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
She's Goin' Bald
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fell on her face and no wind was blowin'
(She's goin' bald)
Silken hair, more silken hair
Lay near her pillbox down at her feet
(She'd been on a trip)
Lost her hair I thought I would keel
(she's goin' bald)
When she saw her shining forehead
Didn't stop she swooned to the ground
(Really flipped her wig)
Laughed so hard I
Blew my mind
I blew my cool
I blew myself over
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Sha na na, sha na na na na na na na na
What a blow
Sha na na, sha na na na na na na na na
What a blow
Sha na na, sha na na na na na na na na
What a blow
Sha na na, sha na na na na na na na na
What a blow
Sha na na, sha na na
She drew her comb across her scalp
And brushed what she had left
I tried to salvage what I could
And threw it in a sack
She made a be -line to her room
And grabbed all kind o' juice
She started pourin' it on her head
And thought it'd grow it back
Ah ha haaaaaa
You're too late mama
Ain't nothin' upside your head
No more no more no more no more
Upside your head
Too late mama
Ain't nothin' upside your head
No more no more no more no more
Upside
Upside your head
You're too late mama
Ain't nothin' upside your head
No more no more no more no more
(What about it, dude?)
The Beach Boy's song "She's Goin' Bald" is a lighthearted and comical tune about a girl who is losing her hair. The lyrics describe how the girl's silken hair had been falling out and how she had lost her hair on a trip. The singer then describes how he saw her bald head and how he was shocked by her appearance. When she sees her reflection and faints, the singer "blows his mind" with laughter. The chorus features the phrase "Sha na na" repeated several times and showcases how the singer finds the situation as amusing.
The song continues with the singer's failed attempts to salvage the remaining hair of the girl. He describes how unsuccessfully he tried to brush it and throw it into a sack. The girl then rushes to her room and begins pouring juice on her head. The song ends with the phrase "Upside your head, too late, mama, ain't nothin' upside your head no more" which indicates that she has gone completely bald.
The song is a fun and upbeat tune that pokes fun at hair loss. The laughter-filled lyrics and catchy melody reflect the carefree and innocent nature of the Beach Boys. The song ultimately ends with the singer saying that it is too late for the girl's hair to grow back, making the situation even more amusing.
Line by Line Meaning
Silken hair, more silken hair
Her hair was soft and smooth
Fell on her face and no wind was blowin'
Her hair fell on her face without being blown by the wind
(She's goin' bald)
She is losing her hair
Silken hair, more silken hair
Her hair was still smooth despite falling near her feet
Lay near her pillbox down at her feet
Her hair fell near her medication box at her feet
(She'd been on a trip)
She had just come back from a trip
I peeked in and when I saw she'd
When I looked inside and saw that
Lost her hair I thought I would keel
I was so shocked that I thought I would faint
(she's goin' bald)
She is indeed losing her hair
When she saw her shining forehead
When she saw her own reflection and realized she had a shiny forehead
Didn't stop she swooned to the ground
She fainted and fell to the ground without stopping
(Really flipped her wig)
She was extremely surprised and shocked
Laughed so hard I
I laughed so much that
Blew my mind
I was amazed and disoriented
I blew my cool
I lost control of myself and became hysterical
I blew myself over
I fell over because I was laughing so hard
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Expressing shock and amazement
Sha na na, sha na na na na na na na na
Non-lyrical interlude
What a blow
What an unexpected shock
She drew her comb across her scalp
She combed her hair to see how much was left
And brushed what she had left
She brushed the remaining hair
I tried to salvage what I could
I attempted to save whatever hair I could find
And threw it in a sack
I put the hair in a bag
She made a be-line to her room
She quickly went to her room
And grabbed all kind o' juice
She got different kinds of juice
She started pourin' it on her head
She poured the juice onto her head
And thought it'd grow it back
She believed that the juice would make her hair grow back
Ah ha haaaaaa
Expressing doubt or disbelief
You're too late mama
It's too late now
Ain't nothin' upside your head
There's nothing left on your head
No more no more no more no more
It's gone for good
Upside your head
Referring to the lack of hair on her head
Too late mama
It's too late to do anything about it
(What about it, dude?)
Asking for an opinion or advice
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Love, Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks
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