Released: September 16, 1963
Songwriter: Mike Love Brian Wilson
Producer: Brian Wilson
[Chorus]
Catch a wave and you're sitting on top of the world
[Verse 1]
Don't be afraid to try the greatest sport around
(Catch a wave, catch a wave)
(Everybody tries it once)
Those who don't just have to put it down
You paddle out, turn around and raise
And baby that's all there is to the coastline craze
[Chorus]
You gotta catch a wave and you're sittin' on top of the world
[Verse 2]
Not just a fad because it's been going on so long
(Catch a wave, catch a wave)
(All the surfers going strong)
They said it wouldn't last too long
They'll eat their words with a fork and spoon and watch them
They'll hit the road and all be surfing soon
[Chorus]
And when they catch a wave they'll be sittin' on top of the world
Catch a wave and you're sitting on top of the world
[Verse 3]
So take a lesson from a top-notch surfer boy
(Catch a wave, catch a wave)
(Get yourself a big board)
But don't you treat it like a toy
Just get away from the shady turf
And baby go catch some rays on the sunny surf
[Chorus]
And when you catch a wave you'll be sittin on top of the world
(Way up high, up on top of the world)
Catch a wave and you'll be sittin' on top of the world
(Way up high, up on top of the world)
Catch a wave and you'll..
Catch a wave and you're sitting on top of the world
[Verse 1]
Don't be afraid to try the greatest sport around
(Catch a wave, catch a wave)
(Everybody tries it once)
Those who don't just have to put it down
You paddle out, turn around and raise
And baby that's all there is to the coastline craze
[Chorus]
You gotta catch a wave and you're sittin' on top of the world
[Verse 2]
Not just a fad because it's been going on so long
(Catch a wave, catch a wave)
(All the surfers going strong)
They said it wouldn't last too long
They'll eat their words with a fork and spoon and watch them
They'll hit the road and all be surfing soon
[Chorus]
And when they catch a wave they'll be sittin' on top of the world
Catch a wave and you're sitting on top of the world
[Verse 3]
So take a lesson from a top-notch surfer boy
(Catch a wave, catch a wave)
(Get yourself a big board)
But don't you treat it like a toy
Just get away from the shady turf
And baby go catch some rays on the sunny surf
[Chorus]
And when you catch a wave you'll be sittin on top of the world
(Way up high, up on top of the world)
Catch a wave and you'll be sittin' on top of the world
(Way up high, up on top of the world)
Catch a wave and you'll..
Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of the Beach Boys
- You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone
- Do You Like Worms
- Hang On to Your Ego (alternate version)
- H.E.L.P. Is on the Way
- Fairy Tale Music
- Heroes and Villains (Sections)
- Wind Chimes (Smile version)
- Be True to Your School (Live 1964)
- God Only Knows (Tracking Session)
- Radio Spot #4
- Vega-Tables
- California
- I Just Got My Pay
- Cabinessence (Track Only)
- Radio Spot #2
- Heroes and Villains (Track Only)
- Surfin’ (rehearsal)
- Things We Did Last Summer
- It’s Over Now
- Heroes and Villains (Alternative Take)
- Marcella
- Break Away
- All This Is That
- Can’t Wait Too Long
- Darlin’
- Let the Wind Blow
- Goin’ On
- The Little Girl I Once Knew
- Pet Sounds
- I Get Around (Track Only)
- Ruby Baby (Party LP Outtake)
- Games Two Can Play
- Good Vibrations (Sessions)
- Radio Station Jingles
- Radio Spot #3
- Hushabye (Vocals)
- In My Room (demo)
- Wonderful (Smile Version)
- Surf’s Up: Piano Demo (Master Take)
- Surfin’ (Single Version)
- Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring (Demo)
- Punchline
- Concert Promo / Hushabye (Live)
- Barbara Ann (45 Version)
- KOMA (Radio Promo Spot)
- Heroes And Villains (Intro)
- I Love To Say Da Da
- Cool Cool Water (1967)
- Dance, Dance, Dance (Tracking Session)
- Hang On To Your Ego (Sessions)
- When I Grow Up To Be A Man (Vocals)
- Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Vocals)
- Our Prayer
- Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) (Single Version)
- Surfer Girl (Live in Hawaii Rehearsals 1967)
- Our Team
- Still I Dream of It
- Surfin’ U.S.A. (demo version)
- Surfer Girl (Live 1964)
- California Girls (Vocals)
- Good Vibrations (Live 1966)
- Surf’s Up (Track Only)
- San Miguel
- And Your Dream Comes True
- Wendy (Vocals)
- All Summer Long (Vocals)
- Little Surfer Girl
- Be True to Your School (Single Version)
- Radio Spot #1
- 4th of July
- Concert Intro / Surfin’ U.S.A. (Live 1964)
- Surf’s Up
- Surfer Girl
- Catch A Wave
- The Surfer Moon
- In My Room
- Shut Down
- I Get Around
- Don’t Worry Baby
- All Summer Long
- The Warmth Of The Sun
- Spirit of America
- Wendy
- Little Saint Nick (1991 Remix)
- Don’t Back Down
- Then I Kissed Her
- Do You Wanna Dance?
- Surfin’ Safari
- Cabin Essence
- Little Deuce Coupe
- Good Vibrations
- California Girls
- Kokomo
- Wouldn’t It Be Nice
- You Still Believe in Me
- Sloop John B
- God Only Knows
- I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times
- Surfin’ USA
- Help Me, Rhonda
- Fun, Fun, Fun
- Caroline, No
- Heroes and Villains
- 409
- Little Honda
- When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)
- Dance, Dance, Dance
- Please Let Me Wonder
- Rock and Roll Music
- ’Til I Die
- Sail On, Sailor
- It’s OK
- Had to Phone Ya
- The Trader
- That Same Song
- Funky Pretty
- Good Timin’
- Let Us Go On This Way
- Baby Blue
- The Night Was So Young
- I’ll Bet He’s Nice
- Airplane
- Come Go with Me
- Our Sweet Love
- Forever
- Disney Girls (1957)
- She Knows Me Too Well
- With Me Tonight
- Wild Honey
- Meant For You
- Friends
- Do It Again
- I Can Hear Music
- Little Bird
- I Went to Sleep
- Busy Doin’ Nothin’
- Time to Get Alone
- This Whole World
- Add Some Music to Your Day
- Why Do Fools Fall In Love
- Long Promised Road
- Getcha Back
- Surfer Girl (1963)
- Endless Summer (1974)
- Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of the Beach Boys (1993)
- The Greatest Hits, Volume 1 (1999)
- Surfin’ USA
- God Only Knows
- Wouldn’t It Be Nice
- Good Vibrations
- Kokomo
- Sloop John B
- California Girls
- I Get Around
- Surf’s Up
- Little Deuce Coupe
- Don’t Worry Baby
- In My Room
- I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times
- Surfin’ Safari
- You Still Believe in Me
- Forever
- That’s Not Me
- Fun, Fun, Fun
- Heroes and Villains
- Caroline, No
- 409
- Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)
- I Know There’s an Answer
- Barbara Ann