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

Morning Christmas
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Holy holy
Halo glowing
Candle burning
Christmas evening

Cold wind blowing
Old Man Winter
Inward glowing

Outside snowing

Morning Christmas
Children love to play
Children laugh
Children love to sing
A Christmas song

Holy holy
Halo glowing

Candle burning
Christmas evening

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' Morning Christmas is a gentle, nostalgic tune that evokes the warmth and joy of the holiday season. The song begins with a description of the scene on a typical Christmas evening - a halo of light from a candle, the cold winter wind blowing outside, and a sense of inward peace and glow. As the verse continues, the focus turns towards the morning of Christmas day, where children are filled with excitement and joy. The chorus repeats the opening lines, emphasizing the peaceful, holy atmosphere of Christmas evening.

The lyrics of Morning Christmas seem to capture a moment of stillness and contemplation, as we approach one of the busiest times of the year. The imagery of a glowing halo, a burning candle, and the cold wind blowing outside create a sense of warmth and comfort, while the repeated phrase "holy holy" suggests a reverence for the season. The second half of the verse shifts the focus to the children, highlighting their infectious laughter and love of singing Christmas songs. All in all, Morning Christmas is a simple, tender song that reminds us of the wonder and magic of the holiday season.

Line by Line Meaning

Holy holy
A reverent and sacred feeling

Halo glowing
A bright and radiant aura

Candle burning
A warm and comforting light source

Christmas evening
A festive and joyful time of year

Cold wind blowing
A brisk and chilling sensation

Old Man Winter
A personification of the harshness of the season

Inward glowing
A feeling of contentment and harmony within oneself

Outside snowing
A beautiful and serene landscape covered in snow

Morning Christmas
The start of a new day filled with Christmas cheer

Children love to play
The joy and excitement of youth during the holiday season

Children laugh
The pure and innocent joy of children