#81 "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys

When I was younger, I regularly heard about how Brian Wilson was such a genius. I didn't really get it. I mean... what's so brilliant about "California Girls" and "I Get Around"? It's not like they're lyrically deep. And because I was such a word guy, I just never really understood the brilliance. As I got a little older though, and was exposed to their more daring recordings like "Pet Sounds" and the bootlegs of "Smile," I started to understand what people were talking about. Wilson's layered vocal harmonies and musical compositions were really cool. There was definitely a lot more to the Beach Boys than just guys singing about waves and girls.

"God Only Knows" is from the landmark album "Pet Sounds." Gone are the do-woppy party songs, which got replaced by acid-induced sound collages. The great harmonies are still there, but the subjects of the songs are different... or at least presented differently. "God Only Knows" is essentially a love song, but it's unlike anything else of its day.

Paul McCartney has repeatedly called "God Only Knows" one of his favorite songs, and one of the most beautiful ones he's ever heard. I also read that it's the first song to be played on popular radio that featured the word "God" in the title and lyrics. What I like about it is how the lyrics are almost kind of negative, but still very devotional. The first line is "I may not always love you." Who says that to win the girl? Later Carl Wilson sings "If you should ever leave me... life would still go on, believe me." Again, it doesn't come off as sweet as "I'll love you 'til the day I die" or anything like that. Maybe that's because it goes on to say "the world could show nothing to me so what good would living do me?" Again, I just like the unconventional nature of that. The lyrics, by the way, were written by Brian Wilson collaborator Tony Asher. Wilson is responsible for the music and arrangement.

"God Only Knows" is from the album "Pet Sounds." To hear the song, click on the icon in the widget jukebox along the side of the blog.