Surf's Up 1967
The Beach Boys Lyrics

A diamond necklace played the pawn
A wealthy person used their money and power to manipulate others to get what they want

Hand in hand some drummed along, oh
A group of people blindly followed this rich person, without asking questions or thinking for themselves

To a handsome man and baton
This rich person was charming and authoritative, wielding their power like a conductor's baton

A blind class aristocracy
This group of people blindly followed the rich person because they were part of the upper class

Back through the opera glass you see
Looking through the lens of the opera, which often tells stories of love, power, and tragedy, you can see this group of people playing out their drama

The pit and the pendulum drawn
Like a character in a horror story, this group of people is trapped in a dangerous situation where they have no control over their fate

Columnated ruins domino
The once-strong pillars of this society are falling apart one by one, like a row of dominoes

Canvass the town and brush the backdrop
Despite the chaos happening around them, people are still going about their daily lives as if nothing is wrong

Are you sleeping?
The singer is asking the listener if they are aware of what's really going on

Hung velvet overtaken me
The singer's senses are overwhelmed by the opulence and extravagance of this society

Dim chandelier awaken me
Despite the decadence of this society, the singer is becoming more aware of the darkness and emptiness that lies underneath

To a song dissolved in the dawn
As the night fades into morning, the beauty and meaning of the music fades away as well

The music hall a costly bow
The extravagant music hall was like a bow that held together the fragile, superficial society

The music all is lost for now
Now that the society has fallen apart, the beauty and meaning of the music are lost as well

To a muted trumpeter swan
Even the swan, a symbol of beauty and elegance, has been silenced in this world

Dove nested towers the hour was
In contrast to the crumbling ruins earlier in the song, this line presents an image of peace and safety

Strike the street quicksilver moon
The moonlight, like quicksilver, is fleeting and illusory, and the people are always on the move

Carriage across the fog
The journey through this society is shrouded in mystery and uncertainty

Two-step to lamp lights cellar tune
Despite the darkness and uncertainty, people are still dancing to the music of the underground clubs

The laughs come hard in Auld Lang Syne
People are laughing and celebrating, but it's all tinged with sadness and nostalgia for a time that has passed

The glass was raised, the fired rose
People are toasting and celebrating, but the underlying tensions and conflicts are still there

The fullness of the wine, the dim last toasting
As the night wears on and the wine flows freely, people's memories and hopes grow dimmer and more distant

While at port adieu or die
As people embark on a journey, they must say goodbye to their old lives and identities, or risk losing everything

A choke of grief heart hardened I
The singer is overwhelmed by the sadness and tragedy of this world, and has become hardened and numb to it

Beyond belief a broken man too tough to cry
The singer has seen so much pain and tragedy that they have become unable to express their emotions, even when they are hurting inside