The Way SMiLE Was Created

[Bill Tobelman]

There is a misunderstood methodology behind SMiLE's creation.

I try and get deeper about this here (http://www.goodhumorsmile.com/page22.htm) but it could also be spelled out in a Frank Holmes quote.

"So here comes the allegorical artwork via Van Dyke's metaphorical lyrics."

-Frank Holmes

What's cool is that Holmes acknowledges that Parks' lyrics are metaphors and that his images are allegorical. In both cases the process is, as Arthur Koestler coined it, "bisociative." It's referencing things on two levels at the same time for both Parks & Holmes.

[Bill Tobelman]

So when Parks and Holmes explain their visual and lyrical references to the public they are actually giving folks their personal references intended to try to depict what is really being referred to!

Fans assume that these references are where it's at, but they're wrong. These references are substitutions for the real thing.

[Bill Tobelman]

The 'bicycle rider' is a card from a deck of cards.

The "Do You Like Worms" illustration depicts the game of 'fish.'

The phrase "heroes and villains" reminded VDP of the song "El Paso."

The "All A" writing on the cartoon image of a board was meant to represent "All aboard!" as one might hear in a train station.

Hopefully all of you are taking notes as this is really what SMiLE is about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Summer_Days]

Duh, I likes how duh music sounds, dat's all I know, Bill.

[Micha]

The 'bicycle rider' is a card from a deck of cards.

The "Do You Like Worms" illustration depicts the game of 'fish.'

The phrase "heroes and villains" reminded VDP of the song "El Paso."

The "All A" writing on the cartoon image of a board was meant to represent "All aboard!" as one might hear in a train station.

Hopefully all of you are taking notes as this is really what SMiLE is about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Bill, I don't care for lyrics that take decades to explain rather than make me feel something instantly...

[Rocky Raccoon]

The 'bicycle rider' is a card from a deck of cards.

The "Do You Like Worms" illustration depicts the game of 'fish.'

The phrase "heroes and villains" reminded VDP of the song "El Paso."

The "All A" writing on the cartoon image of a board was meant to represent "All aboard!" as one might hear in a train station.

Hopefully all of you are taking notes as this is really what SMiLE is about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Bill, I don't care for lyrics that take decades to explain rather than make me feel something instantly...

I don't think Van Dyke's lyrics are meant to be overanalyzed, each listener should take something different from them.  They're obscure but they're poetic, words that just sound great when put together, they don't have to mean anything.  I do like how Brian talks through the meaning of the lyrics in Jules Siegel's article but I'm not even sure if Brian agreed with Van Dyke on what they meant or if he was just giving his own interpretation as well.

[Niko]

The 'bicycle rider' is a card from a deck of cards.

The "Do You Like Worms" illustration depicts the game of 'fish.'

The phrase "heroes and villains" reminded VDP of the song "El Paso."

The "All A" writing on the cartoon image of a board was meant to represent "All aboard!" as one might hear in a train station.

Hopefully all of you are taking notes as this is really what SMiLE is about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Bill, I don't care for lyrics that take decades to explain rather than make me feel something instantly...

I don't think Van Dyke's lyrics are meant to be overanalyzed, each listener should take something different from them.  They're obscure but they're poetic, words that just sound great when put together, they don't have to mean anything.  I do like Brian's how Brian talks through the meaning of the lyrics in Jules Siegel's article but I'm not even sure if Brian agreed with Van Dyke on what they meant or if he was just giving his own interpretation as well.

While it can be interesting to find out an artists intent with any piece of work, I think it's more important to attach your own significance to whatever the work may be.
When I found out the stories behind the lyrics of the Forever Changes album by Love, I was dissapointed. The true meanings are much less interesting than my imagination 

[bgas]

Bill is our own A.J. Weberman