Phillips' original version of the song, titled "Fairy Tale Girl," allegedly ran to over 25 verses.
[citation needed] A late-1980s recording by the New Mamas & the Papas (John Phillips, Mackenzie Phillips, Scott McKenzie, and Spanky McFarlane) under the title "Fairy Tale Girl (Somewhere Near Japan)" was belatedly released on the 2010 compilation Many Mamas, Many Papas from Varèse Sarabande.
The final Beach Boys release describes a protagonist agreeing to come to the rescue of his "fairy tale girl" who is "driftin' on some Chinese junk," a double entendre for both heroin and a type of ship, despite the likelihood that she will "break [his] heart one more time"—concluding that "I broke her fall and I always will."
"Somewhere Near Japan" features the lead vocals of Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston.
The programming, including drums and keyboards were done by Keith Wechsler, who also was the engineer on the albums Still Cruisin' and Summer in Paradise.