That’s Where We Wanna Go…Way Down to Kokomo

Sometimes it seems like the Beach Boys were in a state of delusion when the band wrote their well-known song, Kokomo. The song comes on the radio here in Indiana, and we all sit back to think, “I don’t see any bodies in any sand, and I surely do not have a tropical drink melting in my hand.” Instead we forty-six thousand citizens of Kokomo, Indiana see the daily crowd of cars parked at Delphi and Chrysler, and in our hands we have thirty-two ounce Cokes from Mac’s. Can’t you see how The Beach Boys easily were confused?

QUARTER FINALIST 2013 FTF TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP

The Beach Boys must have mixed up a few words, that’s all. The following lyrics are what they more than likely intended for the song about Kokomo–in Indiana.

Geneva, Wawaka oooo I wanna take ya
To Mike’s Pizza, Sweet Poppins come on pretty mama
Galveston I should mention, baby why don’t we go

Just north of the capital city
There’s a place called Kokomo
That’s where you wanna go to get away from it all

Popcorn on the square
Annually hosting a juicy rib fair
We’ll be falling in love
To the rhythm of your dad’s garage band
Down in Kokomo

Geneva, Wawaka oooo I wanna take ya
To Mike’s Pizza, Sweet Poppins come on pretty mama
Galveston I should mention, baby why don’t we go
Won’t get there fast
‘Cause 31 is slow but
That’s where we wanna go
Way down to Kokomo

To the Seiberling, that place is so clean

We’ll wish for the sea
And probably fail chemistry
To KHS we would owe an apology

Afternoon delight
US 31 lights up the night
Fast food drawing your eye
Wildkats are always down to buy
Way down in Kokomo

Geneva, Wawaka oooo I wanna take ya
To Mike’s Pizza, Sweet Poppins come on pretty mama
Galveston I should mention, baby why don’t we go
Won’t get there fast
‘Cause 31 is slow but
That’s where we wanna go
Way down to Kokomo

Everybody knows
A little place like Kokomo
Now if you wanna go
And get away from  it all
Go down to Kokomo