. They really were a great band.
Philip Kassabian
on Wouldn't It Be Nice
One of the greatest Beach Boys songs.
Les lumb
on Surf's Up
Love Good Vibrations ,God Only Knows however this is my fav Beach Boys song
Les lumb
on San Miguel
It captures the mood of the place, very atmospheric
Les lumb
on Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) [Single Version]
Great version by the Beach Boys it flows
Les lumb
on Break Away
Soothing
Leslie Lumb
on Break Away
Love the opening verses beautiful words