Written and sung by Brian Wilson, it was released as a single, backed with "Little Deuce Coupe", on July 22, 1963.

However, his closest high school friends disputed this, recalling that Wilson had written numerous songs prior to "Surfer Girl".

When I got home that day, I finished the song, wrote the bridge, put the harmonies together and called it 'Surfer Girl'.

"[citation needed]The song was based on a Dion and the Belmonts version of "When You Wish Upon a Star",[6] which has the same AABA form.

The "Surfer Girl" single backed with "Little Deuce Coupe" was released on Capitol Records in the United States on July 22, 1963.