Let's discuss the lyrics, shall we?

[Summertime Blooz]

There is such a strong focus on the lyrics for the new album, that I thought, now that the album's out, there should be a thread dedicated to their dissection, inspection, verification, interpretation, celebration, and vilification, and uhhhh....vibration!

I will get the ball rolling with a few odd bits that I have noted so far:

TPLOBAS- "California to Mexico"- WTH? Aren't they literally right next to each other on the map? I'm assuming the lyric was intended to convey some wide sweep of notoriety, but that's like saying "all the way from A to B".

"It's paradise when I lift up my antennae."-  Now unless the person singing is named Henry Pym, this line just don't make a whole lot of sense. They SHOULD have made it "It's paradise when ya put up your antenna", thereby having it actually, y'know, make sense, and making it more universal by switching the person from "I" to "you" (everyone).

"There's a place along the way that maybe we could stay, Listen to the waves at my front door". Shouldn't it be "at OUR front door"? That's just a sore thumb on a brilliant song.

"Don't you understand the words are singing in the wind, I wish that we could get from there to back again."- This strikes me as a callback to the title song- "Tuning in the latest star", as both lines recognize the music that always surrounds us through radio waves. Also, the song seems to be about an older couple, but the "from there to back again" part could also suggest the Beach Boys own fade from the airwaves, looking back at their glory days so to speak. Speaking of callbacks, the older couple angle of this song also clicks with the lyrics from Isn't It Time.

I nominate for the special Lovester Award  (or simply the "Lovester"), given for meritoriously egregious usage of hackneyed rhymes,  the word "blast" for being used twice on the same album to describe a superlatively positive experience.

That's all for now. Hope some others will chime in some keener observations of the lyrics than I have offered so far.  Maybe you have your own nominations in mind for the Lovester. Honestly, I'm not that big of a lyric guy, so it's weird that I started this particular thread, but with this album, I just find the subject fun, fun, fun.

[Zach95]

"There's a place along the way that maybe we could stay, Listen to the waves at my front door". Shouldn't it be "at OUR front door"? That's just a sore thumb on a brilliant song.

"Don't you understand the words are singing in the wind, I wish that we could get from there to back again."- This strikes me as a callback to the title song- "Tuning in the latest star", as both lines recognize the music that always surrounds us through radio waves. Also, the song seems to be about an older couple, but the "from there to back again" part could also suggest the Beach Boys own fade from the airwaves, looking back at their glory days so to speak. Speaking of callbacks, the older couple angle of this song also clicks with the lyrics from Isn't It Time.

That's all for now. Hope some others will chime in some keener observations of the lyrics than I have offered so far. Honestly, I'm not that big of a lyric guy, so it's weird that I started this particular thread, but with this album, I just find the subject fun, fun, fun.

I believe the idea is that the "we" being discussed could stay at the narrator's home, which happens to be located near the ocean. There's so much to dissect in this song.  I'm too lazy to get into what I think of all of it quite yet, but I will in due time. 

[onkster]

In the line at the grocery store: where you'll find all the exploitative mags detailing the latest crap from reality shows. Makes perfect sense to me: people would be picking up the mags on impulse, and maybe commenting to each other. Perfect fit.

[Summertime Blooz]

In the line at the grocery store: where you'll find all the exploitative mags detailing the latest crap from reality shows. Makes perfect sense to me: people would be picking up the mags on impulse, and maybe commenting to each other. Perfect fit.

The line is "AT the line IN the grocery store". They used the words bass ackwards. Do you see my point now? (other than the one on my head)

[Sheriff John Stone]

I wish they wouldn't have used the words "easy money". I am assuming they are singing about THEIR current situation. It kind of rubs in. I'm still not over what I paid for the V.I.P. package.

[Summertime Blooz]

I wish they wouldn't have used the words "easy money". I am assuming they are singing about THEIR current situation. It kind of rubs in. I'm still not over what I paid for the V.I.P. package.

I think the lyric "Easy money, Ain't life funny" might just be the most direct, refreshingly honest lines on the whole album.

While we're on the subject of a song named SPRING Vacation, does anyone else find it a tad incongruous that they sing about "Summer weather"? If they want to sing about the Summer, then why do you name it after Spring? A better title could have been Road Vacation. That would have much better reflected what the song is about.

[runnersdialzero]

I wish they wouldn't have used the words "easy money". I am assuming they are singing about THEIR current situation. It kind of rubs in. I'm still not over what I paid for the V.I.P. package.

I go back and forth between loathing that line and thinking it just kind of means, "We're doing what we love AND getting paid for it. Easy money. Ain't life funny?"

Or something. 

[Autotune]

I wish they wouldn't have used the words "easy money". I am assuming they are singing about THEIR current situation. It kind of rubs in. I'm still not over what I paid for the V.I.P. package.

Interestingly, that's a Brian Wilson line. It does not come from the pen of Mike Love, who is all about greed and money as every well-informed fan knows.

[Sheriff John Stone]

While we're on the subject of a song named SPRING Vacation, does anyone else find it a tad incongruous that they sing about "Summer weather"? If they want to sing about the Summer, then why do you name it after Spring?

krabklaw, I think it's time for you to meditate.

[Summertime Blooz]

While we're on the subject of a song named SPRING Vacation, does anyone else find it a tad incongruous that they sing about "Summer weather"? If they want to sing about the Summer, then why do you name it after Spring?

krabklaw, I think it's time for you to meditate.

Am I coming off a little too "Lewis Black"?

[onkster]

In the line at the grocery store: where you'll find all the exploitative mags detailing the latest crap from reality shows. Makes perfect sense to me: people would be picking up the mags on impulse, and maybe commenting to each other. Perfect fit.

The line is "AT the line IN the grocery store". They used the words bass ackwards. Do you see my point now? (other than the one on my head)

The mags/rags are AT the line, which is IN the grocery store. Mea culpa for my own transversal.

[Sheriff John Stone]

While we're on the subject of a song named SPRING Vacation, does anyone else find it a tad incongruous that they sing about "Summer weather"? If they want to sing about the Summer, then why do you name it after Spring?

krabklaw, I think it's time for you to meditate.

Am I coming off a little too "Lewis Black"?

More like Jerry Seinfeld, not that there's anything wrong with that...

[Summertime Blooz]

In the line at the grocery store: where you'll find all the exploitative mags detailing the latest crap from reality shows. Makes perfect sense to me: people would be picking up the mags on impulse, and maybe commenting to each other. Perfect fit.

The line is "AT the line IN the grocery store". They used the words bass ackwards. Do you see my point now? (other than the one on my head)

The mags/rags are AT the line, which is IN the grocery store. Mea culpa for my own transversal.

Y'know what? That actually makes sense. Thank you. I feel better now. That was really bothering me for some disturbingly Beach Boys-obsessive reason. You see? This thread is already doing it's job.

[rab2591]

Why stop at the lyrics for TWGMTR? Let's go through the whole catalogue, shall we?

The line from Good Vibrations, "I'm pickin' up good vibrations" NEVER made sense to me. Shouldn't it be "we're pickin' up good vibrations"? - they are the Beach Boys after all, not The Beach Boy. And have these so-called "vibrations" been scientifically proven to exist?

The song 'Sloop John B' is full of it: The scuffle aboard the Sloop John B was never officially documented to have happened (even the local Nassau police force have no record of a "Sheriff John Stone" working for them...ever).
_____

Gah, I love your posts KrabKlaw (including your remakes of the TWGMTR cover), but blimey this thread is a downer! Don't look too deep into these lyrics

[Summertime Blooz]

Why stop at the lyrics for TWGMTR? Let's go through the whole catalogue, shall we?

The line from Good Vibrations, "I'm pickin' up good vibrations" NEVER made sense to me. Shouldn't it be "we're pickin' up good vibrations"? - they are the Beach Boys after all, not The Beach Boy. And have these so-called "vibrations" been scientifically proven to exist?

The song 'Sloop John B' is full of it: The scuffle aboard the Sloop John B was never officially documented to have happened (even the local Nassau police force have no record of a "Sheriff John Stone" working for them...ever).
_____

Gah, I love your posts KrabKlaw (including your remakes of the TWGMTR cover), but blimey this thread is a downer! Don't look too deep into these lyrics

I hope everybody doesn't feel that way. It was not my intention by starting this thread to be a downer on the new album. Quite the contrary, I just thought a thread dedicated to the lyrics could be helpful, maybe a little fun, and possibly even enlightening.

[rab2591]

Why stop at the lyrics for TWGMTR? Let's go through the whole catalogue, shall we?

The line from Good Vibrations, "I'm pickin' up good vibrations" NEVER made sense to me. Shouldn't it be "we're pickin' up good vibrations"? - they are the Beach Boys after all, not The Beach Boy. And have these so-called "vibrations" been scientifically proven to exist?

The song 'Sloop John B' is full of it: The scuffle aboard the Sloop John B was never officially documented to have happened (even the local Nassau police force have no record of a "Sheriff John Stone" working for them...ever).
_____

Gah, I love your posts KrabKlaw (including your remakes of the TWGMTR cover), but blimey this thread is a downer! Don't look too deep into these lyrics

I hope everybody doesn't feel that way. It was not my intention by starting this thread to be a downer on the new album. Quite the contrary, I just thought a thread dedicated to the lyrics could be helpful, maybe a little fun, and possibly even enlightening.

haha no it's a good thread, it just seemed like nearly all of your insights were complaints....but I guess that's what this place is for: our opinions

Anyways, when I get the album tomorrow hopefully I'll have something to contribute to this thread!

[JohnMill]

I think the lyrics overall are classic Beach Boys lyrics.  A little bit corny but at times with an unbelievable amount of depth to them.  I really think overall this is your classic Beach Boys album where you have your "Fun In The Sun/Surf & Turf" sound and the latter half of the record the introspective, gorgeous ballads of Brian Wilson.

[Summertime Blooz]

Why stop at the lyrics for TWGMTR? Let's go through the whole catalogue, shall we?

The line from Good Vibrations, "I'm pickin' up good vibrations" NEVER made sense to me. Shouldn't it be "we're pickin' up good vibrations"? - they are the Beach Boys after all, not The Beach Boy. And have these so-called "vibrations" been scientifically proven to exist?

The song 'Sloop John B' is full of it: The scuffle aboard the Sloop John B was never officially documented to have happened (even the local Nassau police force have no record of a "Sheriff John Stone" working for them...ever).
_____

Gah, I love your posts KrabKlaw (including your remakes of the TWGMTR cover), but blimey this thread is a downer! Don't look too deep into these lyrics

I hope everybody doesn't feel that way. It was not my intention by starting this thread to be a downer on the new album. Quite the contrary, I just thought a thread dedicated to the lyrics could be helpful, maybe a little fun, and possibly even enlightening.

haha no it's a good thread, it just seemed like nearly all of your insights were complaints....but I guess that's what this place is for: our opinions

Anyways, when I get the album tomorrow hopefully I'll have something to contribute to this thread!

Complaints, observations... who's to say what's what.  Maybe I am venting a little bit, but I am really very happy with the way the new album turned out. I am actually not as particularly bothered by "hackneyed rhymes" as a lot of the people on this board seem to be. Like I said, I'm not really a lyric guy. A good tune is still a good tune for me even when the words being sung aren't meaningful (or good).

[Runaways]

let's go back to spring vacation...
"look where love finds us"

hmmm...."look where LOVE finds us"

perhaps this lyrics is ACTUALLY A SUBTLE DIG THAT THE BAND IS ONLY SURVIVING TODAY BECAUSE OF MIKE LOVE.

or. something. 

[Eric Aniversario]

I think the lyric "Easy money, Ain't life funny" might just be the most direct, refreshingly honest lines on the whole album.

I think I liked it better when I thought it was "Peas and honey, ain't life funny?"

[TonyW]

While I'm on the subject of TPLOBAS- "California to Mexico"- WTH? Aren't they literally right next to each other on the map? I'm assuming the lyric was intended to convey some wide sweep of notoriety, but that's like saying "all the way from A to B".

I'd like to thank Mike Love and his horrible lyrics for ruining this song for me - before you choke on fresh air, yes I know Mike didn't write the lyrics - its just that every time I hear this song I feel compelled to sing "California to Kokomo".

CURSE YOU MICHAEL E LOVE!

 

[Jonathan Blum]

I think the lyric "Easy money, Ain't life funny" might just be the most direct, refreshingly honest lines on the whole album.

...only if you also include the "Hey what's it to ya?" Which shows not just that they have it in perspective, but that we probably should too.  :-)

I've literally just listened to the album for the first time, and I'm still reeling from "Summer's Gone".  But one thing that hits me is that the song isn't quite as bleak and final as it sounds:

Summer's gone
Gone like yesterday
The nights grow cold
It's time to go...
...I'm thinking maybe I'll just stay.


Maybe that's me, clinging to any ray of sunshine.  But after "Pacific Coast Highway", for a moment I was worried Brian had completely given up!

Gulp,
Jon Blum

[Autotune]

I think the lyric "Easy money, Ain't life funny" might just be the most direct, refreshingly honest lines on the whole album.

...only if you also include the "Hey what's it to ya?" Which shows not just that they have it in perspective, but that we probably should too.  :-)

I've literally just listened to the album for the first time, and I'm still reeling from "Summer's Gone".  But one thing that hits me is that the song isn't quite as bleak and final as it sounds:

Summer's gone
Gone like yesterday
The nights grow cold
It's time to go...
...I'm thinking maybe I'll just stay.


Maybe that's me, clinging to any ray of sunshine.  But after "Pacific Coast Highway", for a moment I was worried Brian had completely given up!

Gulp,
Jon Blum

I agree. Initially the song sounds bleak, hopeless. But then there are lyrical hints of a season cycle starting again. "another summer's gone", he sings. It makes you wanna wait til next summer.

[Ron]

I will get the ball rolling with a few odd bits that I have noted so far:

Why the hell do they sing "At the line in the grocery store"? Any normal person would say "In the line at the grocery store". (Rhetorical)
This irritates me a lot more than it probably should.

They're saying that they're on the cover of the magazines, which isn't in the line, it's AT the line, on the shelves beside it.  Makes perfect sense to me.  If you said "In the line", that would mean that you actually saw them, in person, standing in line. 

[Ron]

In the line at the grocery store: where you'll find all the exploitative mags detailing the latest crap from reality shows. Makes perfect sense to me: people would be picking up the mags on impulse, and maybe commenting to each other. Perfect fit.

The line is "AT the line IN the grocery store". They used the words bass ackwards. Do you see my point now? (other than the one on my head)

The mags/rags are AT the line, which is IN the grocery store. Mea culpa for my own transversal.

Y'know what? That actually makes sense. Thank you. I feel better now. That was really bothering me for some disturbingly Beach Boys-obsessive reason. You see? This thread is already doing it's job.

Sorry just noticed you already caught it.