It was released on the group's 1973 rock opera album Quadrophenia, where it is the second track of the third side of the record.
The first song to take place once Quadrophenia's narrative moves to Brighton, "Sea and Sand" portrays opera protagonist Jimmy's affinity for the beach as an escape from the unpleasant realities of home and life, as well as his memories from past mod gatherings at Brighton.
He reflects about his inadequacy in love and inability to fit in at home or with the other tickets and faces within the Mod subculture.
The crazy days when 300,000 Mod kids from London descended on that little beach town were only three weeks ago, but he's already living in the past.While not released as a single, the song gained significant airplay on progressive rock radio; Richard Neer of WNEW-FM in New York labeled it the album's best.
Indeed, following The Who's 1996 performances of Quadrophenia at Madison Square Garden, fans sung that and other lines from the song as they were leaving the arena.