Five Songs That Changed My Life: Surf

This post is part of Five Songs That Changed My Life, a personal series reflecting on the music that guided me back to playing, performing, and sharing songs with others. The songs in this series unfold in order, beginning with Lava and ending with Love Story. 

Letting Music Be Playful, Social, and Fun

Surf is the third song that changed my life, largely because it reminded me that music can simply be fun. I learned this tune through an extra songbook at the ukulele jam—the Kanikapila book, a collection of Hawaiian music created by Alan, a regular at the jams.  I found out on a later trip to Hawaii that most locals know how to play this song.  It’s everywhere!  Discovering Surf in that context tied the song immediately to community, shared learning, and the joy of making music together.

What I love most about Surf is its energy. It’s an uptempo bop that makes people tap their toes almost without realizing it. The lyrics draw playful parallels between surfing and playing music, which fits my vibe perfectly—showing up, riding the wave, and enjoying the moment. The chords are easy and accessible, making it a song that invites participation rather than perfection.

There’s also a solo section in Surf that I haven’t tackled yet—but someday I will. For now, it represents possibility: a reminder that growth doesn’t have to be rushed and that joy can come from where you are right now. Surf holds an important place in my life because it taught me that music doesn’t always have to be profound to be meaningful—sometimes it just has to make people smile and move.