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What do you think is Brian Wilson's single most personal song either with The Beach Boys or as a solo artist?

My vote goes to Til I Die, one of the most deeply personal songs ever. Brian wrote the lyrics as well as the music which makes it all the more poignant and moving considering his state of mind at the time, kind of a musical suicide note. His lyrics like "I'm a cork on the ocean and I'm a leaf on a windy day" are very effective metaphors that reflect a vulnerable, fragile man. Also the chord patterns and keyboard work sound like you're being caught up in the ocean's undertows, just an incredible work of art.

Midnight's Another Day (with lyrical help by S. Bennett)

Early Brian-In My Room
Middle Brian-Today(side 2)
     "        "   -IJWMFTT
Adult Brian- TID
Later Brian-MAD

Not sure how people can judge the songs that Brian didn't write the lyrics for.

'Til I Die is the obvious choice.

I think that a lot of Brian's work with lyricists is also very personal, but I can't imagine a more deeply personal lyric than "Til I Die".  I would say that's the most personal song he ever wrote.

I agree with above posts and i would add..Its Over Now + Still I dream of it.

"This Whole World" makes a nice bookend to "'Til I Die."

I agree with this. These are 2 sides of seem kind. "This Whole World" is cheerful, hopeful Brian and "'Til I Die" is his more melancholy side.

And I don't think I'd be crazy to say that I would trade entire albums of other people's work for just those 2 songs. Both are immense pieces of work.

It's amazing when you play Sunflower and Surfs Up one after the other how different they are in overall mood. I think another very personal song by Brian would be Let's Put Our Hearts Together, like Peter Buck said "It's so personal it's almost to hard to listen to."

I'd throw Breakaway and I'm Bugged At My Old Man on tithe list for consideration! Busy Doing Nothing is a beautiful Slice of Brian also.

The first thing that popped onto my head was "In My Room" ("Til I Die" and "IJWMFTT seem reral personal to) but "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" and "In Blue Hawaii" have always struck me as personal.  Mrs. O'Leary's Cow", with it's "American in Paris" on acid vibe seems hellish but the exit to IBH seems so hopeful.  It is the way I hope Brain feels after what he has gone thorough.

*koff* lyrics for "BA" are Murry's.   :-D

"When I lay down on my bed, I heard voices in my head…"

To my ears, that's pure, honestly spoken Brian at his frankest, or Brian-est…!

Unless it was hereditary…  ;D

'Til I Die, hands down, but can I add The Night was so Young which always strikes me as being an imensely personal song, and another great slice of Brian's life songs.

I'm always taken in by the small details he recounts, as well as his pondering of what the other person is thinking about.

Day In The Life Of A Tree.

Seriously, his whole story as an artist is in there. I love that song. Some people take it as another Brian put-on, but when that fairground organ comes in, i'm in tears every time.

How about "My Diane" ?  It's possibly more personal because it's about something that was literally going on at the time (if you consider it about his wife; or if you think he was more upset about Diane).   

Til I Die is personal but in more of a general or abstract commentary kind of way.  My Diane's like "My Wife's leaving me" 

Southern California

or

Lay Down Burden

It's Not Easy Being Me.

Oh Lord

I vote Busy Doin' Nothin'.

Nope, "My Diane" is about Diane Rovell. I asked her.

Love And Mercy...just like in All You Need Is Love the 'you' is 'him'  :)

I'd say (providing Brian wrote the Lyrics) that "Brian (Thank You)" could be a VERY personal song/bitch fest about Mike et all

Roller skating child



 ;D

Still applies.  He's obviously upset about it, deeply personal song. 

funny how some of Brian's most personal songs have a real universal quality: In My Room, Til I Die, Midnight's Another Day, etc.

even when he used lyricists, Brian was clearly coming up with the themes. Everything on Pet Sounds for instance. All very personal.

I think When A Man Needs A Woman and Busy Doin Nothin are good candidates. I Went To Sleep. Games Two Can Play. I'll Bet He's Nice.

it's a tough question because almost all of Brian's songs have an extremely personal quality.


other songs seem to have been written with Brian in mind: Breakaway, Sail On Sailor, Long Promised Road, Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

I think Mr. Fulton (although the inventor of the steamboat) can be interpreted as Brian and the Steamboat can be The Beach Boys...does that theory work?  :-\

i like it  :)

"Cry" and "Lay down burden" as well... :afro

Marcella

 Guess I'm  Dumb

I Just Can't Wait to be King. I mean, my wife pointed out that the lyrics actually kind of fit Brian circa-Pet Sounds, and Brian's vocal sounds subconsciously influenced by that.

Just Like me & You- those are some seriously f*cked up lyrics, and make me wonder about him and Melinda. :lol

More seriously... these to me are Brian's most personal songs...

Til I Die - and not just because it's my all-time favorite BB recording (followed by All I Wanna Do, the cover of The Letter which shouldn't count but dammit I like it :D , Time to Get Alone, and Everybody Wants to Live Just Once) but because this is Brian's best set of lyrics, and were pure genius.

The Night Was So Young- for reasons that should be obvious.

My Diane- see above

Busy Doin' Nothin'

Still I Dream of It

Chug-A-Lug.

Still I Dream Of It. I mean, when he sings "Someday I'll find my world"....wow.  :'(

Johny Carson

Hell yeah.

Day In The Life Of A Tree is purely about himself. how more personal can it get? most other suggestions are really good, more explicit messages in those though.

Amen to this. Absolutely yes.