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

Student Demonstration Time
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Starting out with Berkeley Free Speech
And later on at People's Park
The winds of change fanned into flames
Student demonstrations spark
Down to Isla Vista where police felt so harassed
They called the special riot squad of the L. A. County Sheriff

Well there's a riot going on

There's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
Student demonstration time

The violence spread down South to where Jackson State brothers
Learned not to say nasty things about Southern policemen's mothers
Nothing much was said about it and really next to nothing done
The pen is mightier than the sword, but no match for a gun

Well there's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
Well there's a riot going on
'Cause it's student demonstration time

America was stunned on May 4, 1970
When rally turned to riot up at Kent State University
They said the students scared the Guard
Though the troops were battle dressed
Four martyrs earned a new degree
The Bachelor of Bullets
I know we're all fed up with useless wars and racial strife
But next time there's a riot, well, you best stay out of sight

Well there's a riot going on
There's a riot going on
Well there's a riot going on
Student demonstration time

Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
It's student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration
Stay away when there's a riot going on
It's student demonstration

Stay away when there's a riot going on
Student demonstration

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' song "Student Demonstration Time" was released in 1971 during the height of the student movement against the Vietnam War and social injustices. The song is a commentary on the riots that occurred during these protests and the government's response to them. The lyrics take the listener on a journey from Berkeley's Free Speech Movement to People's Park and Isla Vista, and finally to Kent State University, where four students were killed by National Guard troops in May 1970.

The song opens with a reference to the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, which began in 1964 and advocated for students' right to free speech on campus. The movement's success led to the creation of People's Park in Berkeley, a piece of land that was used for political and social gatherings. The "winds of change" that fanned into flames refer to the growing sentiment among students that political activism was necessary to effect social change.

The song goes on to describe the police response to the protests, including the use of riot squads and, in some cases, deadly force. The reference to Jackson State University in Mississippi is a nod to the killing of two students by police during a protest in May 1970, just a few days after the Kent State shootings. The lines "The pen is mightier than the sword, but no match for a gun" highlight the frustration of many activists who felt that peaceful protests were not getting the attention they deserved.

Overall, "Student Demonstration Time" is a commentary on the government's violent response to the student movement, as well as a warning to those who might participate in future protests. The title itself hints at the potential for violence and chaos during such demonstrations.

Line by Line Meaning

Starting out with Berkeley Free Speech
It all began with the free speech movement at Berkeley.

And later on at People's Park
The movement then spread to People's Park.

The winds of change fanned into flames
The desire for change grew stronger and spread wider.

Student demonstrations spark
Students began demonstrating for their cause.

Down to Isla Vista where police felt so harassed
The protests even reached Isla Vista, causing the police to feel overwhelmed.

They called the special riot squad of the L. A. County Sheriff
The police had to call in special reinforcements to handle the situation.

Well there's a riot going on
The situation had escalated to a full-blown riot.

There's a riot going on
The chaos continued to spread.

There's a riot going on
The situation was out of control.

Student demonstration time
This was all part of a larger student demonstration movement.

The violence spread down South to where Jackson State brothers
The violence also spread to Jackson State.

Learned not to say nasty things about Southern policemen's mothers
The students learned that their protests could lead to extreme violence from the police if they crossed certain lines.

Nothing much was said about it and really next to nothing done
There was little outcry or action taken to prevent this violence from happening again.

The pen is mightier than the sword, but no match for a gun
Words may be powerful, but when met with violence, they are no match for it.

America was stunned on May 4, 1970
In 1970, something happened that shocked the nation.

When rally turned to riot up at Kent State University
A peaceful rally quickly turned into a violent riot at Kent State University.

They said the students scared the Guard
The National Guard claimed they were provoked by the students.

Though the troops were battle dressed
Even though the National Guard was prepared for a conflict.

Four martyrs earned a new degree
Four students died, becoming martyrs for the cause they believed in.

The Bachelor of Bullets
Their new degree was not one of education, but rather one of bullets and violence.

I know we're all fed up with useless wars and racial strife
We are all tired of the wars and racial tensions that divide us.

But next time there's a riot, well, you best stay out of sight
However, in the face of violence and chaos, staying away is the best course of action to avoid becoming a casualty of the movement.

Stay away when there's a riot going on
This is the repeated warning to anyone considering joining a potentially violent student demonstration.

It's student demonstration
This warning applies specifically to student demonstrations.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, VAN MCCOY MUSIC, INC.
Written by: JERRY LEIBER, VAN MCCOY, MIKE STOLLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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