Surfin’ U.S.A. Lyrics

[Verse 1]
If everybody had an ocean
Across the U.S.A
Then everybody'd be surfin'
Like Californi-a

You'd see them wearing their baggies
Huarache sandals too
A bushy bushy blond hairdo
Surfin' U.S.A

[Chorus]
You'd catch 'em surfin' at Del Mar
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
Ventura County line
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
Santa Cruz and Trestles
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
Australia's Narrabeen
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
All over Manhattan
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
And down Doheny Way
(Inside, outside)

[Hook]
Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A
[Verse 2]
We'll all be planning that route
We're gonna take real soon
We're waxing down our surfboards
We can't wait for June
We'll all be gone for the summer
We're on surfari to stay
Tell the teacher we're surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A

[Chorus]
Haggerties and Swamis
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
Pacific Palisades
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
San Onofre and Sunset
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
Redondo Beach LA
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
All over La Jolla
(Inside, outside, U.S.A.)
At Wa'imea Bay
(Inside, outside)

[Hook]
Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A
[Instrumental Interlude]

[Outro]
Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A

Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A

Yeah everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A

Yeah everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A

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About

Genius Annotation

“Surfin' U.S.A.” is notable for giving the Beach Boys their first widespread success with its title track, and for Brian Wilson’s increasing prowess in songwriting, as well as vocal arrangement. The fuller-sounding vocals were achieved using double tracking, creating The Beach Boys' own unique sound. As with “Surfin' Safari”, some have speculated that “Surfin' U.S.A.” was not produced by Nick Venet, the officially listed producer, but by Brian Wilson.

This track featured lyrics by Brian Wilson, who intentionally set them to the music of “Sweet Little Sixteen,” by Chuck Berry, as he was inspired by that song. However, under pressure from Berry’s publisher and with threats of lawsuit, Wilson’s father and manager, Murry Wilson, gave the copyright for the song to Arc Music, Berry’s publisher.

It’s notable that “Fun, Fun, Fun,” another hit for The Beach Boys, sampled heavily from another of Berry’s songs, “Johnny B. Goode.”

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