About The Song
“I Get Around” represents a watershed moment in The Beach Boys’ career, marking their first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Released as a single in May 1964, with the B-side “Don’t Worry Baby”, the song achieved historic significance when it topped the Billboard Hot 100 on July 4, 1964, making it the first No. 1 single by an American male singing group in eight months. The timing was particularly poetic, as the band who would come to represent the spirit of America had their first US No.1 on Independence Day.
The song emerged during a critical period for The Beach Boys, as they faced stiff competition from the British Invasion. Their previous hit “Fun, Fun, Fun” had been racing up the charts in 1964 and looked poised to take the top spot when The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, causing the Beach Boys’ hit to stall at No. 5. Brian Wilson and his brothers had to fight back against this British dominance, and they did so with “I Get Around,” which became a defining ’60s rock ‘n’ roll anthem.
“I Get Around” is considered one of America’s biggest hits since the British Invasion began, and it marked the beginning of an unofficial rivalry between Brian Wilson and the Beatles. The single became one of the best ever double A-side releases along with “Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles and “Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley. It was rated as the fifth biggest seller of 1964, demonstrating its massive commercial impact during that pivotal year in popular music.
Musically, “I Get Around” is noteworthy for its unconventional back-to-front structure—it starts with a chorus and has two short verses, which was unusual for pop songs of that era. The song stayed at number one for two weeks and helped establish The Beach Boys as serious contenders in the evolving landscape of American popular music. The B-side “Don’t Worry Baby” also achieved significant success, charting at number 24 in the United States, making this one of the most successful double A-side releases in the band’s catalog.
Video
Lyric
Round round get around
I get around
Yeah
Get around round round I get around
I get aroundGirl it’s a round round get around
I get around
Yeah
Get around round round I get around
Ooh oohI’m getting bugged driving up and down the same old strip
I gotta find a new place where the kids are hip
My buddies and me are getting real well known
Yeah, the bad guys know us and they leave us aloneI get around
(Get around round round I get around)
From town to town
(Get around round round I get around)
I’m a real cool head
(Get around round round I get around)
I’m making real good bread
(Get around round round I get around)I’m getting bugged driving up and down the same old strip
I gotta find a new place where the kids are hip
My buddies and me are getting real well known
Yeah, the bad guys know us and they leave us aloneI get around
(Get around round round I get around)
From town to town
(Get around round round I get around)
I’m a real cool head
(Get around round round I get around)
I’m making real good bread
(Get around round round I get around)I get around
Round
Get around round round I get around
Yeah
Get around round round I get around
Ooh oohWe always take my car cause it’s never been beat
And we’ve never missed yet with the girls we meet
None of the guys go steady cause it wouldn’t be right
To leave their best girl home now on Saturday nightI get around
(Get around round round I get around)
From town to town
(Get around round round I get around)
I’m a real cool head
(Get around round round I get around)
I’m making real good bread
(Get around round round I get around)I get around
Round
Get around round round I get around
Yeah
Get around round round I get around
Ooh ooh