"Drive-In" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1964 album All Summer Long. It was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, although Love was not originally credited until after a 1990s songwriting lawsuit.
Lyrics
"Drive-In" was inspired by the group's outings at the Studio Drive-In in Culver City, California. The song gives the listener advice on how to enter a drive-in theater without paying for admission, among other things, and climaxes with a line alluding to contraception ("If you say you watched the movie, you're a couple of liars / And remember, only you can prevent forest fires").
Composition Musician Andy Paley commented of the song,
Recording "Drive-In" was recorded shortly after the release of Little Deuce Coupe in October 1963, intitally intended as the first version of "Little Saint Nick" before being rewritten. Paley shared an anecdote related to the song that occurred during the filming of the 1995 documentary Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times.
Critical reception Biographer David Leaf called "Drive-In" "a great example of Brian’s sense of humor working perfectly within a rock 'n' roll song."
Personnel Credits sourced from John Brode, Will Crerar, Joshilyn Hoisington, and Craig Slowinski.
The Beach Boys Al Jardine - backing vocals Mike Love - lead vocals Brian Wilson - co-lead and backing vocals, upright piano Carl Wilson - backing vocals Dennis Wilson - backing vocals
Additional musicians Hal Blaine - drums Glen Campbell - electric guitar Frank Capp - sleigh bells Jerry Cole - acoustic guitar Steve Douglas - tenor saxophone Jay Migliori - baritone saxophone Ray Pohlman - 6-string bass guitar Leon Russell - grand piano
References
External links