Don't Back Down

The Beach Boys

About Don't Back Down

"Don't Back Down" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American rock band the Beach Boys. It was released as the final track on their 1964 album All Summer Long. In the lyrics, the narrator references a group of surfers who "don't back down from that wave", explaining that they "gotta be a little nuts" to show the girls "who's got guts". It was the group's last surfing-themed song until 1968's "Do It Again". In 1990, an earlier version of "Don't Back Down" was included on a reissue CD that compiled Little Deuce Coupe and All Summer Long, and in 2014, a new stereo mix was featured on the archival release Keep an Eye on Summer 1964. In 1996, punk rock band the Queers recorded a cover version of the song that served as the lead single for their album Don't Back Down. 


Year:
1993
1:53
355 
#1

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The girls dig the way the guys get all wiped out
With their feet in the air you can hear 'em shout
They're not afraid (don't back down, don't back down)
Not my boys (don't back down, don't back down)
They grit their teeth, (a-oo) they don't back down

Don't back down
You gotta be a little nuts
Don't back down
But show 'em now who's got guts
Don't back down
Don't back down from that wave

With their feet full of tar and their hair full of sand
The boys know the beach like the palm of their hand
They're not afraid (don't back down, don't back down)
Not my boys (don't back down, don't back down)
They grit their teeth (a-oo) they don't back down

Don't back down
You gotta be a little nuts
Don't back down
But show 'em now who's got guts
Don't back down
Don't back down from that wave

When a twenty-footer sneaks up like a ton of lead
And the crest comes along and slaps 'em upside the head
They're not afraid (don't back down, don't back down)
Not my boys (Don't back down, don't back down)
They grit their teeth (a-oo) they don't back down

Don't back down
You gotta be a little nuts
Don't back down
But show 'em now who's got guts
Don't back down
Don't back down from that wave

Don't back down...

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The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, the Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962. The band's early music gained popularity across the United States for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a Southern California youth culture of surfing, cars, and romance. By the mid 1960s, Brian Wilson's growing creative ambition and songwriting ability would dominate the group's musical direction. The primarily Wilson-composed Pet Sounds album and "Good Vibrations" single (both released in 1966) featured a complex, intricate and multi-layered sound that wa… more »

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Written by: MICHAEL LOVE, BRIAN WILSON

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album and Release
"Don't Back Down" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys, released on their 1964 album "All Summer Long".
Songwriting
The song was penned by the group's primary songwriter Brian Wilson and frequent collaborator Mike Love.
Inspiration
The song, like many Beach Boys numbers of its era, features the band's famous surf rock sound, with lyrics about riding the waves and refusing to back down, even when the surf becomes challenging.
Musical Style
It features uplifting harmonies, memorable hooks, and creative arrangements which were typical hallmarks of the band's music.
Non-Single Track
Despite its popularity among fans, "Don't Back Down" was never released as a single. It has, however, become a mainstay on compilation albums and greatest hits collections.
Live Performances
The Beach Boys didn't perform the song live during the 1960s due to the complexity of its vocal harmonies. However, it became part of their live set in later years when technology made it easier to reproduce studio recordings on stage.
Reinterpretations and Covers
The song has been covered by a number of artists since its release, demonstrating its enduring appeal.
Album Reception
The album "All Summer Long" on which "Don't Back Down" features is considered one of the Beach Boys' best early releases. It received positive reviews upon release and has continued to be praised by critics in subsequent decades.
Fan Favourites
Among fans, "Don't Back Down" is considered a standout track on the album, and is often cited as an underappreciated gem in The Beach Boys' catalog.
Studio Musicians
Part of the backing track for "Don't Back Down" was likely played by the Wrecking Crew, a group of session musicians who performed on numerous Beach Boys recordings during this period.

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