Little Honda

The Hondells

About Little Honda

"Little Honda" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American rock band the Beach Boys. It was released on their 1964 album All Summer Long, and featured on their EP, Four by The Beach Boys. The song pays tribute to the small Honda motorcycle and its ease of operation, specifically the Honda 50. Immediately following its appearance on All Summer Long, the song was covered by The Hondells, whose recording produced by Gary Usher peaked at #9 on the U. S. Billboard 100. Capitol Records then later released it as a single for the Beach Boys, and their version peaked at #65 on the U. S. Billboard 100. 


Year:
1995
2:03
28 

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GO!
I'm gonna wake you up early cause I'm gonna take a ride with you.
We're goin' down to the Honda shop, I'll tell you what we're gonna do.
Put on a ragged sweatshirt, I'll take you where you want me to.

First gear, it's all right (Honda, Honda, go faster, faster)
Second gear, I'll lean right (Honda, Honda, go faster, faster)
Third gear, hang on tight (Honda, Honda, go faster, faster)
Faster, it's all right.

It's not a big motorcycle,
Just a groovy little motorbike.
It's more fun than a barrel of monkeys,
That two-wheeled bike.
We'll ride on out of town
To anyplace I know you like.

First gear, it's all right (Honda, Honda, go faster, faster)
Second gear, I'll lean right (Honda, Honda, go faster, faster)
Third gear, hang on tight (Honda, Honda, go faster, faster)
Faster, it's all right.

It climbs the hills like a Matchless,
Cause my Honda' built really light.
When I go in to the turns
Better hang on tight.
I'd better turn on the lights
So we can ride my Honda tonight.

First gear, it's all right (Honda, Honda, go faster, faster)
Second gear, Ill lean right (Honda, Honda, go faster, faster) 
Third gear, hang on tight (Honda, Honda, go faster, faster)
Faster, it's all right.

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The Hondells

The Hondells were an American surf rock band who hit the Top 10 with the 1964 single "Little Honda". more »

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Written by: Brian Wilson, Michael Love

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Song Composition
"Little Honda" was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love of The Beach Boys in the mid-1960s.
Band Performance
The Beach Boys were the first band to record "Little Honda", performing it as an upbeat pop song.
Album Inclusion
The song was included in their album titled "All Summer Long", which was released in 1964.
Cover Versions
"Little Honda" was covered by another band, The Hondells, later in 1964. Their version ended up being more popular than The Beach Boys' original at that time.
Chart Performance
The Hondells' version of "Little Honda" skyrocketed on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #9 while The Beach Boys' original peaked at #65.
Unique Finalization
Surprisingly, The Beach Boys' original was not fully finished when The Hondells started working on their cover. The Beach Boys' final version even includes errors left in because the other band had already covered it.
Motorcycle Theme
The song is notable for its theme about Honda motorcycles which was a popular mode of transport at that time in California which also highlights The Beach Boys' general focus on surf, cars and girls themes.
Commercial Use
Honda used the song in a commercial to promote its motorcycles in the 1960s.
Cultural Impact
"Little Honda" is considered to be one of the earliest examples of a creative partnership between pop music and advertising.
Song Recognition
Despite the chart performance, the song is more recognized as a Beach Boys song than a Hondells song due to the Beach Boys' larger impact and longevity in the music industry.
The Hondells Formation
Interestingly, The Hondells were actually formed by a record producer specifically to cover "Little Honda".
Instrumental Break
The song has an instrumental break that features a distinctive dual lead guitar part, much admired amongst musicians.
Live Performances
Although "Little Honda" isn't one of The Beach Boys' biggest hits, it is still regularly included in their live shows.

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    Little Honda

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1964

    Billboard #9


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