The Restless Surfer/Other Towns, Other Girls

Transcribed from Issue 4 of Gonna Hustle You Copbyright C. 1981 with no author credit given.

This article was first published in California Music, CM 30 July 1979

Jan & Dean

Reviewed & Relived
“Ride the Wild Surf”
A Question and Answer
(continued)

Another interesting track included on the album is the Gary Zekley composition, The Restless Surfer. Although the storyline of the song fits the context of the movie, the track is not a new one. Gary originally wrote it under the title Vagabond and in fact recorded it with Dean Torrence as Other Towns, Other Girls (b/w When I Go To Sleep AVA C-151) back in 1964. The Jan & Dean version as The Restless Surfer is much more highly orchestrated than the Zekley-Torrence version, but both possess their own charm. Lyrical change in either song was not great:

The Restless Surfer

I can’t settle down on just one shore
  To ride the wild surf
Is what I’m living for
  ‘cause I hear a voice deep down inside
“There are other girls,
  Other waves to ride
Other girls, other waves to ride”
  I”m just a guy with time on my hands
Surfin’ ‘round the world,
  Seein’ other lands
But I hear a voice deep down inside
  “There are other girls,
Other waves to ride”
  So just like a vagabond
I’ll rack my board and travel on
  I’ve got to see all there is to see
There’s wandering in my soul
  That’ll carry me to my goal
Then I’ll find my destiny
  Someday I’ll find a girl
Who will be mine
  Then I’ll settle down
In just one town
  ‘cause I’ll hear a voice
whispering to me
  “There are no more waves,
No more girls to see,
  No more waves, no more girls
To see, no more waves for me
  No more girls to see
No more waves for

Other Towns, Other Girls

I can’t settle down with one girl,
  In just one town,
In this whole world
  ‘casue I hear a voice whispering to me
“There are other towns,
  Other girls to see,
Other towns, other girls to see”
  I’m just a guy with time on my hands
Travelin’ ‘round this world,
  Seein’ other lands
‘cause I hear a voice whispering to me
  “There are other towns,
Other girls to see”
  So just like a vagabond
I pack my bags and travel on
  I’ve got to see all there is to see
This wandering in my soul,
  Will carry me to my goal
Then I’ll find my destiny
  Someday I’ll find a girl
Who will be mine
  Then I’ll settle down
In just one town
  ‘Cause I’ll hear a voice
Whispering to me,
  “There are no more towns,
No more girls to see,
  No more towns, no more girls
No more towns, no more girls
  To see, no more towns, no more
Girls to see