The Smiley Smile Message Board

It just occurred to me, listening to this song today, that some of the lyrics (though on the surface about a man/woman relationship) could almost be interpreted as Brian speaking about himself and Landy. (Of course plenty of the other lyrics to this song probably have no Landy double meaning).

Surely Brian was aware that he was thought of by Landy (not to mention by many others) as a goose that lays golden eggs, or an angel of sorts... and Brian must have known that Landy was scared that Brian would want to go free at some point.

And has there ever been a more true-to-life lyric by Brian than this one? "It’s better that I take no action"

Well, I was there when he wrote part of it, and Landy wasn't around at that point.  I have no idea about the lyrics, but they strike me as unlikely to be about Landy since Brian's seemed to make an angel reference to all the women who have been kind to him and loved him.

Hi Debbie, I guess I wasn't thinking that Brian was necessarily consciously thinking about Landy, only that perhaps some of his situation that he found himself in with Landy might have bled through into the lyrics. But after hearing your reply, that certainly could just be pure coincidence that I am reading into it after the fact - especially if those lyrics were actually not from the Landy era. This I did not know, thank you very much for your reply. Regarding the part of the song that you observed him writing it at, what timeframe was that? Post Landy Part I but pre-Landy Part II? I don't know anything about the song's origins and how far back the writing started - but I do love the tune a lot.

I guess fear of someone going away is a universal theme that may apply to both a romantic type of love, as well as (ironically) the sick situation that Brian found himself in where Landy was surely afraid of Brian going away, but that certainly may not have been the author's (Brian's) intent.

Sorry CD - just got back to SS today.  I only heard the musical verses being written, no lyrics that I'm aware of.  That was the "between Landy" years.  It was before Christmas when he was writing it, and I had given him a little angel-at-a-piano wooden statue from Germany.  For whatever reason, he loved it and kept it at his piano during that time.  He's always loved angel ideas.  I think it has as much to do with voices as it does with kind women.

Many of us have heard him refer to his band as "angels" when they do gorgeous harmonies. When I referred to Carl as his "angel voice" (not long after Carl's death) he broke out in a huge smile.  I think Brian's work is perhaps, less personal than we think, unless he tells us otherwise.  Art - at least good art - is like that.  It speaks to and about all of us.

Thanks so much for your recollections, Debbie :) Carl was indeed the voice of an angel, and Brian is indeed lucky to have had some very wonderful people in his life.

Sitting here just thinking about being with him when he was writing that or any other song. And the gift straight from your heart to Brian. Wonder if he still has it. Thanks, Deb. :)

Thanks CD and OSD.  It got to the point that I was shying away from sharing stories here and elsewhere because they seemed to draw at least as much resentment as the enjoyment expressed by people like you. 

As far as the little wooden angel at the piano, I can't imagine that surviving all the moves and the Landy years.  I'm glad Brian enjoyed it while he did.  Hearing him compose was what many would call a gift from a higher being  - it surely felt like it.  I had a tendency to excuse myself when he wanted to write, so I wasn't there for a lot of it.  I didn't want to interfere or be a distraction.

Debbie, there are so many more people who value your honesty, your steadfast loyalty, and your marked ability to turn a phrase. We clearly don't say it often enough. We know it can get very frustrating here at times--and we appreciate your indulgence. The memories and information you share with us, like those of Ed Roach and Ray Lawlor, are among the most precious items to appear here--it is even a privilege to be "called out" by you, because you have unshakable integrity.

But of course counting to ten--maybe even to a hundred--is not a bad gameplan here!!  :hat

Thanks for your kindness Don.  Ed Roach's Dennis stories are priceless, and Ed was one of the few hardy souls (maybe the only one) who could have survived that lifestyle.  Ray Lawlor is one of the most intelligent people I've ever met and he "gets" Brian as well as any human ever has or will, not to mention his encyclopedic knowledge of Brian's music and history.  I'm so glad he's one of Brian's best friends.

I think I probably need to post here the same way I do any other published work - never make it "live" until the next morning.  I do get emotional - okay really furious sometimes - when people I love and admire, and whom I know love Brian and support him very generously, are - in my view - attacked by people who really don't know anything but gossip.  Yep - wait 'til the next morning.  Good insights, Don.

Agreed...Ray's a great guy, and I'm glad to have the two of you as friends!

Yes he is.  Thanks, Billy.

I'm raising a glass of Pinot to that as we speak.  :)

Drank two beers so far! 8)

Have a couple more-I'm buying if you're not driving.  ;)