I live in the Sunset district of San Francisco, which is basically a big square bounded by Golden Gate Park to the North, HWY 1 to the East, the SF Zoo to the South, and the great Pacific Ocean to the west. Our beach - Ocean Beach - isn't your typical beach paradise. It's long and straight, and the winds and fog and storms come off of regularly and often with fury. But it's a gorgeous place nonetheless, with tons of amazing birds, beautiful sand and rocks, driftwood to use for forts and teeter totters, all backed by the soundtrack of mother sea. My kids grew up on this beach, and some of my favorite memories are of them naked in the sand and water, digging and running and throwing their hands up in joy and amazement at how free they are in this air, in this place. Now they surf in those waters with their Dad, which I can hardly believe is possible, they're so strong and big.
At twilight, the goldenness of the sun melts into any scene so beautifully you sometimes have to cry. And at dawn (I often walked my babies here before the rest of the house was up), the fog is like a blanket on the land, reminding us of the elements. So, aside from describing hyperbolically all the fun things we do at the beach, this song is a thank you to Ocean Beach for all the magic it has shared with my family!
lyrics
once I went to the beach
and I dug a really really deep hole
tunneled all the way under the sea
to the other side
once I went to the beach
and I brought a ball to kick around
and I kicked it so far it traveled to the stars
and stayed
once I went to the beach
and I built a castle in the sand
and it grew so tall
way up into the clouds
and all around the world
a hundred million times
until it came back to me
I love the beach (na na na na na na)
I love the beach (na na na na na na)
what’s not to love about the beach?
I love everything about the beach
once I went to the beach
and I ran a race in the sand
and I ran so far I made it all the way to Mexico
once I went to the beach
and the big waves were crashin’ down
and I rode the biggest one all the way
to the arctic ocean
once I went to the beach
and somethin’ shiny washed ashore
it was an old glass bottle
I popped off the cork shook it upside down
and out came message
a magical treasure map
once I went to the beach
and all my friends were there
and we played all day ‘til the sun
was sinkin’ low
where does it go?
and as the sun went down
we saw dolphins playin’ in the surf
they jumped so high they made it over
the moon just like that cow
wow!
it was a magical groovy night (la la la)
and we sang every song we knew (woo woo woo)
and we did a little dance in the sand and it goes like this
you go side to side
front to back
turn yourself around
and give a little clap clap
rock your roll
swing your sway
hula your hoop
and ride a really really big wave
sashay to the right
sashay to the left
sidle right on up to the front
and walk it right on back
jump into a star
and shine like a bright sunray
make a little stomp stomp
and shout a little hip hip hooray! ‘cause
we love the beach…
credits
from Party Like a Twinkle Star,
released January 1, 2010
Vocals & keys: Charity Kahn
Harmonies: Laurie Pomeranz
Guitars: Daryn Roven
Bass: Paul Lamb
Drums: Jake Wood
Engineering, mixing and production: Daryn and Charity
Fermenting fun amidst the organic and inspirational environment of San Francisco, Charity and the JAMband have spent the
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