We walk along the beach
Writing words in the sand.
But the waves come in
And erase the marks of my hand.
We walk along the beach —
Somehow lost your name.
Musta been in Malibu,
But what was the name?
Maybe if we ride the waves again
It could be the same;
Caught in a riptide, lose it again.
Oh baby / maybe we gotta get back

To Surf City
Last year at Surf City
Last year at Surf City
Last year at Surf City

Made it out of New York City
Runnin' from the cold;
Runnin' to the south and west,
California's golden beaches.
Where a sensation came: it was a name,
Your name whispered in my ear,
And I could make it out —
I could hear above the surf —
A word so good I closed my eyes.
(yes I closed my eyes)
And the sun and the summer was gone again.
Oh baby / maybe we gotta get back

To Surf City
Last year at Surf City
Last year at Surf City
Last year at Surf City

And then hang ten:
Do the surf, do the surf.
Do the surfing' trip at Redondo Beach,
At Venice, at Santa Cruz,
At Malibu / at Malibu:
Take you there in the sea.
Last year in the sea I called a name;
Must've been in Malibu,
But what was the name?
Maybe if we ride the waves again
It could be the same.
Caught in a riptide, lose it again.
Oh baby / summer is all that we got

And Surf City
Last year at Surf City
Last year at Surf City
Last year at Surf City

Take you there, baby / in the sea now.
Her name / it was writ / upon the water.
Last year at Surf City:
Two names for every,
Two names for every girl.
Surf City.

Mike Enright, c. 1977