The other day I was thinking about the Beach Boys and how they put several San Diego beaches on the map, so to speak. Did you know that five out of the fifteen beaches named are found in San Diego? I thought that it would be enjoyable to take a closer look at the lyrics of Surfin USA.
First of all, most of the website that provides the song lyrics misspell two top-rated surfing beaches, so I am here to be the official spell-checker for you.
- Trestles-not Trestle
- San Onofre- not San Ahofree
- Swami’s- not Swamies
Ok, that was satisfying!
Also, for fun, I will be picking a prime photo for each San Diego location to help you can capture a feel of the beaches the Beach Boys were singing about
Who Wrote The Song?
It seems that there was a bit of controversy behind who wrote the Beach Boys song- Surfin’ USA. The story goes that Brian Wilson, the only wave-rider in the band, got the idea for the song after hearing “Sweet-Little-Sixteen” by Chuck Berry. The single was published in 1962 and achieved number one on the Billboard Charts in 1963.
To learn more information regarding the controversy and some obscure facts about Surfin’ USA, click on the link provided.
Let’s now take a look at the lyrics and the beaches!
The Beach Boys Surfin’ USA Song Lyrics-
If everybody had an ocean
Across the USA
Then eveybody’d be sufin’
Like Californ-i-a
You’d see ’em wearing their baggies
Huarache sandals too
A bushy, bushy blonde hairdo
Surfin’ USA
You’ll catch ’em sufin’ at Del Mar (Inside, outside, USA)
Ventura County line (Inside, outside, USA)
Santa Cruz and Trestles (Inside, outside, USA)
Australia’s Narrabeen (Inside, outside, USA)
All over Manhattan (Inside, outside, USA)
All down Doheny Way (Inside, outside, USA)
Everybody’s gone surfin’
Surfin’ USA
We’ll all be planning the route
We’re gonna take real soon
We’re waxing 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’ USA
Haggarty’s and Swami’s (Inside, outside, USA)
Pacific Palisades (Inside, outside, USA)
San Onofre and Sunset (Inside, outside, USA)
Redondo Beach, L.A. (Inside, outside, USA)
All over La Jolla (Inside, outside, USA)
At Waimea Bay (Inside, outside,)
Everybody’s gone surfin’
Surfin’ USA
Everybodys’s gone surfin’
Surfin’ USA
Everybodys’s gone surfin’
Surfin’ USA
Everybodys’s gone surfin’
Surfin’ USA
Yeah, everybody’s gone surfin’
Surfin’ USA
Music was written by Chuck Berry in 1962
Would you like to learn more about these five beaches? I have written about all except Del Mar. Click on the links below for more detailed information.
Helpful Posts-
- Best Surfing Beaches in San Diego
- Exploring Trestles Beach Trail
- Getting to Know San Onofre State Beach
- Swamis State Beach- Hidden Paradise
- Showcasing the Best Beaches of La Jolla

I have always had a deep-seated passion for the Ocean Environment which ultimately led me to receive a degree in Marine Biology. Living in the San Diego area for over 30 years, I have extensively explored the 70 miles of San Diego’s coastline, and I am here to share! Please use my website to your advantage and have a look around at all the wonders that the beaches of San Diego can offer you!