Don't Go Near the Water – English Lyrics

• By: The Beach Boys
• Album: Surf's Up

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the Beach Boys' eco-conscious side with 'Don't Go Near the Water,' a song that teaches environmental responsibility. Learn how this track marked a significant departure from their surf-pop origins, addressing the urgent issue of water pollution and inspiring listeners to take action for a cleaner planet. Explore the language of environmental awareness through the Beach Boys' unique musical lens.

[English]

Don't go near the water

Don't you think it's sad

What's happened to the water

Our water's going bad

Oceans, rivers, lakes and streams

Have all been touched by man

The poison floating out to sea

Now threatens life on land

Don't go near the water

Ain't it sad

What's happened to the water

It's going bad

Don't go near the water

Toothpaste and soap will make our oceans a bubble bath

So let's avoid an ecological aftermath

Beginning with me

Beginning with you

Don't go near the water

To do it any wrong

To be cool with the water

Is the message of this song

Let's all help the water

Right away

Do what we can and ought to

Let's start today

(Music)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
water /ˈwɔːtər/ A1	noun - a clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid
sad /sæd/ A2	adjective - feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy
bad /bæd/ A1	adjective - not good; of poor quality
oceans /ˈoʊʃənz/ A2	noun - very large expanse of sea
rivers /ˈrɪvərz/ A1	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream
lakes /leɪks/ A1	noun - a large body of water surrounded by land
streams /striːmz/ A2	noun - a small, narrow river
touched /tʌtʃt/ A2	verb - to come into or be in contact with (something)
poison /ˈpɔɪzən/ B1	noun - a substance that causes death or injury when swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed
floating /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/ B1	verb - rest or move on or near the surface of a liquid without sinking
threatens /ˈθrɛtənz/ B2	verb - state an intention to take hostile action against (someone) in retribution for something done or not done.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
land /lænd/ A1	noun - the part of the earth's surface that is not permanently covered by water
toothpaste /ˈtuːθpeɪst/ A2	noun - a paste used for cleaning the teeth
soap /soʊp/ A1	noun - a substance used for washing
bubble /ˈbʌbl/ A2	noun - a thin sphere of liquid enclosing air or another gas.
bath /bæθ/ A1	noun - a container for water in which a person may wash
ecological /ˌiːkəˈlɒdʒɪkəl/ C1	adjective - relating to the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings
aftermath /ˈɑːftərmæθ/ B2	noun - the consequences or aftereffects of a significant unpleasant event.
message /ˈmɛsɪdʒ/ A2	noun - a verbal, written, or recorded communication sent to or left for someone

Key Grammar Structures

• Don't go near the water

  ➔ Imperative (Negative)

  ➔ Using "Don't" + verb expresses a negative command or prohibition. It is a direct way of telling someone not to do something. Equivalent to "Do not go near the water."

• Don't you think it's sad

  ➔ Tag Question (rhetorical)

  ➔ The tag question "Don't you think...?" is not a genuine question seeking information, but rather a rhetorical device to emphasize the speaker's opinion. It invites agreement from the listener, implying "Surely you agree it's sad?"

• What's happened to the water

  ➔ Present Perfect (Emphasis on Result)

  ➔ The present perfect "What's happened" focuses on the present result of a past action. The water is now in a different, likely undesirable, state because of something that occurred in the past. The consequence of the past action is evident now.

• Our water's going bad

  ➔ Present Continuous (describing a trend/ongoing change)

  ➔ The present continuous tense "is going bad" (shortened to "'s going bad") describes an ongoing process or trend. It suggests that the deterioration of the water quality is not a sudden event but a gradual process that is happening over time.

• Have all been touched by man

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive

  ➔ "Have all been touched" uses the present perfect passive voice. It describes a completed action (being touched by man) that has a relevant consequence in the present. It highlights that the action happened at some point in the past (unspecified), and the effects of that action are still being felt. Emphasis is placed on the state of being touched, not who did it.

• The poison floating out to sea

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective

  ➔ "Floating" is a present participle used as an adjective to describe "poison." It indicates that the poison is actively moving or drifting towards the sea. It adds dynamism to the description.

• Toothpaste and soap will make our oceans a bubble bath

  ➔ Future Simple - Prediction/Consequence

  ➔ "Will make" is the future simple tense, used here to make a prediction or describe a consequence. It expresses a belief about what will happen in the future if toothpaste and soap continue to pollute the oceans.

• So let's avoid an ecological aftermath

  ➔ Let's + Infinitive (Suggestion/Call to Action)

  ➔ "Let's avoid" is a construction that makes a suggestion or a call to action. It includes the speaker and the listener in the proposed action, encouraging collective effort. It's a shortened form of "Let us avoid."