ABSTRACT
If you can tell a society's culture from its popular music lyrics, the 1960s were surely the golden age of the American automobile. On July 4, 1964, a new single became the first number-one song by that most American of bands, the Beach Boys. Performed with a driving beat and Brian Wilson's soaring harmonies, "I Get Around" celebrated the unequivocal freedom that cars provided, particularly on the group's home turf of Southern California: We always take my car 'cause it's never been beat And we've never missed yet with the girls we meet... I get around Get around, round, round, I get around From town to town
