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

Never Learn Not to Love
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Cease to resist, come on say you love me
Give up your world, come on and be with me
I'm your kind, I'm your kind, and I see

Come on come on, ooo I love you pretty girl
My life is yours, and you can have my world
I'm your kind, I'm your kind, and I see

Never had a lesson I ever learned
I know I could never learn not to love you
Come in now closer
Come in closer closer closer ahhhh

Submission is a gift given to another
Love and understanding is for one another
I'm your kind, I'm your kind, and I see

Never had a lesson I ever learned
I know I could never learn not to love you
Come in now closer
Come in closer come in closer ahhhh

Ahhh-ahhh-ahhh-ahhh-ahhhhhh
Ahhh-ahhh-ahhh-ahhh-ahhhhhh

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' song "Never Learn Not to Love" seems to be about a man trying to convince a woman to be with him, regardless of what it takes. The first couple of verses suggest that he wants to take over her life and be her everything. He pleads with her to "cease to resist" and come be with him, and tells her that he could never learn not to love her. The repetitive use of "I'm your kind, I see" could mean he believes they are meant to be together or share a commonality. The phrase "my life is yours, and you can have my world" also suggests total commitment and dedication to her.

However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that this man's idea of "love and understanding" involves submission and domination. The lines "submission is a gift given to another" suggests almost a power imbalance or a power exchange. It could be inferred that the woman he's speaking to is hesitant about the relationship and he is trying to convince her that it's natural for him to want control. This kind of behavior is neither healthy nor consensual, especially without communication and mutual understanding.

Overall, "Never Learn Not to Love" appears to be a song about a man who wants to control a woman and is willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve that power. The song is unsettling, with its repetitive chorus and dark lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Cease to resist, come on say you love me
Stop fighting it and tell me you love me

Give up your world, come on and be with me
Leave behind everything else and be with me

I'm your kind, I'm your kind, and I see
We're meant to be together, and I understand you

Come on come on, ooo I love you pretty girl
Don't be shy, I love you and find you attractive

My life is yours, and you can have my world
I'll do anything for you and give you everything I have

Never had a lesson I ever learned
I've never experienced anything like this before

I know I could never learn not to love you
I know I'll always love you

Come in now closer
Get closer to me

Submission is a gift given to another
Allowing someone to have power over you is a way of showing love and trust

Love and understanding is for one another
A relationship is built on mutual love and understanding

Ahhh-ahhh-ahhh-ahhh-ahhhhhh