Surf Wax America
| "Surf Wax America" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Album track by Weezer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Album | The Blue Album | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Released | May 10, 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | August-September 1993 at Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 3:06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Label | Geffen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Cuomo/Wilson Jason Cropper (uncredited) |
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| RC# | 131 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COR# | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Producer(s) | Ric Ocasek | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Officially released | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Live debut | November 7, 1992 in Huntington Beach, CA[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Blue Album track listing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Rivers Cuomo song chronology | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Surf Wax America" is the sixth track on The Blue Album.
Appearances
- Weezer's third demo (Demo)
- Weezer (The Blue Album)
- Buddy Holly (UK Retail CD) (Live)
- Buddy Holly (Dutch Retail CD) (Live)
- The Blue Album Deluxe Edition (Live)
- Weezer (The Red Album) - Japan Deluxe Edition Bonus DVD (Live Video)
- Several Official Bootlegs (Live Version)
Overview
The music for "Surf Wax America" was originally written by Patrick Wilson and recorded to 4-track. Wilson described the song's writing in an article to mark the 25th anniversary of the release of The Blue Album:
That was another song that I had most of on four track. Another desperately needed uptempo number. Rivers especially really loved the Beach Boys, and I think he tapped into that vibe a little, but in a more punk rock way. I don’t believe any of us had ever surfed at that point. We were painfully lacking in self-awareness. It’s a young person’s take on the world -- saying, ‘this is all bullshit, I’m just gonna do whatever I want to do.’ I think it’s a rejection of paths chosen for you.
- —Pat Wilson, Interview with Billboard.com, 2019[2]
- —Pat Wilson, Interview with Billboard.com, 2019[2]
Rivers Cuomo called "Surf Wax" "a total sarcastic call to hedonism, to sing along, drink and be merry. I hate drinking and only do so when I absolutely have to." The song's first verse contains a reference to the song "Round and Round" by American heavy-metal band Ratt. The song was once the band's go-to show closer, having closed most shows on the Blue Album and Pinkerton tours. The live version found on "Buddy Holly" singles and the deluxe release of Blue, recorded in New York in December of 1994, was that show's closer. Collector-savvy fans have taken to shouting "smoke dope!" at the song's breakdown section, during live performances, mimicking a fan heard on this recording.
At a solo Rivers Cuomo concert in 2018 in which Cuomo was joined by former Weezer guitarist Jason Cropper, Cuomo introduced "Surf Wax" by stating that Cropper had written the song's guitar riff.[3]
A demo of the song was recorded during the sessions for Weezer's third demo, but was deemed lacking. It was only included on some copies of the tape, typically given only to friends of, or people close to, the band, as the only track on side B. Digital audio of this recording has surfaced, but does not match the audio quality of the other songs from these sessions.
Audio
Official releases
Lyrics
The sea is foamin' like a bottle of beer
The wave is comin' but I ain't got no fear
I'm waxin' down so that I'll go real fast
I'm waxin' down because it's really a blast
I'm goin' surfin cuz I don't like your face
I'm bailin' out because I hate the race
Of Ratts that run Round and Round in the maze
I'm goin' surfin', I'm goin' surfin'!
You take your car to work
I'll take my board
And when you're out of fuel I'm still afloat
My buddies and their honies all come along
They seem invincible as they surf along
The sea is rollin' like a thousand pound keg
We're goin' surfin', we're goin' surfin!
You take your car to work
I'll take my board
And when you're out of fuel I'm still afloat
You take your car to work
I'll take my board
And when you're out of fuel I'm still afloat
All along the undertow is strengthening its hold
I never thought it'd come to this
Now I can never go home
All along the undertow is strengthening its hold
I never thought it'd come to this
Now I can never go home
You take your car to work
I'll take my board
And when you're out of fuel I'm still afloat
You take your car to work (All along the undertow)
I'll take my board (Is strengthening its hold)
And when you're out of fuel I'm still afloat (I never thought it'd come to this, now I can never go home)
You take your car to work
I'll take my board
And when you're out of fuel I'm still afloat
You take your car
I'll take my board
You take your car
I'll take my board
Let's go!
Known recordings
| Performer(s) | Title | Filename | Date of recording | Recording location | Length | Appeared on | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weezer | Surf Wax America | November 1992[4] | 3:12 | Weezer's third demo | Only featured on B-side of certain copies | ||
| Rivers Cuomo | Speed Wax America | Speed Wax America.mp3 | April 1993[4] | 0:35 | Patrick & Rivers | ||
| Weezer | Surf Wax America | August 6, 1993[4] | Cole Rehearsal Studios, Los Angeles, CA | Rehearsal session. Recorded on Rivers Cuomo's portable DAT. | |||
| Weezer | Surf Wax America | August 11, 1993[4] | S.I.R., New York City, NY | Blue Album pre-production demo. Engineered by Chris Shaw. | |||
| Weezer | Surf Wax America | August—September 1993 | Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY | 3:06 | Weezer (The Blue Album) | ||
| Weezer | Surf Wax America | November 27, 1994 | Horizontal Boogie Bar, Rochester, NY | 4:01 |
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Live B-side | |
| Weezer | Surf Wax America | December 20, 2005 | Studio Coast, Tokyo, Japan |
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See also
References
- ↑ Live debut according to Karl Koch: Historic event: 11/07/1992
- ↑ Interview with Billboard.com, 2019
- ↑ AdmiralNeeda "Rivers Cuomo - Surf Wax America (w/ Jason Cropper) – Live in San Francisco" YouTube. 14 September 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noS8vOd-F74
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Weezer Recording History - Page 4