Surf's Up lyrics - assist

[Custom Machine]

Thanks, Stephen Desper, for this info.  I've always heard it as "Michael, Michael", but until your explanation I never understood why the lyric was written as it is.  A fireproof safe is definitely a good location for that lyric sheet.

[runnersdialzero]

It's "Bacon, bacon" as per Jeff's performance on BWPS.

[hideyotsuburaya]

i disagree -

lyric resonse as stated earlier:

"A BLIND...."

becomes

"BLIND A"

and "A DIAMOND NECK LESS PLAYED UPON"  just as well

[EgoHanger1966]

i disagree -

lyric resonse as stated earlier:

"A BLIND...."

becomes

"BLIND A"

and "A DIAMOND NECK LESS PLAYED UPON"  just as well

Stephen Desper WAS THERE and owns THE ORIGINAL LYRIC SHEET.
I've never heard it as "Michael, Michael", but the man gave us the information and provided proof.
'Nuff said.

[Paulos]

i disagree -

lyric resonse as stated earlier:

"A BLIND...."

becomes

"BLIND A"

and "A DIAMOND NECK LESS PLAYED UPON"  just as well

I agree that you are talking nonsense, unless you are seriously hearing those words during Surf's Up in which case I would suggest a visit to an audiologist.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

"Michael, Michael"

I always knew that Brian and Van Dyke wrote this about me!

[pixletwin]

i disagree -

lyric resonse as stated earlier:

"A BLIND...."

becomes

"BLIND A"

and "A DIAMOND NECK LESS PLAYED UPON"  just as well

Well you can go merrily on believing what you want. Doesn't bother me none. You are wrong though and it shows a great lack of respect to Steven Desper to insist that you are right when the man was actually there when it was recorded and possess the lyric sheet Carl was working from.

You're idea of word play isn't even particularly interesting or clever imo. But there it is. Hey ho.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

i disagree -

lyric resonse as stated earlier:

"A BLIND...."

becomes

"BLIND A"

and "A DIAMOND NECK LESS PLAYED UPON"  just as well

Well you can go merrily on believing what you want. Doesn't bother me none. You are wrong though and it shows a great lack of respect to Steven Desper to insist that you are right when the man was actually there when it was recorded and possess the lyric sheet Carl was working from.

You're idea of word play isn't even particularly interesting or clever imo. But there it is. Hey ho.

Ignorance is Bliss.

[Chris Brown]

Wow, never expected this thread to result in a mind-blowing revelation like that - many thanks as always to Mr. Desper!

[Andrew G. Doe]

i disagree -

lyric resonse as stated earlier:

"A BLIND...."

becomes

"BLIND A"

and "A DIAMOND NECK LESS PLAYED UPON"  just as well

Disagree until you're blue in the face, but it won't change the simple fact that you are wrong (as at least three other posters on this thread will attest).

[buddhahat]

Wow what fascinating input from Mr Desper, thank you. I have always thought it was Bygone, Bygone.

Whilst we're on the subject of Surf's Up, I can't remember what the exact story is regarding who wrote the tag? As far as I can remember Brian was upstairs in his bedroom, heard the group recording the tag, and ran down to instruct them in either a) the melody b) the vocal arrangements or c) everything including some of the lyrics. I have a feeling it was the melody of the 'children's song' part, plus the "Child, child" backing vocals with input from other group members (maybe Jack Rieley) on the main tag lyrics.

If SWD is still active in this thread, I'm sure his recollections of the recording of the tag and Brian's involvement would be much appreciated by all, unless he's gone over this before in which case somebody please steer me in the right direction!

[petsite]

Can anyone help me with the lyrics that the chorus whispers at the end of the first two verses?  One lyric site says it is "Michael, Michael" but that makes no sense.  

A diamond necklace played the pawn
Hand in hand some drummed along
To a handsome man and baton (Michael, Michael?)

A blind class aristocracy
Back through the opera glass you see
The pit and the pendulum drawn (Michael, Michael?)

For 40+ years I thought it was "Rise up, rise up" but I don't think that is correct either.  It is driving me nuts...Thanks for the help!

Also is it "..a handsome man and batton?"

And for the record (pun intended) Carl got the lyrics wrong when he copied them down listening to Brian's demo. Its:

A diamond necklace played the pawn
Hand in hand some drummed along
To a handsome mannered baton

I believe Mark L. has Carl's handwritten lyrics on the wall in his studio.

COMMENT:  I have the original handwritten manuscript sheet, both sides. I removed it from the music stand to which it was taped at the end of the session. At one time I loaned it to Mark for reference, but he has since returned it. I am holding it in my hand and it reads "to a handsome man and baton"  with Brian's overwritting to correct the spelling of "baton."

See my last post. Look up the links. You will find it interesting.

~swd

Thanks Stephen for the clarification on both points. Van Dyke says on the Beautiful Dreamer DVD (as do the lyric sheets for the 2004 SMiLE by Brian) that the lyrics were suppose to be "To a handsome mannered baton". I think it must be like when Tony Asher wrote "Carol I Know" and Brian heard "Caroline No".

[rn57]

Well...now that Stephen Desper informs us it's "Michael" someone should email Van Dyke and ask him: does this mean the lyrics really are addressed to Dr Love (or, keeping in mind VDP's addicion to wordplay, Mike/Al)? Because if they are we may be talking about a sea change in Smile studies.

[Stephen W. Desper]

COMMENT:

I am not a lyric expert. All I know is that when I ask Carl about the meaning of

Michael, Michael, that's what he told me. Maybe Carl got it wrong, I don't know.

It made sense at the time. And it still does.

Last minute word changes happen from time to time. Especially when you're dealing with complex Vandyke Parks lyrics.

No matter what the author wrote to be sung, if any last minute changes are performed, any changes from the lyric sheet then become the new and correct lyrics for the song. Whatever lyric is performed is designated to be the correct wording. To say "Carl copied the words wrong" is not exactly what happened (or happens). Better to say, "Carl modified the words as he was copying them from the lyric sheet."

Mike does this all the time. I have seen Brian completely change every word of a song. Even when the lead has been in place for months, nothing is set in stone until mixdown time.  Look at what happened to Til I Die.  Total replacement.

Here is another example, this is a quote from my book, Recording The Beach Boys on Feel Flows.


"Soon we hear inverse-reverb begin building to an ethereal forming of the first words of Carl’s vocal, “Unfolding, EnveLOPing.” EnveLOPing. The word enveloping was a mis-read.  It was supposed to be the adjective-form, enveloping, i.e., enclosing or encasing completely with or as if with a covering.  But it was read as a gerund form envelope-ing, i.e., A flat, folded paper container, especially for a letter.  EnveLOPing seemed to flow together better with unfolding and more appropriate to the lyrical intent, so it was modified at the time the vocal was recorded..."

Hope this helps,

~swd
 

[petsite]

COMMENT:

I am not a lyric expert. All I know is that when I ask Carl about the meaning of

Michael, Michael, that's what he told me. Maybe Carl got it wrong, I don't know.

It made sense at the time. And it still does.

Last minute word changes happen from time to time. Especially when you're dealing with complex Vandyke Parks lyrics.

No matter what the author wrote to be sung, if any last minute changes are performed, any changes from the lyric sheet then become the new and correct lyrics for the song. Whatever lyric is performed is designated to be the correct wording. To say "Carl copied the words wrong" is not exactly what happened (or happens). Better to say, "Carl modified the words as he was copying them from the lyric sheet."

Mike does this all the time. I have seen Brian completely change every word of a song. Even when the lead has been in place for months, nothing is set in stone until mixdown time.  Look at what happened to Til I Die.  Total replacement.

Here is another example, this is a quote from my book, Recording The Beach Boys on Feel Flows.


"Soon we hear inverse-reverb begin building to an ethereal forming of the first words of Carl’s vocal, “Unfolding, EnveLOPing.” EnveLOPing. The word enveloping was a mis-read.  It was supposed to be the adjective-form, enveloping, i.e., enclosing or encasing completely with or as if with a covering.  But it was read as a gerund form envelope-ing, i.e., A flat, folded paper container, especially for a letter.  EnveLOPing seemed to flow together better with unfolding and more appropriate to the lyrical intent, so it was modified at the time the vocal was recorded..."

Hope this helps,

~swd
 

Right again. Not that Carl got the words wrong. They were changed. Brian could have said "handsome mannered baton........hows about handsome MAN and BATON?"

Al to Brian (on session tape): I need another word...since she put me down......Brian: WELL since she put me down....Al:That works...

It was only last year (and I have been following since being 14 in 1973) that I got one of my questions finally answered. Mike DID finish the couplet for the second verse of GV. Brian just cut off the last line. SHE GOES WITH ME TO A BLOSSOM WORLD.....WE FIND". Mike said Brian cut it to allow the bassline room to catch the listener.

[37!ws]

I'm willing to believe that the background vocals sing "Michael, Michael."

But I made a silly mistake after reading SWD's response incorrectly, so this sentence was actually a much more ignorant sentence before I edited it, yo.

[37!ws]

Also, F*skett once actually told someone it was "bygone, bygone" when asked.

What's up with the "F*skett" spelling.  You can't say "Foskett" here?

Oh, nothing...just didn't want to upset the seemingly huge number of people here who think Jeff is Satan.  :eyeroll:

[onkster]

Just when I thought there was nothing left new to learn about SMiLE, along comes "Michael, Michael". Amazing.

But I'm still willing to let bygones be bygones...ahem.

[rn57]

COMMENT:

I am not a lyric expert. All I know is that when I ask Carl about the meaning of

Michael, Michael, that's what he told me. Maybe Carl got it wrong, I don't know.

It made sense at the time. And it still does.

Last minute word changes happen from time to time. Especially when you're dealing with complex Vandyke Parks lyrics.

No matter what the author wrote to be sung, if any last minute changes are performed, any changes from the lyric sheet then become the new and correct lyrics for the song. Whatever lyric is performed is designated to be the correct wording. To say "Carl copied the words wrong" is not exactly what happened (or happens). Better to say, "Carl modified the words as he was copying them from the lyric sheet."

Mike does this all the time. I have seen Brian completely change every word of a song. Even when the lead has been in place for months, nothing is set in stone until mixdown time.  Look at what happened to Til I Die.  Total replacement.

Here is another example, this is a quote from my book, Recording The Beach Boys on Feel Flows.


"Soon we hear inverse-reverb begin building to an ethereal forming of the first words of Carl’s vocal, “Unfolding, EnveLOPing.” EnveLOPing. The word enveloping was a mis-read.  It was supposed to be the adjective-form, enveloping, i.e., enclosing or encasing completely with or as if with a covering.  But it was read as a gerund form envelope-ing, i.e., A flat, folded paper container, especially for a letter.  EnveLOPing seemed to flow together better with unfolding and more appropriate to the lyrical intent, so it was modified at the time the vocal was recorded..."

Hope this helps,

~swd
 

Thanks very much for explaining this, Mr. Desper. I guess that "Michael, Michael" could just as well have been added by Carl or Brian to what Van Dyke had written. In which case, I suppose it could be tht no reference, or no conscious reference, to Mike Love was meant - just that the words had the right sound. (Which they sure do, I'd say.)  And what you say about "Feel Flows" is also very enlightening.

Speaking of Carl - here is something I was discussing on another thread, and I thought you could clear up this question.

Today is Tandyn Almer's 70th birthday and that set me to thinking what other Beach Boys material he might have co-written besides Marcella and Sail On Sailor. I remembered looking at a list of unreleased BBs songs online which mentioned a song called "Then I'll Be Someone," written by Almer and Carl. I did some Googling and learned that David Cassidy had performed the song on British television in 1976. One of our fellow SS'ers pointed out this performance was online:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmP0L_Yy9E8

It turns out that in March the song was discussed at the Beach Boys Britain board and at that time Billy Hinsche said he knew the song - Almer had personally taught it to him on the piano, and Billy later made an as-yet unreleased recording of it. But Billy said he had not heard anything about Carl co-writing it until it was mentioned on the board.

Since Almer was involved I would guess the song dates from 1971 or 1972, so I was wondering if you might recall working on a track by that title, and if so, who played and sang on it. Many thanks in advance for whatever info you might have.

[startBBtoday]

COMMENT:

I am not a lyric expert. All I know is that when I ask Carl about the meaning of

Michael, Michael, that's what he told me. Maybe Carl got it wrong, I don't know.

It made sense at the time. And it still does.

Last minute word changes happen from time to time. Especially when you're dealing with complex Vandyke Parks lyrics.

No matter what the author wrote to be sung, if any last minute changes are performed, any changes from the lyric sheet then become the new and correct lyrics for the song. Whatever lyric is performed is designated to be the correct wording. To say "Carl copied the words wrong" is not exactly what happened (or happens). Better to say, "Carl modified the words as he was copying them from the lyric sheet."

Mike does this all the time. I have seen Brian completely change every word of a song. Even when the lead has been in place for months, nothing is set in stone until mixdown time.  Look at what happened to Til I Die.  Total replacement.

Here is another example, this is a quote from my book, Recording The Beach Boys on Feel Flows.


"Soon we hear inverse-reverb begin building to an ethereal forming of the first words of Carl’s vocal, “Unfolding, EnveLOPing.” EnveLOPing. The word enveloping was a mis-read.  It was supposed to be the adjective-form, enveloping, i.e., enclosing or encasing completely with or as if with a covering.  But it was read as a gerund form envelope-ing, i.e., A flat, folded paper container, especially for a letter.  EnveLOPing seemed to flow together better with unfolding and more appropriate to the lyrical intent, so it was modified at the time the vocal was recorded..."

Hope this helps,

~swd
 

Hi Stephen, thanks as usual for your contributions. Did you regularly grab lyric sheets from sessions or was this a special occasion because you knew that Surf's Up was a special song?

[LostArt]

Thanks very much for explaining this, Mr. Desper. I guess that "Michael, Michael" could just as well have been added by Carl or Brian to what Van Dyke had written. In which case, I suppose it could be tht no reference, or no conscious reference, to Mike Love was meant - just that the words had the right sound. (Which they sure do, I'd say.)

Mr. Desper has already explained what the meaning of "Michael, Michael" was.

As it was explained to me as I recorded it, Michael, Michael is a "spiritual plea" to Archangel Michael.


~swd

[Stephen W. Desper]

Hi Stephen, thanks as usual for your contributions. Did you regularly grab lyric sheets from sessions or was this a special occasion because you knew that Surf's Up was a special song?

COMMENT:  I always picked up and put away any lyric or song sheets left by any beach boy. These were usually kept in the tape box until their usefullness had passed.  This lyric sheet, however, was written on manuscript paper, too big to fit into the box and too thick to fold. So I put it away in the studio's maintenance area. I found it much later (after release of Surf's Up) and thought it might be a nice keepsake. I reprinted it at the end of my book Recording The Beach Boys.

I've not been one to collect memorabilia from the studio. I even frowned on taking pictures in the studio. This was a place for creativity.  I have been known to give over a disposable cup or two that Dennis may have used to a female fan at a show's intermission. Dennis gave me one of his old stage shirts which I still have, but that's about it.    ~swd

[37!ws]

SWD - how does one get a copy of that book?

[Shane]

One quote from Mr. Desper seems to have been overlooked so far on this thread:

"On the back side is Brian's handwritten part that he read when he sings at the end -- a children's song... . "


The previous consensus on this board was that Al sang this part, but I'll take the word of someone who was there.  The fact that Brian stayed downstairs long enough to appear vocally on the 1971 version is blowing my mind at this particular moment.

[Andrew G. Doe]

One quote from Mr. Desper seems to have been overlooked so far on this thread:

"On the back side is Brian's handwritten part that he read when he sings at the end -- a children's song... . "


The previous consensus on this board was that Al sang this part, but I'll take the word of someone who was there.  The fact that Brian stayed downstairs long enough to appear vocally on the 1971 version is blowing my mind at this particular moment.

Much as I hate to contradict someone who was there, in 1985 Steve showed me the lyric sheet in question and while there is an unreleased couplet added in pencil - "the father's life is done yet the children carry on" (recall may not be exact but maybe 95%) - it's definitely not in Brian's hand. Jack Rieley claimed he added it but as I've never seen his cursive, I couldn't say... but it's not Brian's script. Way too neat. Much too angular. There's an image in Steve's book (excellent read, btw), check it out.