The Smiley Smile Message Board

Well, I rediscovered a thread that I started a couple years ago that went on for 18 pages. I printed it up because I still haven't read it all.

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,8284.0.html

Anyway, a debate begins on who the best lyricist of the Beach Boys is (not including outsiders such as Usher/Asher/Parks).
One person said it was Al. Personally, I think there is no question that Mike was the best lyricist (at least before 1974). When I look at the lyrics of Warmth of the Sun, Good Vibrations, Let the Wind Blow, All I Wanna Do and Everyone's in Love With You, they are right up there with Tony Asher IMO. Although, when Jon Stebbons mentioned that Dennis wrote most of his lyrics, it does give Mike some great competition. Perhaps, the fact that Dennis never went the nostalgic route goes in his favor.

Brian (Surfer Girl, In My Room, Til I Die)
Bruce (Disney Girls, Tears in the Morning)
and Al (Back Home?, Lookin at Tomorrow, California Saga, Santa Anna Winds)
... had some shining moments (and embarrassing moments). Not sure what lyrics Carl did (Good Timin?).

Brian, Mike, Dennis, Carl, Al, Bruce.

Brian - [busy doin nothing, i went to sleep, etc lightyears beyond the rest, abstract & original]

Mike wins for "Meant For You" alone!

I also have to go with Mike.  Even his 'normal' stuff is pretty damn good, like California Girls.  The guy was pretty great.  He's the Ike Turner of the Beach Boys.  Lots of talent but nobody wants to admit it because he beat up Tin... uh Brian so much.  

As long as you qualify it with pre-'74, I'd have to say Mike as well - his first 10 years or so as a writer is filled with some damn fine lyrical gems - far more hits than misses.  Obviously things got flipped around in that regard later, but he deserves a lot of credit for all the good work he did.

Next I'd have to go with Brian, not so much for quantity obviously, but rather, the unique quality of the lyrics he wrote.  I think he had a big hand in the lyrics on side 2 of Today!, and the quirky abstract lyrics of songs like "Busy Doin' Nothin" and "I Went To Sleep" are brilliant in their own way.  Just for "Til I Die" alone, he's worth of being pretty high up on the list.

The rest of the guys are pretty "meh" for my lyrically, save for perhaps Dennis.  He had an almost unnerving honesty in his lyrics that I can appreciate.  None of the rest of the guys do anything for me really.

Bruce's songs on Sunflower and Surf's Up have some nice lyrics. But not enough.

Does anyone know what lyrics Carl wrote?

Carl wrote "our Sweet Love" I believe.

Brian's best line ever was "We do it holding hands, it's so cold I go burrrr"

Mike's best and last great lyric was for 'Only With You', a perfect combo of Dennis' music, Mike's lyric and Carl's voice.

I wasn't aware that Carl ever wrote lyrics, so i'd be interested to find out if he did.

Mike's lyrics on Wild Honey are superb.

If we're only considering the best lyrics from each writer (rather than overall batting average), id' go Mike, Brian, Dennis, Al, Bruce.

Great example of why Brian is a great writer. No one writes stuff like that - the man is brilliant.

Let's not forget Mike wrote the words to Pacific Ocean Blue (the song)

I dig those words a lot. Dennis really makes them kick!

As for post 74, I think Mike did good on Everyone's in Love with You, Pacific Ocean Blue, Belles of Paris (was that Mike?), Sumahama, and Aruba Jamaica ooh I wanna take you.

Let's not forget the smoothest, sexiest tennis/romance metaphor epic of all-time: Matchpoint Of Our Love!

This song is smoother than Bruce's wettest dreams and make me think of tight white shorts and Tiger shirts more than Mr. Johnson could ever hope.

Also, Mike's lyrics on KTSA are not earth shattering or Smile-eque, but they certainly get the job done well.