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 Old Lady From Pasadena
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Go Granny, go, Granny, go, Granny, go)
Has a pretty little flowerbed of white gardenias;
(Go Granny, go, Granny, go, Granny, go)
But parked in a rickety old garage,
There's a brand new shiny super stocked Dodge.
And ev'rybody's sayin' that there's nobody meaner than
She drives real fast and she drives real hard,
She's the terror of Colorado Boulevard.
It's The Little Old Lady From Pasadena!
If you see her on the strip, don't try to choose her,
(Go Granny, go, Granny, go, Granny, go)
You might have a go-er, but you'll never lose her;
(Go Granny, go, Granny, go, Granny, go)
She's gonna get a ticket now, sooner or later,
'Cause she can't keep her foot off the accelerator.
And ev'rybody's sayin' that there's nobody meaner than
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena.
She drives real fast and she drives real hard,
She's the terror of Colorado Boulevard.
It's The Little Old Lady From Pasadena!
You'll see her all the time, just gettin' her kicks now,
(Go Granny, go, Granny, go, Granny, go)
With her four speed stick and a four - two - six now;
(Go Granny, go, Granny, go, Granny, go)
The guys come to race her from miles around,
But she'll give 'em a length, then she'll shut'em down.
And ev'rybody's sayin' that there's nobody meaner than
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena.
She drives real fast and she drives real hard,
She's the terror of Colorado Boulevard.
It's The Little Old Lady From Pasadena!
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena,
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena,
The Beach Boys' "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" is a fun and upbeat ode to an elderly woman who, despite her age, is quite the daredevil behind the wheel of her car. The lyrics depict a dichotomy between the little old lady's peaceful and idyllic white gardenia flowerbed and her wild and speedy drag racing car. The song praises her for her fearless and law-breaking driving skills, which have won her local notoriety and admiration amongst the boys who come to race her from miles around.
The song's playful lyrics are meant to be a lighthearted tribute to a stereotype of an elderly woman who defies expectations and proves that age is just a number. Despite its silliness, the song has also been interpreted as a commentary on the American obsession with cars and speed.
Overall, "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" is a catchy and upbeat tribute to a free-spirited elderly woman who loves nothing more than to hit the accelerator and leave everyone else in the dust.
Line by Line Meaning
Has a pretty little flowerbed of white gardenias;
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena takes great care of her garden and has a beautiful bed of white gardenias.
But parked in a rickety old garage,
There's a brand new shiny super stocked Dodge.
Despite having an old garage, The Little Old Lady From Pasadena owns a new and impressive Dodge car.
She drives real fast and she drives real hard,
She's the terror of Colorado Boulevard.
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena is a fearless driver and intimidates others on Colorado Boulevard with her speed.
If you see her on the strip, don't try to choose her,
You might have a go-er, but you'll never lose her;
If you challenge The Little Old Lady From Pasadena to a race, you may compete with her but you will never be able to win.
She's gonna get a ticket now, sooner or later,
'Cause she can't keep her foot off the accelerator.
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena is at risk of receiving a speeding ticket because she has a hard time controlling her acceleration.
You'll see her all the time, just gettin' her kicks now,
With her four speed stick and a four - two - six now;
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena enjoys driving around with her powerful car, equipped with a four speed stick and four-two-six engine.
The guys come to race her from miles around,
But she'll give 'em a length, then she'll shut'em down.
Many people come from far away to race against The Little Old Lady From Pasadena, but she always beats them before they can even get close.
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena
This song is about The Little Old Lady From Pasadena, who is known for her fast and intimidating driving skills.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Donald J. Altfeld, Roger Val Christian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kathrynmccusker3924
As a 78 year old grandmother I love blasting great music while driving my Civic SI with a six speed stick and a dual overhead cam VTEC engine.
@vtr0104
That's a good one, hang on to it. Pretty soon the electrics will drive us off the roads and take all the fun with them...
@Hiei2k7
Hold it in about 7000 RPM and slam it into 4th flying over top of Arroyo Seco. If CHP sits at the end of it, just blow them a kiss and give em a little wave. They ain't comin today.
@mikefinamore2210
I had a "Super Stock Dodge" , but it wasn't Red . My R/T was a 'ticket printer' back in the day. LOL
Keep the revs up "Kat" !
@garyball1587
Get around the curse one way or another make sure you sit down by the potass stop sign don't go Brown everywhere you go everybody's going to go where you going to go don't talk don't go for that red light you got to go green
@ovni2295
@@vtr0104 I dunno. I think if they're built to be fun, they can be.
@McCall72
My family had several little old ladies in it like this song describes...Great Grandma had a '68 Chevelle Malibu, Grandma had a 1969 Camaro RS, my dads mom had a '70 Chevelle SS. Heck, even grandpa had a '71 Monte Carlo. It's no wonder I grew up to be a gear head.
@Andrew-ff4hh
Chevy family 👍
@johnvetere
That's sweet!
@roberttelarket4934
But were they from Pasadena, California?