The Smiley Smile Message Board

According to the Kieth Badman book, this song is credited to (B.Wilson/C.Wilson/D.Wilson/A.Jardine/S.Korthof/V.D.Parks)

I thought it was a different Parks. Am I wrong, or is Kieth's book wrong?

Badman's book is full of errors for sure. I think its John Parks who was a close friend of Dennis.

I thought so. Thanks Jon.

Jon Parks was the band's road manager at the time... I think.

Yep, and also served as session contractor (alternating with Diane).

He's the Parks' that is referenced in Be Here in the Morning

Yes, and spells his first name weirdly.

Jon was a very close friend of Dennis'; I think they might have gone to high school together.

I rarely trust a man who drops his aspirates.  :o

I've always wondered how this song made Carnie feel when she heard it:
"When a man loves a woman, they make things like you my son,
Er, whoops. Think Brian wanted/expected a son, maybe?
I know he loves all his daughters but, Jeez: awk-ward.

This is my favorite post of 2010 so far.

I've thought the same thing. Didn't Brian even see the sonogram? Either way, they both get name checked in the early version of Little Children. Although not released with those lyrics, it's very sweet and a very good song in general.

Actually, it's the reverse. They're Susie and Tommy in demo. Only in the released version do they become Carnie and Wendy. I've always seen Landy's creepy hand behind that.

Could it not have been about one of the other writer's son? I guess it seems wierd that Brian is singing it. But it is no different then singing about Caroline when he is married to Marylin. Caroline (or Carol) was Tony Asher's girlfriend right?

Carol (Mountain) was Brian's crush in high school.

Yeah, I don't think it was ever 'Caroline No' until brian realized Marylin might have a cow if he sang 'Carol, I know', which is what it SOUNDS like he IS saying.

Well, it was written while Marilyn was pregnant with Carnie, correct? And it was about anticipating the birth of your SON. "Some day I'll put my SON on my knee, and HIS little eyes will be looking at me..." I read somewhere that Brian felt inadequate for having had daughters because his dad and both his brothers had sons. Nothing wrong with having girls, Brian.

That's strange. Didn't Tony Asher say in the Pet Sounds DVD that Brian 'misunderstood' the lyric as Caroline, no?  Of course there are always about 10 different versions of every historical fact depending on who you ask.

According to TA, it only became "Caroline, No" because Brian had a mondegreen moment - he originally wrote it as "Oh Carol, I know", but Brian heard it as "Oh Caroline, no". Couldn't make it up, could you ?  :)

edit: ah phooey, I should read the whole thread before jumping in with both feet..  :lol

You're right. My mistake. But what's creepy about it? Seems a nice touch to add his daughters names to the song...

Don't forget Sloth they would have been around 20 years old at this point!

I always thought it creepy because the girls and Brian had little or no contact when he was under Landy's "care." Brian said it was his decision, others say Landy barred them. But it always struck me as weird, because why would you put their names in a song like that -- as "Little Children" -- unless it was to mess with their heads?

Not a parent here, but I'd always imagine your children are always your "little children". They'll always be the those little people you saw grow up, and regardless of how estranged your relationship might be, you still harbor love for them. To me its a troubled and highly controlled Brian still saying to his girls that they're in his mind, even if Mr. Svengali won't let them see him.

In fact, I think people have misinterpreted most of Brian's songs that mention children, except for "Tomboy" maybe. But heck, "Pick You Up," everyone thinks its perverted, and I'm sure it can be read as so, but to me it sounds like an emotionally awkward man speaking with love and affection for his children; nothing off putting about that at all.