The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, i… Read Full Bio ↴The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The original lineup included brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. Known for their vocal harmonies and lyrics often centered on youth culture, the band drew influence from older pop vocal groups, 1950s rock and roll, and rhythm and blues. Under Brian Wilson's leadership, their music sometimes incorporated elements of classical and jazz, as well as experimental recording techniques.

Initially managed by the Wilsons' father, Murry Wilson, the group gained national recognition in 1963 with the release of "Surfin' U.S.A." The song marked the beginning of a series of top-ten singles associated with the "California sound," a style reflecting themes of surfing, cars, and romance. The Beach Boys were among the few American bands to maintain commercial success during the British Invasion. Beginning with the 1965 album "The Beach Boys Today!", the band shifted focus from surf-themed content to more introspective lyrics and complex arrangements. The 1966 album "Pet Sounds" and the single "Good Vibrations" were significant in establishing the group's reputation for musical innovation. Plans for a follow-up album, "Smile," were abandoned in 1967, after which Brian Wilson reduced his involvement in the band.

The band's popularity in the United States declined in the late 1960s, and their work was often overlooked by contemporary music critics at the time. In the early 1970s, the group underwent a change in public perception and musical direction, with Carl Wilson assuming a leadership role. During the mid-1970s, the group increasingly focused on live performances and retrospective compilations. Dennis Wilson died in 1983, and Brian Wilson later distanced himself from the band. Following Carl Wilson's death from lung cancer in 1998, Mike Love obtained legal rights to tour under the group's name. In the early 2010s, the surviving original members briefly reunited for a 50th anniversary tour. As of the 2020s, Brian Wilson and Al Jardine do not perform with the touring version of the Beach Boys led by Mike Love, though they are still officially considered members.

The Beach Boys have sold over 100 million records globally. Their work has had an influence on a variety of musical genres, including psychedelia, power pop, progressive rock, punk, alternative, and lo-fi. From the 1960s through the 2020s, the group achieved 37 Top 40 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number-one hits. In 2004, they were ranked number 12 on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest artists of all time. Albums such as "The Beach Boys Today!", "Pet Sounds," "Smiley Smile," "Sunflower," and "Surf's Up" have been frequently cited in critics' polls. The original members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Additional members over the years have included David Marks, Bruce Johnston, Blondie Chaplin, and Ricky Fataar.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beach_Boys

Studio albums
Surfin' Safari (1962)
Surfin' U.S.A. (1963)
Surfer Girl (1963)
Little Deuce Coupe (1963)
Shut Down Volume 2 (1964)
All Summer Long (1964)
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (1964)
The Beach Boys Today! (1965)
Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1965)
Beach Boys' Party! (1965)
Pet Sounds (1966)
Smiley Smile (1967)
Wild Honey (1967)
Friends (1968)
20/20 (1969)
Sunflower (1970)
Surf's Up (1971)
Carl and the Passions – "So Tough" (1972)
Holland (1973)
15 Big Ones (1976)
The Beach Boys Love You (1977)
M.I.U. Album (1978)
L.A. (Light Album) (1979)
Keepin' the Summer Alive (1980)
The Beach Boys (1985)
Still Cruisin' (1989)
Summer in Paradise (1992)
Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 (1996)
That's Why God Made the Radio (2012)

When I Grow Up
The Beach Boys Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I grow up to be a man
Will I dig the same things that turn me on as a kid?
Will I look back and say that I wish I hadn't done what I did?
Will I joke around and still dig those sounds
When I grow up to be a man?

Will I look for the same things in a woman that I dig in a girl?
(Fourteen, fifteen)

Will I settle down fast or will I first wanna travel the world?
(Sixteen, seventeen)
When I'm young and free, but how will it be?
When I grow up to be a man?

Will my kids be proud or think their old man is really a square?
(Eighteen, nineteen)
When they're out having fun, yeah, will I still wanna have my share?
(Twenty, twenty-one)
Will I love my wife for the rest of my life?
When I grow up to be a man?

What will I be when I grow up to be a man?

Won't last forever
It's kind of sad

Won't last forever
It's kind of sad

Overall Meaning

The Beach Boys’ song “When I Grow Up” is a nostalgic reflection on the uncertainties of youth and the uncertainties surrounding adulthood. The song confronts the singer’s own fears of growing up and the changes that it will bring. The opening verse poses the question of whether or not the things that once brought the singer joy and passion will hold the same significance as he ages. The second verse questions whether he will settle down or continue to travel the world while he’s young and free. The final verse reflects on whether or not the singer’s future children will look up to him, or consider him to be a “square,” and whether he will still try to have fun like he used to when he was young.

The male narrator is in a state of uncertainty while reflecting on his future. He fears disappointment from himself and from others, and he contemplates the reality of aging, of settling down, and of starting a family. He speaks from a place of vulnerability and self-reflection, as he tries to imagine what sort of man he will become. The lyrics are evocative, examining the challenges of the passage of time and how the things that we love and value can change throughout our lives. The melancholic tone underscores the singer’s sense of dread about the future, but also his determination to navigate the obstacles ahead.

Line by Line Meaning

When I grow up to be a man
As I mature and reach adulthood, will I still enjoy the same things I loved as a child?

Will I dig the same things that turn me on as a kid?
Will my passions and interests remain the same as I transition into adulthood?

Will I look back and say that I wish I hadn't done what I did?
Will I regret the decisions I made in my youth and wish I had acted differently?

Will I joke around and still dig those sounds
Will I maintain my sense of humor and continue to enjoy the same music as I grow older?

Will I look for the same things in a woman that I dig in a girl? (Fourteen, fifteen)
As I reach the age of attraction, will I seek out the same qualities in women that I found appealing in girls?

Will I settle down fast or will I first wanna travel the world? (Sixteen, seventeen)
As I approach adulthood, will I prioritize settling down or exploring the world?

When I'm young and free, but how will it be?
As I enjoy my youth and freedom, I wonder how my life will unfold as I grow older and take on more responsibility?

Will my kids be proud or think their old man is really a square? (Eighteen, nineteen)
As I become a father, will my children admire me or view me as outdated and uncool?

When they're out having fun, yeah, will I still wanna have my share? (Twenty, twenty-one)
As my children have fun, will I still desire to have a good time and enjoy life?

Will I love my wife for the rest of my life? When I grow up to be a man?
As I make vows to love my partner forever, I question whether I will be able to fulfill that commitment over the course of my life?

What will I be when I grow up to be a man?
As I continue to mature, I wonder what kind of person I will develop into?

Won't last forever
The time of being young and carefree is fleeting and temporary.

It's kind of sad
While it is natural to age and grow older, there is sadness in the loss of youth and all the possibilities that come with it.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Michael Love, Brian Wilson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS