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Post by kds on Mar 29, 2023 12:39:22 GMT
In recent years, Al had sung the last line as "This is the best trip, I've ever been on" at Brian's shows. That makes no sense! Just a little positive spin, and likely a reference to his BB career.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 30, 2023 0:38:36 GMT
Before I get to the lyrics, even though "Sloop John B" is a cover, I think it one of The Beach Boys' greatest records, one of Brian Wilson's greatest productions, and one of Brian Wilson's greatest lead vocals. If I had to pick one song in the catalogue and say, "I wish Brian's voice would've stayed just like that", "Sloop John B" would be very near if not at the top of that list. Brian's vocal was special regardless of the subject matter, which wasn't the deepest. Doesn't matter. He nailed it.
Now for the lyrics or subject matter. Yeah, if you stretch a little I guess you could say they fit on Pet Sounds. I've always thought the lyrics-as-a-fit was not really an issue. They sounded fine. Now, I will say - and, yes, I'm going there again - that "Sloop John B"'s lyrics would've been a better fit or been more effective on Side 2, near the end of the album. "Let me go home...I wanna go home..." Yes, Brian, you're going home, and what did you find out when you got home?
Side 2
4. Sloop John B 5. Pet Sounds 6. Caroline, No
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 3, 2023 14:00:50 GMT
Track 8: "God Only Knows" (B. Wilson, T. Asher)
I may not always love you, but 'long as there are stars above you, you'll never need to doubt it. I'll make you so sure about it: God only knows what I'd be without you.
If you should ever leave me, though life would still go on, believe me, the world could show nothing to me, so what good would living do me? God only knows what I'd be without you.
God only knows what I'd be without you. If you should ever leave me, though life would still go on, believe me, the world could show nothing to me, so what good would living do me? God only knows what I'd be without you. And God only knows...etc.
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Post by kds on Apr 3, 2023 14:58:34 GMT
Talk about a song of great contrast. A love song whose first two verses begin with "I may not always love you" and "If you should ever leave me, though life would still go on."
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 3, 2023 15:32:57 GMT
I've said before and still hold: this is not a love song, and the person to whom the narrator is singing probably should not feel particularly warm inside, but a little creeped out. I think this song is partly about an obsessive sort of love, but mostly about uncertainty.
We're also back to the internal focus, the self-obsession. How the end of his love--be it him no longer loving her, or her no longer loving him--will affect him. God only knows what I'd be without you.
The narrator realizes he may not always love the object of his affections, but he lacks the imagination or maturity to picture himself without her. But it's almost creepy to me. ("Hey, I might not love you, but BELIEVE ME, you can be sure that ... I'm not sure what I'll do without you." Honestly it's almsot stalker-ish, though obviously it wouldn't have been meant that way.) (First verse.)
Then the narrator recognizes that she may leave him--and while he knows he's going to live without her, he still can't picture quite how. (Second verse.)
Since it always gets mentioned in context of this song, I thought I'd mention it, too: "God." I'm not sure whether it was actually controversial at the time, as is often said, or if that was just how they were feeling about it. (I've never read anything contemporaneous saying it was a big deal.) But I have to say, as far as using the word "God," it's just about the most harmless, meaningless way to do it. It isn't saying "God is going to forgive/save the believers" or "God will rain terror down upon the infidels." It's the equivalent of "who knows?" It's like saying "goddamnit" when you stub your toe: there aren't a lot of religious implications.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
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Post by Emdeeh on Apr 3, 2023 16:54:41 GMT
Kapitan, I respect your interpretation, but I must demur.
During his final tour in 1997, Carl Wilson used GOK as a way of thanking the fans for their support of him. At one show, he locked his eyes to mine, sang the second verse and then pointed directly to me -- message received loud and clear. Then he sang the same verse (where it repeats) to a woman holding up a "We love you, Carl!" sign. In this sense, I think Carl intended it as a love song, in this case between performer and audience as a reciprocal relationship.
Billy Hinsche said on one of his webcasts that Carl was inspired by his first wife Annie when he recorded the song. No matter how Tony Asher or Brian may have intrepreted the lyrics, I feel that for Carl it was very much a love song.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 3, 2023 17:04:55 GMT
During his final tour in 1997, Carl Wilson used GOK as a way of thanking the fans for their support of him. At one show, he locked his eyes to mine, sang the second verse and then pointed directly to me -- message received loud and clear. Then he sang the same verse (where it repeats) to a woman holding up a "We love you, Carl!" sign. In this sense, I think Carl intended it as a love song, in this case between performer and audience as a reciprocal relationship. Billy Hinsche said on one of his webcasts that Carl was inspired by his first wife Annie when he recorded the song. No matter how Tony Asher or Brian may have intrepreted the lyrics, I feel that for Carl it was very much a love song. I think that VERY MUCH may be true. There are worlds of difference sometimes between the literal thing and the interpretation. And no matter what I think those lyrics seem to say, the song "God Only Knows" is a love song--because it is received/interpreted (and probably usually sung) as one. Also I should say, I'm not sure what Asher or Wilson would have said. Brian wasn't ever especially good at analyzing lyrics, so I'm not sure he'd have a lot to say about it. Asher could, presumably. But who knows what he was thinking? I just meant that when I read those lyrics as they are written, the plain reading is actually pretty far removed from a normal love song's sentiments. To me, it seems very clearly to be full of uncertainty, not love. On paper, that is. I should also say, I really like the lyrics. They are evocative, as are so many on this album. They don't--nor do they have to--tell you some simple story. They're open to interpretation. It's amazing how few lyrics there are, too. Two verses, one of them repeated. That's it.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 4, 2023 12:25:28 GMT
I always had an understanding, my understanding, of the "God Only Knows" lyrics - and I always thought I was right! I thought I knew what Tony and Brian...meant...or what they were trying to say.
"I may not always love you" - I thought that meant that eventually "he" would...die. Seriously. I thought they were inferring that love, or life, won't last forever. I DIDN'T think it meant that "he" may not always love her because he would tire of her, or find somebody else, or fall out of love.
"If you should ever leave me, though life would still go on believe me" - I thought "he" meant that if the love of his life left him, yes, life would go on - but his life would never be the same. Carrying the proverbial torch, scars, never getting over her, his true love, she's the one.
It was only after "God Only Knows" went from being one of Brian's/The Beach Boys' nice love songs to "one of the greatest songs of all-time" - and the song was analyzed to death - that I ever gave the lyrics serious thought. I did/do think Brian and others made too much out of using the word "God" in the song title and song. But, also, I do view the song as a love song. THAT'S ALL Carl is singing about!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 6, 2023 0:39:21 GMT
Brian demo'ing the "God Only Knows" lyrics. Well, kind of...
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Post by carllove on Apr 6, 2023 1:51:04 GMT
My favorite song ever - and not just because of Carl’s beautiful vocal. This song speaks to me.
I was twice divorced and 50 years old when I started dating my husband (He was 43). I had met him a year previous to my divorce, just after his wife had died, and I remembered thinking - none of my daughter’s friend’s dad's looked like THAT! He was the most attractive man I had ever seen. After my divorce, I figured at 50, I would just live the rest of my life an old alone lady. Then his daughter set us up and it was fire. Then I learned about Bi-Polar disorder. Lord it was a ride until medication. So - yeah - there were times I hated him, but couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. “I May Not Always Love You”. But - yeah - “But as long as there are stars above you. You never need to doubt it. I’ll make you so sure about it. God only knows where I’d be without you”. It’s pretty much like that. I’ve never had that sort of feeling before. I sing this song to my husband alot. You can hear him on YouTube commenting about that on my Brian Wilson singing “God Only Knows” on Brian Wilson’s 80th Birthday video on You Tube. He says - you always sing that to me. Yeah I do - because it is true. It’s not perfect, but damn, I don’t want to go anywhere else. The thought of living without him makes me think “What good would living do me”.
“God Only Knows” is a love song with an edge. Pretty much the most perfect love song ever. It is the truest observation on love I have ever heard. Tony Asher was a genius.
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Post by lonelysummer on Apr 7, 2023 2:10:46 GMT
I may not always love you...yeah, there's doubt creeping in...I think I'm gonna run off with some bikini blonde and surf to Hawaii...
but as long as there are stars above you....well, I suppose there might come a day when the stars fall from the skies...I've heard that Stars Fell on Alabama many moons ago...
you never need to doubt it, I'll make you so sure about it....well that sounds pretty definite...pretty certain...sounds like the love of a lifetime to me...
God only knows what I'd be without you...yes, even God knows that I need you.
Sure sounds like a love song to me. Life may go on if you leave me, but it's gonna be empty, meaningless.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 7, 2023 11:58:43 GMT
God only knows what I'd be without you...yes, even God knows that I need you. That isn't what the expression means. It doesn't mean "even God knows," but "only/maybe/presumably God knows." Those are almost opposites. The point of the saying is I don't know.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 12, 2023 14:07:24 GMT
Track #9: I Know There's An Answer (B. Wilson, T. Sachen, M. Love)
I know so many people who think they can do it alone. They isolate their heads and stay in their safety zones. Now what can you tell them? And what can you say that won't make them defensive?
I know there's an answer. I know, now, but I have to find it by myself.
They come on like they're peaceful but inside they're so uptight. They trip through the day and waste all their thoughts at night. Now how can I come on and tell them the way that they live could be better?
I know there's an answer. I know, now, but I have to find it by myself.
Now how can I come on and tell them the way that they live could be better?
I know there's an answer. I know, now, but I have to find it by myself.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 13, 2023 11:09:32 GMT
I really like the lyrics to "I Know There's An Answer". I can't say that I've experienced them, but I think I know what Brian and Terry Sachen meant, and that's important. While Pet Sounds might not strictly be a concept album (I say "strictly" because there could be an argument that it is), I think these lyrics fit the feel of the album. And, I prefer them to "Hang On To Your Ego".
Terry Sachen
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 13, 2023 12:19:08 GMT
I definitely prefer the lyrics to "Hang On to Your Ego," but I don't really love these, either. I think the mishmash of original and rewritten lyrics results in a bit of confusion. He opens with a negative judgment of "I know so many people who think they can do it alone" and very soon thereafter says "I know there's an answer, I know, now, but I have to find it by myself." So ... you mean you can (and have to) do it alone?
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