Surf's Up

by Brian Wilson

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Lyrics

A dia mond neck lace played the pawn.

Hand in hand, some drummed a long ing me to a hand some man nered ba ton.

A blind class ar is toc ra cy.

Back through the op ’ra glass you see the pit mut and the pen du lum drawn.

Co lum (Gm7)na ted ru ins (C7)dom

i

(D)no.

Can vas the town and brush the back drop.

Are you (D)sleep

ing?

Hung vel vet o ver tak ing me.

Dim in chan de lier a wak ing me to a song dis solved in the dawn.

The mu sic hall, a cost ly bow; the mu sic all is lost for now to a mut and ed trum pet er swan.

Co lum (Gm7)na ted ru ins (C7)dom

i

(D)no.

Can vas the town and brush the back drop.

Are you (D)sleep

ing,

broth er John?

Dove nest ed towers, the hour was (Eb)strike the street, quick sil ver moon.

Car riage a cross, the fog two (Eb)step to lamp light sil ver moon.

cel lar tune.

The (Dm7)laughs come hard in (C7sus)Auld (C7)Lang Syne.

The (Dm7)glass was raised, the fired roast, the (C7sus)full ness of the (C7)wine, the dim last (Edim7)toast (F)ing.

(Dm7)While at port, a (C7sus)dieu (C7)or (F)die.

A (Dm7)choke of grief, heart hard ened eye, be (C7sus)yond be lief, a (C7)bro ken man too (F)tough to cry.

Surf’s up, mm mm, mm mm, mm (Eb)mm, a board a ti dal wave.

Come a bout hard and join the (Eb)young and of ten ti dal wave.

spring you gave.

I (Ab)heard the word,

won (Cm7)der ful thing,

a (Fm7)chil dren’s song.

A (Fm7)chil

dren’s (Cm7)song.

Have you (Bb)lis

tened as they (Cm)play?

Their (Fm7)song

is (Cm7)love,

and the (Bb)chil

dren know the (Cm)way.

A (Fm7)chil

dren’s (Cm7)song.

Have you (Bb)lis

tened as they (Cm)play?

Their (Fm7)song

is (Cm7)love,

and the (Bb)chil

dren know the (Cm)way.

A (Cm)way.

A (Fm11)child.

Surf's Up by Brian Wilson — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Surf's Up by Brian Wilson in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of G at 81 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Surf's Up" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Surf's Up"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Surf's Up" use?
Just 19 chords: A, Ab, Ab6, Bb, Bbmaj9, C7, Cm, Cm7, +11 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Brian Wilson songs work for kids?
Try "HEROES AND VILLAINS", "WONDERFUL", "GOOD VIBRATIONS". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.