BB tunes that deserve better lyrics?

[kiwi surfer]

Be True To Your School.

[Jukka]

Be True To Your School.

Hey, what's the matter buddy? This is getting silly!

[phirnis]

Have to agree about "Spring Vacation". Even though it's an overall decent song I find myself trying to imagine what this one might've sounded like with the original set of lyrics (were they even completed at the time? Anyway...).

"The Little Girl I Once Knew" is perfect the way it is and the same goes for "Salt Lake City".

in his own universe this might be the case, TLGIOK and SLC have attrocious lyrics. They can be 'fun' and appreciated in some cases. But you have to be a hardcore fan to forgive those lyrics. I would never show these songs to anyone. For a good reason.

Atrocious maybe by classic-rock standards. I like the group's more "serious" side as much as anyone but what's not to like about something completely innocuous and fun like "Salt Lake City"? I'll admit that some of those lyrics may seem a little awkward from today's perspective but I don't mind, in fact I think it's part of their charm.

[Pet Sounder]

The way I see it there was a point where Brain's composition was starting to surpass the lyrics that were written for his songs, definitely a lot of '65 material.  I'm not saying all of the '65 lyrics were bad.  It was just hit and miss.  But SLC and TLGIOK were both deserving of better themes and better lyrics.  Since TLGIOK was done so soon before Pet Sounds it makes me wonder if this was an instance that got Brian to realize "my music is much more sophisticated now but these lyrics and themes are still so shallow".

I know many would disagree with me on this but I've always felt the same about California Girls.  Don't get me wrong, the lyrics are clever and fit the theme well.  It's the theme itself that doesn't fit the sophistication of the music.  As Peter Aimes Carlin pointed out in the Brian Wilson Songwriter documentary the song is basically about "a guided tour of chicks". 

[phirnis]

Again, what's wrong with a "guided tour of chicks", really?

I do see your point, don't get me wrong. ...but personally I think the very combination of increasingly sophisticated music/production and youthful/joyful lyrical content is really what makes a song like "California Girls" the masterpiece it is. Do I sound like Mike Love already? Anyway, I really mean it and I think there is no other group in pop who did this particular combination even half as good as the BB did.

[I. Spaceman]

This is definitely a BB board that deserves better topics. Most of ya'll in this thread should go listen to Leonard Cohen.

[Paulos]

Who cares if some Beach Boys lyrics are 'bad'? Listen to the way they sing the words.

[southbay]

Who cares if some Beach Boys lyrics are 'bad'? Listen to the way they sing the words.

Bingo.  But, to play along, pretty much anything Al Jardine wrote

[Freddie French-Pounce]

Who cares if some Beach Boys lyrics are 'bad'? Listen to the way they sing the words.

Which is why I'll never be able to pursuade anyone else to listen to them - lyrics first, harmonies second (for them, not me - in this instance)

[Aegir]

This Whole World.

[drbeachboy]

Who cares if some Beach Boys lyrics are 'bad'? Listen to the way they sing the words.

Which is why I'll never be able to pursuade anyone else to listen to them - lyrics first, harmonies second (for them, not me - in this instance)

Well, whether you think the lyrics need changing, they ain't gonna change them now. After 40 years of trying hard, I have learned that you can't force people to like them. They either get it or they don't.

[Freddie French-Pounce]

Who cares if some Beach Boys lyrics are 'bad'? Listen to the way they sing the words.

Which is why I'll never be able to pursuade anyone else to listen to them - lyrics first, harmonies second (for them, not me - in this instance)

Well, whether you think the lyrics need changing, they ain't nothing gonna change them now. After 40 years of trying hard, I have learned that you can't force people to like them. They either get it or they don't.

Ah, no, I don't pursuade, they just ask me why I like them so much, and a lot of them say the lyrics suck. Someone else said they're not very good singers. Go Figure.

[drbeachboy]

Who cares if some Beach Boys lyrics are 'bad'? Listen to the way they sing the words.

Which is why I'll never be able to pursuade anyone else to listen to them - lyrics first, harmonies second (for them, not me - in this instance)

Well, whether you think the lyrics need changing, they ain't nothing gonna change them now. After 40 years of trying hard, I have learned that you can't force people to like them. They either get it or they don't.

Ah, no, I don't pursuade, they just ask me why I like them so much, and a lot of them say the lyrics suck. Someone else said they're not very good singers. Go Figure.

Well there you go! When the songs were hits, it is doubtful that most people felt that way. Shoot, I don't think most artists today are very good singers or writers. Our main tastes generally lie within the times we grow up in.

[Sam_BFC]

Most of ya'll in this thread should go listen to Leonard Cohen.

I am quite a fan of Leonard Cohen, but I don't like my favourite BBs lyrics any less than my favourite LC lyrics.

I also love Salt Lake City (the lyrics don't detract from this).

[doinnothin]

No one's mentioned "When Girls Get Together"!? That track is beautiful, the vocal is beautiful, but the lyrics are oh dear god.

[joshferrell]

"he comes down" 

[wantsomecorn]

I Wanna Pick You Up.

I can stand all the rest of Love You's lyrics, but I lose it at "Pat her on the butt!"

[STE]

Our Prayer

[EgoHanger1966]

.  Since TLGIOK was done so soon before Pet Sounds it makes me wonder if this was an instance that got Brian to realize "my music is much more sophisticated now but these lyrics and themes are still so shallow".

The Little Girl I Once Knew's lyrics aren't shallow. It's not like he's singing about taking this girl on his Honda. Here's a girl the main character grew up with - look at her now, she's a knockout! I want to be with her. It's a precursor to "Caroline, No".

Maybe you could argue the "Split, man" Mike Love parts are dated in 2012, but I think they're groovy.

[Christoph]

She's getting laid, ermm, It's getting late sorry

[rogerlancelot]

"Ding Dang" has a decent verse but where is the rest of it? (Don't worry, I'm familiar with the story)

And while we're at it, how about at least one chord change? I'm not even asking for a chorus or bridge, just even a simple I VI sequence would have been cool.

The Beach Boys are the only band that I love so much that I have to ignore the lyrics and instead enjoy the music and harmonies. This gives Mike Love a free pass for me as I can't find any substance in his lyrics and most of them are embarrassingly bad.

[Jukka]

So you guys who don't like their lyrics (especially the early ones), tell me what they should be about? American teens sing about American teenlife to American teens. I think that's pretty honest and alright, and the lyrics often paint a vivid picture of California youth's life in the early 60's. I wasn't there, but that's what I'm led to believe. Mike Love going Dylan or just waxing about love in general wouldn't have been the same. I think the lyrics (which I dearly love) are a big part of the BB's youthful and innocent charm.

[hypehat]

Don't Worry Baby  - get rid of the car stuff.

That would remove the entire point of the song! That when you're a teenager, everything seems like the biggest thing in the world, like love or insecurity or even just hanging out with your friends and bragging. That's why girl group and early rock and roll (and even a lot of Beach Boys tunes, like I Get Around or All Summer Long or etc) play on that and are amazing. So without any 'crisis' (and I think Brian & Mike were working on the premise that something so minor as a drag race can seem so major in a kids life a la the best teen pop) there would be no reason why she's there to reassure, and make the song straight up platitudes (and the amazing last couplet into the chorus). So the car stuff is utterly essential as to why everyone likes the song.


As for me... a lot of this thread is crazy. But 'Don't Hurt My Little Sister' is possibly too naive.

[I. Spaceman]

can't find any substance in his lyrics and most of them are embarrassingly bad.

If this was true, you and Mike would have a lot in common.

[Puggal]

She Knows Me Too Well