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

Surf's Up
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A diamond necklace played the pawn
Hand in hand some drummed along, oh
To a handsome man and baton
A blind class aristocracy
Back through the opera glass you see
The pit and the pendulum drawn
Columinated ruins domino

Canvass the town and brush the backdrop
Are you sleeping?

Hung velvet overtaken me
Dim chandelier awaken me
To a song dissolved in the dawn
The music hall a costly bow
The music all is lost for now
To a muted trumpeter swan
Columinated ruins domino

Canvass the town and brush the backdrop
Are you sleeping, Brother John?

Dove nested towers the hour was
Strike the street quicksilver moon
Carriage across the fog
Two-Step to lamp lights cellar tune
The laughs come hard in Auld Lang Syne

The glass was raised, the fired rose
The fullness of the wine, the dim last toasting
While at port adieu or die

A choke of grief heart hardened I
Beyond belief a broken man too tough to cry

Surf's up
Aboard a tidal wave
Come about hard and join
The young and often spring you gave
I heard the word
Wonderful thing
A children's song

Child, child, child, child, child
A child is the father of the man
Child, child, child, child, child
A child is the father of the man
A children's song
Have you listened as they played
Their song is love
And the children know the way
That's why the child is the father to the man
Child, child, child, child, child
Child, child, child, child, child
Na na na na na na na na
Child, child, child, child, child

That's why the child is the father to the man
Child, child, child, child, child

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys' song Surf's Up features a series of disconnected, abstract images that create an impressionistic picture of American life in the 1960s. The lyrics are about disconnected and seemingly meaningless images, but when they all combine, a deeper meaning arises. The song's opening lines, "A diamond necklace played the pawn, Hand in hand some drummed along" suggest that people have given up their individuality in pursuit of material wealth, and are blindly following a "handsome man and baton." This can be interpreted as a commentary on how people follow societal norms due to social pressure, irrespective of their personal beliefs.

The lyrics then dive into the idea of an archaic, blind class aristocracy represented by "the opera glass" in the second verse. The image of the "pint and pendulum" can be seen as a metaphor for the oppressive nature of this social class structure. The third verse alludes to art, specifically, music, and its relationship to fading memories. The once vibrant music hall featured in the song is now a "columinated ruin." "The muted trumpeter swan" might represent artists whose voices are no longer heard.

The chorus features seemingly random imagery as well, but there is an underlying message. "Surf's up" can be interpreted as a call to action to join the waves of change. "The young" in this chorus might also refer to a new generation who can move beyond the oppression of the past to create a better future. The song's overall message is one of hope for a future where people are free to live their lives, pursue their dreams, and create a better world for all.

Line by Line Meaning

A diamond necklace played the pawn
Material wealth was used as leverage to manipulate and control others.

Hand in hand some drummed along, oh
People were blindly following the crowd and participating in something without question.

To a handsome man and baton
The person in power was successful and charismatic, but also exerting their control over others.

A blind class aristocracy
The upper class was ignorant and privileged, but not using their resources to help those around them.

Back through the opera glass you see
Looking through the lens of high society, one can see the truth behind their actions.

The pit and the pendulum drawn
The battle between opposing forces was intense and imminent.

Columinated ruins domino
The destruction of one thing led to the destruction of many others.

Canvass the town and brush the backdrop
Examine the surroundings and context to fully understand what is happening.

Are you sleeping?
Are you aware of what is happening around you?

Hung velvet overtaken me
The allure of luxury and excess has consumed me.

Dim chandelier awaken me
I need to be extra aware of what is going on, despite the distractions around me.

To a song dissolved in the dawn
The passage of time changes everything, including the things we hold dear.

The music hall a costly bow
Entertainment may bring joy, but it often comes at a great cost.

The music all is lost for now
We cannot find joy in the things that used to give it to us.

To a muted trumpeter swan
The beautiful song of an otherwise successful and talented person is not enough to bring joy and meaning.

Columinated ruins domino
The destruction of one thing led to the destruction of many others.

Canvass the town and brush the backdrop
Examine the surroundings and context to fully understand what is happening.

Are you sleeping, Brother John?
Are you ignorant to what is happening around you, despite the chaos and destruction?

Dove nested towers the hour was
At a peaceful and idyllic moment, destruction and chaos are imminent.

Strike the street quicksilver moon
The magical moment is over and the harsh reality of what is happening sets in.

Carriage across the fog
Moving through life blindly, unable to see the danger ahead.

Two-Step to lamp lights cellar tune
Finding joy in small and simple pleasures, despite the chaos around us.

The laughs come hard in Auld Lang Syne
Amidst devastation and destruction, we still find moments of joy and humor.

The glass was raised, the fired rose
As we celebrate, destruction and chaos are looming.

The fullness of the wine, the dim last toasting
Despite everything, we try to find joy in what we still have.

While at port adieu or die
Whether we say goodbye to what we knew or end up staying, our fate is uncertain.

A choke of grief heart hardened I
Even in the face of intense grief, we must remain strong and unyielding.

Beyond belief a broken man too tough to cry
The situation is so overwhelming that even someone who is broken cannot express their sadness through tears.

Surf's up
The situation is at its peak and about to break.

Aboard a tidal wave
The immense momentum of events is unstoppable.

Come about hard and join
Despite the chaos, there is still a chance to change direction and join together to make a difference.

The young and often spring you gave
Youthful energy and rejuvenation can be a catalyst for change.

I heard the word
The message of change is spreading and being heard.

Wonderful thing
Being part of the change for the better is a wonderful thing.

A children's song
The message of change can be conveyed in a simple and innocent manner.

Child, child, child, child, child
We are all children at heart, with the potential to change and do better.

A child is the father of the man
The lessons learned in childhood shape who we become as adults.

Have you listened as they played
Listen to the message of change being conveyed through simple things like children's songs.

Their song is love
The message of change is based on love and compassion.

And the children know the way
The message of change is simple and pure, and children can understand it better than adults.

That's why the child is the father to the man
The lessons we learn in childhood shape who we become as adults, and we must listen to the message of love and compassion to make a better world.

Na na na na na na na na
This simple refrain is a reminder to focus on the message of change and hold onto hope amidst chaos.

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Brian Douglas Wilson, Van Dyke Parks

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS