"Break Away" is a song written by Brian and Murry Wilson for American rock band the Beach Boys, released as a single in 1969. Murry was credited as lyricist under the pseudonym "Reggie Dunbar". The single was relatively unsuccessful compared to the group's releases, and charted at #63 in the US Billboard 100 (top 40 in the Cash Box and Record World charts). "Break Away" sold better abroad, reaching #6 on the United Kingdom charts, #10 in Ireland, #17 in the Netherlands, #20 in New Zealand, and #29 in Germany.

It was the last release (aside from the single "Cool, Cool Water") on which Brian was named as producer until "Child of Winter (Christmas Song)" in 1974.

According to Brian Wilson, his father Murry came up with the idea from watching The Joey Bishop Show on television while it proclaimed, "We're gonna break away for a minute and we'll be right back!". Brian, at his piano, then composed the song with Murry as they "plunked and plunked and plunked" and "finally got a song going." When asked why Murry used a pseudonym, Brian responded: "I don't know. He was nutty. He was crazy, that was his fictitious name." At another time, Brian has said that The Monkees inspired him to write this song.

"Break Away" features Carl Wilson singing verses and Al Jardine on the chorus; some have stated that Murry Wilson (who co-wrote the song) recorded the bass part of the song while Mike Love was away. Initially, the song was planned to be released with Brian Wilson singing the first verse, as included on the 2001 compilation, Hawthorne, CA and bootlegged rough mixes of the song.

Some commentators have suggested that the title of the song contains a hidden message of relief, as The Beach Boys were "breaking away" from Capitol Records with their final single for the label. Capitol had been under-promoting The Beach Boys (not knowing how to change from publicizing them as a purely street-surf-summer band) and under-documenting their sales. Having sued their record company, The Beach Boys were glad to break away from that relationship.

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