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

The Little Girl I Once Knew
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We met when she was younger
And I had no eyes for her
A few years went by and I saw her
Now I'm gonna try for her

(Look out, baby)

She's not the little girl I once knew

She's not the little girl I once
She's not the little girl I once
She's not the little girl I once knew

How could I ever have known that
She'd be what she is today
An' look at how her boy friend holds her
I'll be movin' in one day

(split man)

[Chorus]

(Bow, bow, bow) Laa-do-day,
(Bow, bow, bow) Laa-do-day,
(Bow, bow, bow) Laa-do-day,
(Bow, bow, bow)

[Chorus]

She's not the little girl I once knew
She's not the little girl I once
She's not the little girl I once knew
She's not the little girl I once
She's not the little girl I once knew

She's not the little girl I once
She's not

Overall Meaning

In The Beach Boys' song "The Little Girl I Once Knew," the singer reminisces about a girl he knew when she was younger but did not have interest in. However, after years pass, he sees her again and decides to pursue her. The singer acknowledges that the girl has changed - she is not the innocent little girl he once knew. He reflects on his own naivety, realizing that he had no way of knowing what she would become. Despite her changes, the singer expresses a desire to be with her and observes how her current boyfriend holds her, possibly indicating that he sees a better future for her with him.

The song may be interpreted as a commentary on growing up and becoming something different than we were before. The girl has undergone a transformation, perhaps due to the passage of time or personal experiences. The singer may be grappling with his own understanding of how people change, and how that impacts his relationships with them.

Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of longing for what was once familiar, even as the world changes around us. The singer's desire for the girl reflects a hope that even though she is not the same as she used to be, they can form a connection again.

Line by Line Meaning

We met when she was younger
I first encountered her when she was still a child.

And I had no eyes for her
I paid her no particular attention at the time.

A few years went by and I saw her
By chance, I ran into her again after some time.

Now I'm gonna try for her
I intend to pursue her romantically.

She's not the little girl I once knew
She has grown and changed since we last met.

How could I ever have known that
I could not have predicted how she has turned out.

She'd be what she is today
That she would become who she is now.

An' look at how her boy friend holds her
I observe how her boyfriend touches her fondly.

I'll be movin' in one day
I plan to replace her boyfriend as her romantic partner.

She's not the little girl I once knew
Once again, I point out that she has changed.

(Bow, bow, bow) Laa-do-day,
Musical interlude with no specific meaning.