Released August 30, 1971 Length 3:58 | Genre Hard rock, blues rock Label Brother/Reprise | |
Recorded November 3, 1970
early 1971 Composer(s) Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller/Mike Love |
"Student Demonstration Time" is a song written by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller and Mike Love, which was recorded by the American rock band the Beach Boys for the album Surf's Up, released in 1971.
Contents
Composition
The song which "Student Demonstration Time" is based on - "Riot in Cell Block Number 9" - was originally written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1954, and was considered for inclusion on the Beach Boys' 1965 album Party!, but was ultimately not included. The song was subsequently performed live by the Beach Boys in concert starting in 1969. In mid-1970, Mike Love re-wrote the lyrics after learning of the Kent State Shootings where four unarmed college students protesting the Cambodian Campaign were killed by the Ohio National Guard on Monday, May 4, 1970. Stephen Desper, engineer of the Beach Boys during this period, explained the genesis and context behind the song:
Other events referred to in the song include (in order of appearance):
"Student Demonstration Time" (backed with "Don't Go Near the Water") was released as a single in the Netherlands -- where it peaked at #21 -- and Italy, as well as Australia, where it charted during 1972. However, for the British and German releases of the single, the A-side and B-side were switched, resulting in "Don't Go Near the Water" being the A-side.