About The Song
“Surfin’ USA” stands as one of The Beach Boys’ most iconic and commercially successful recordings, marking their breakthrough into mainstream American consciousness. Released as a single on March 4, 1963, with “Shut Down” as the B-side, the song became the centerpiece of their second studio album of the same name, released March 25, 1963, on Capitol Records. The album reached number 2 in the US during a chart stay of 78 weeks, eventually being certified gold by the RIAA, and brought the group newfound national success.
The song’s origins are rooted in both inspiration and controversy. Brian Wilson wrote the lyrics, but set them to the music of “Sweet Little Sixteen,” written by Chuck Berry. At the time of writing the song, Brian Wilson was dating a girl named Judy Bowles, whose brother Jimmy Bowles was passionate about surfing, which gave Brian Wilson the idea to write a song mentioning all the surf spots in California. This personal connection to surf culture allowed Wilson to craft authentic lyrics that captured the essence of California’s emerging surf scene.
The musical foundation of “Surfin’ USA” created significant legal complications that would follow the band for years. The Beach Boys stole Berry’s entire tune, with “Surfin’ USA” going on to become a major hit while not acknowledging copyright, which was both an artistic and a political issue, as “Sweet Little Sixteen” was in fact the first Top 10 hit by a black performer. This controversy eventually led to Chuck Berry receiving songwriting credit and royalties for the composition.
“Surfin’ USA” achieved remarkable international success, demonstrating The Beach Boys’ growing global appeal. In Canada and Sweden, the single was released in 1963 and peaked on the charts at 6 in both countries. The song’s reach extended far beyond North America, as in July 1963, in the national charts used by Billboard, it peaked at #9 in Hong Kong, #8 in Austria the following month; in August 1964 at #9 for two weeks in Japan. Interestingly, The Beach Boys’ UK album chart debut occurred on September 25, 1965 with ‘Surfin’ USA,’ more than two years after their singles bow.
Video
Lyric
If everybody had an ocean
Across the U.S.A.
Then everybody’d be surfin’
Like Californi-aYou’d see ’em wearin’ their baggies
Huarache sandals too
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo
Surfin’ U.S.A.You’d catch ’em surfin’ at Del Mar
Ventura County line
Santa Cruz and Trestle
Australia’s NarabineAll over Manhattan
And down Doheny Way
Everybody’s gone surfin’
Surfin’ U.S.A.We’ll all be plannin’ that route
We’re gonna take real soon
We’re waxin’ down our surfboards
We can’t wait for JuneWe’ll all be gone for the summer
We’re on surfari to stay
Tell the teacher we’re surfin’
Surfin’ U.S.A.Haggerties and Swamies
Pacific Palisades
San Onofre and Sunset
Redondo Beach L.A.All over La Jolla
At Wa’imea Bay
Everybody’s gone surfin’
Surfin’ U.S.A.Everybody’s gone surfin’
Surfin’ U.S.A.
Everybody’s gone surfin’
Surfin’ U.S.A.
