Released: July 13, 1964
Songwriter: Brian Wilson
Producer: Brian Wilson
[Verse 1]
The girls dig the way the guys get all wiped out
With their feet in the air you can hear them 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
[Chorus]
Don't back down
You got to be a little nuts
Don't back down
But show them now who's got guts
Don't back down
Don't back down from that wave
[Verse 2]
With their feet full of tar and their hair full of sand
The boys know the surf 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
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
When a twenty-footer sneaks up like a ton of lead
And the crest comes along and slaps them 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
[Chorus]
[Outro]
Don't back down
The girls dig the way the guys get all wiped out
With their feet in the air you can hear them 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
[Chorus]
Don't back down
You got to be a little nuts
Don't back down
But show them now who's got guts
Don't back down
Don't back down from that wave
[Verse 2]
With their feet full of tar and their hair full of sand
The boys know the surf 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
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
When a twenty-footer sneaks up like a ton of lead
And the crest comes along and slaps them 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
[Chorus]
[Outro]
Don't back down
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
- Four by The Beach Boys (1964)
- All Summer Long (1964)
- Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of the Beach Boys (1993)
- 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