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
Wonderful
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never known as a non-believer
She laughs and stays in the
Won-won-wonderful
She knew how to gather the forest when
God reached softly and moved her body
One golden locket quite young
Farther down the path was a mystery
Through the recess the chalk and numbers
A boy bumped into her
Won-won-won-wonderful
Na na na na na na na
Hey bobba reba
Everybody should
Wa bobba lee
Just start collecting
Hey bobba reba
Oh yeah
Wa bobba lee
Kept a-comin on
Hey, bobba
Just to be a cool guy
Hey, bobba
He bobba reba
Don't think you're God
He bobba reba
Vibrations
Go for a ride
Wa bobba lee
Just go for a
He bobba reba
Just keep goin'
Wa bobba lee
Said it
Just keep goin'
He bobba
All you gotta do is
Hey bobba
Cool it vibrations
He bobba reba
Ah, just gotta do it, vibrate
La la
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
She'll return, in love with her liberty
Never known as a non-believer
She'll smile and thank God
For won-won-won-wonderful
Na na na na na na na
The Beach Boys’ song “Wonderful” is a beautiful and uplifting ballad with rich imagery and layered meanings. The song tells the story of a woman who is independent and free, confident in her beliefs and unafraid to explore new paths. She is depicted as someone who is in tune with nature, able to “gather the forest” and move with the soft reach of God.
As the song progresses, we learn that this woman has a past rooted in deep family love and connection. She is also confronted with a “mystery” that lies farther down her path, but she is undeterred, continuing to move forward with a sense of wonder and excitement. The song’s catchy refrain, “Won-won-wonderful” serves as a joyful celebration of life’s possibilities and the beauty of the world.
Overall, “Wonderful” seems to be a celebration of the human spirit, of the ability to face life’s challenges with joy and to find wonder in even the most difficult times. It’s a powerful reminder that, no matter what we may face, we have the strength to move forward with a sense of wonder and deep appreciation for the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
She belongs there, left with her liberty
She is meant to be there, free and independent. It is her rightful place.
Never known as a non-believer
She is a person of faith, unwavering and steadfast in her beliefs.
She laughs and stays in the
Won-won-wonderful
She finds joy in life's simple pleasures and cherishes the moments that make her happy.
She knew how to gather the forest when
God reached softly and moved her body
She is in tune with nature and the divine, and knows how to connect with both in a meaningful way.
One golden locket quite young
And loving her mother and father
She treasures the memory of her childhood and the love of her parents, holding onto it as a precious keepsake.
Farther down the path was a mystery
Through the recess the chalk and numbers
A boy bumped into her
Won-won-won-wonderful
As she journeys through life, she encounters unknown paths and unpredictable situations. She finds delight in new experiences and even chance encounters with strangers.
Na na na na na na na
This is a nonsensical phrase that represents the exuberance and good cheer experienced by the singer. It is a celebration of life and what it has to offer.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Kokomo
This song is an absolute classic and I love the way that it lists all the major destinations in the Caribbean.
Philip Kassabian
on Surfin' U.S.A.
A great song by The Beach Boys hit all the major surfing destinations.
Philip Kassabian
on Catch a Wave
This song really gets you in the mood for surfing.
Philip Kassabian
on Surfer Girl
What a splendid song by The Beach Boys. They really were a great band.
Philip Kassabian
on Wouldn't It Be Nice
One of the greatest Beach Boys songs.
Les lumb
on Surf's Up
Love Good Vibrations ,God Only Knows however this is my fav Beach Boys song
Les lumb
on San Miguel
It captures the mood of the place, very atmospheric
Les lumb
on Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) [Single Version]
Great version by the Beach Boys it flows
Les lumb
on Break Away
Soothing
Leslie Lumb
on Break Away
Love the opening verses beautiful words