What was to be the lead track on Smile?

[A Million Units In Jan!]

Whatever the lyrics say, the music is mournful and certainly comes to no real resolution. Both factors which are largely against using it as an album closer for me. IMO of course.

Well, we don't really know for sure what the final product would have sounded like. We have an idea from Brian's demo; however, for all we know, the 'part 2' that was recorded  was an upbeat jazzy section. Not likely, I know. Still....

[Bicyclerider]

The fact that Worms was listed first on the Capitol track list (sure it says for running order see label, but the very fact that Worms was the first track to mind to be written on the list), AND the fact that it sounds great following Prayer, seals the deal for me.

The past practice of putting the "singles" to open and/or close the sides doesn't really predict what he was going to do with Smile, since he was trying to write songs and create an album "outside of the box" (but from the sandbox) per Van Dyke.  The very fact that he wanted as much of Smile to be a "surprise" as possible would also argue against putting an already released single as the lead off track - not much of a surprise then to start the album.

[OneEar/OneEye]

Surf's Up a downer?  
It's made me feel many things, but bummed out has never been one of them.  

Well, I can understand it as a "downer" in some respects.  VDP's lyric is, in fact, a lament for the most part.  But like I said earlier, it ends with a revelation of wonder.  That resolves whatever "downer" aspect exists, for me.

Well yeah, I can see the "downer" aspect from that point of view, I mean "columnated ruins domino" isn't the cheeriest sentiment I suppose, but as you say - the end turns upward toward hope.    The song is "mournful" in its way, but it's so awe inspiring it never really "downed" me.   Like Til I Die - as Mike supposedly said upon hearing it, "bummer", but the thing is, it's not.  I mean, it should be, but it sounds so amazing, so ...pick an adjective...that it takes the depressing thought and turns it into something so deeply touching to the human soul, that instead of just being a bummer, it's cathartic.  Like Pet Sounds is generally a pretty "down" album, but in a very cathartic way, which in turn becomes positive.  

And has anyone ever tried Surf's Up in the lead off slot?  Now, I am in no way saying that this was ever a consideration by Brian or whatever, but  I've tried a few mixes where I have SU lead off, and it's kind of interesting - and it sounds good (to me anyway) after "prayer". 

[Chris Brown]

Surf's Up has always been the perfect closer for me...like others have said, it's not a complete "downer," in that the last verse and fade are uplifting in their sentiments.  I would think that in '67, Brian would have wanted something spiritually uplifiting like that to close his "teenage symphony to God."  Surf's Up is really the only thing on Smile that fits that bill, aside from perhaps a reprise of Prayer.

[buddhahat]

Surf's Up has always been the perfect closer for me...like others have said, it's not a complete "downer," in that the last verse and fade are uplifting in their sentiments.  I would think that in '67, Brian would have wanted something spiritually uplifiting like that to close his "teenage symphony to God."  Surf's Up is really the only thing on Smile that fits that bill, aside from perhaps a reprise of Prayer.

Yes it's the only contender imo, just as A Day In The Life could only fill the last slot on Sgt Pepper.

[Runaways]

gotta disagree with all the posters saying Our Prayer and HV don't go together well...they're PERFECT.  that quiet dynamism.  then all of a sudden...BOOM, you're hit with this pop bliss. it's a perfect way to start the album, and the transition is one of my favorite parts.