The Smiley Smile Message Board

We've been doing this song in my Beach Boys tribute band for almost ten years now and when we first worked out the arrangement, I told everyone that in the chorus, the background sings "Surf Route - Surfin' Safari." I'm almost positive that I read about these lyrics in some interview or story in a old Beach Boys biography. The other guys in my band swear that they're singing "Surfin' - Surfin' Safari," and I just came across a sheet music book that said, "Surfer - Surfin' Safari." When you listen to the record, it's hard to tell exactly what they're singing because the first word is masked by the lead vocal. Does anyone know for sure? It's a silly little thing, but I just want to rest my case - thanks!

Always thought it was "surf surf, surfin' safari"

Ditto to what grillo said, but I could be wrong. I haven't taken the time to listen to the backing vocals in a while.

It has always sounded like "surf, surf - surfin' safari" to me as well... But after listening carefully to both the LP version and the Candix master it might actually be "surf route - surfin' safari".

Listening now - sounds like "surf, surf/surfin' safari"

In later live versions in the 80's it always sounded like "surf route, surfin safari" to me

Pretty sure it's Surf Route, but you could probably get away with either.

Surf Route sounds right

I just came across a version of Surfin' Safari from a 2004 Beach Boys concert and you can very clearly hear them sing "Surf Route, Surfin' Safari" in the chorus.

I always hear this and on live concerts too.

Check this out:

Surfin' Safari (Excerpt) (http://www.audiodrome.net/BeachBoys-SurfinSafari.mp3)

Sometimes it sounds like "surfin'" and then like "surf route", even my brother hasn't a clue.  ???

I never thought "surf route" was a possibility until I read this thread, but it definitely sounds like that now that I listen to it, especially the live versions. I bet in the studio version someone said "surfin" instead of "surf route" on accident.

I'm voting for "Surf route" on the basis of that audio sample.

Like in Sloop John B when most of them say "I feel so broke up" but someone says "I feel so break up"

If anything though, saying "broke up" was incorrect, since the original lyrics are "break up", due to the Jamaican lineage of the song.  I think that was Brian's way of keeping some of the old lyrics intact while changing them at the same time.

So in other words your saying that it wasn't a mistake?

Well, if you listen to the initial vocal overdubs that have been on boots, the first vocals by Brian, and then by Carl and Mike, "Break up" remains constant.  By the overdubs for the final version though, Brian changed the lyric to "Broke Up".  But in the final chorus, Brian overdubs a backing vocal repeating the earlier "Break Up".  It's hard to say, but I doubt it was a mistake.

Okay thanks for that. I dont have UM 12 so thats why I wouldnt have known

it sounds like "surf route" then "surfer" then "surf route" again.  Chris Farmer definitely said surf route on that last part.