Surfin' U.S.A.
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Original Album
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Surfin' U.S.A.
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Single
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Surfin' U.S.A. / Shut Down
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Also Appeared On
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Written By
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Chuck Berry/Brian Wilson
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Produced By
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Nik Venet
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Lead Vocals
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Mike
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Recorded On
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January 31, 1963
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Length
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2:28
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Notes
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- Brian took Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" and (with "research help" from his then-girlfriend's brother, Jimmy Bowles) added surf lyrics and came up with this song.
- The first really great Beach Boys track.
- Because Brian "plaugarized" SLS, Chuck Berry's publishers sued for the writer's credit of SUSA; the initial settlement was that Berry would get full credit for the song. On the track's subsequent appearences, Chuck Berry would get full writing credits until the 1993 Good Vibrations box set and the 1995 20 Good Vibrations CD, whcih would carry the "Berry/Wilson" credit.
- One song that people identify with the Beach Boys the most.
- Good Vibrations Box Set starts with Brian's original piano demo of SUSA.
- Live versions of SUSA are included on 1973's In Concert album and on CD 5 of the Good Vibrations box set (that track was an outtake from 1964's Concert album).
- Lyrics
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If ev’rybody had an ocean across the U.S.A.,
Then ev’rybody’d be surfin’ like Californ-I-A.
You’d see ‘em wearin’ their baggies. Huarachi sandals, too.
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo. Surfin’ U.S.A.
You’ll catch ‘em surfin’ at Del Mar. Ventura County Line.
Santa Cruz and Trestles. Australia’s Narrabeen.
All over Manhattan, and down Doheny way.
Ev’rybody’s gone surfin’. Surfin’ U.S.A.
We’ll all be plannin’ out a route we’re gonna take real soon.
We’re waxin’ down our surfboards. We can’t wait for June.
We’ll all be gone for the summer. We’re on safari to stay.
Tell the teacher we’re surfin’. Surfin’ U.S.A.
At Haggarty’s and Swami’s. Pacific Palisades.
San Onofre and Sunset. Redondo Beach, L.A.
All over La Jolla, and Waimea Bay.
Ev’rybody’s gone surfin’. Surfin’ U.S.A.
Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A.
Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A.
Everybody's gone surfin'
Surfin' U.S.A.
- Chords
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(original key: Eb)
...................................A...................................D
If everybody had an ocean across the U. S. A.
.....................................A7.............................D
Then everybody'd be surfin' like Californi-a
.....................................................G.........................................D
You'd seem 'em wearing their baggies, Huarachi sandals too
.......................................A.........G..................D
A bushy bushy blonde hairdo, surfin' U. S. A.
.............................................A.........................................D
You'd catch 'em surfin' at Del Mar, Ventura County line
.............................A7.....................................D
Santa Cruz and Trestle, Australia's Narrabeen
.......................G..........................................D
All over Manhattan, and down Doheny Way
.................................A..........G...............D
Everybody's gone surfin', surfin' U.S. A.
..............................................A............................................D
We'll all be planning out a route we're gonna take real soon
..........................................A7............................................D
We're waxing down our surfboards, we can't wait for June
............................................G............................................D
We'll all be gone for the summer, we're on safari to stay
.......................................A..........G.................D
Tell the teacher we're surfin', surfin' U. S. A.
...................................A............................D
At Haggertys and Swamis, Pacific Palisades
..............................A7......................................D
San Onofre and Sunset, Redondo Beach L. A.
......................G...........................D
All over La Jolla, at Wiamea Bay
.................................A..........G...............D
Everybody's gone surfin', surfin' U.S. A.
.................................A.........G................D
Everybody's gone surfin', surfin' U.S. A
.................................A..........G...............D
Everybody's gone surfin', surfin' U.S. A.
Chart prepared by Francis Greene
- Sheet Music
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