Surf's Up lyrics - assist

[Azmo]

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?"

[pixletwin]

It is "Bygone, bygone".

[Azmo]

  Thanks!  I'll live a fuller life from now on...

[pixletwin]

 

[hideyotsuburaya]

no , the SU vocal response at the end of initial verses is

"BLIND A, BLIND A"

it's a typical VD Parks style punnish response,
reversing the words of the first verse.

that is, "A BLIND..."  becomes "BLIND A".  (in either case A is of course short vowel)

BTW in similar VDP manner the first verse line can  be reworded
from "A DIAMOND NECKLACE PLAYED UPON"
to "A DIAMOND NECK LESS PLAYED UPON"

[EgoHanger1966]

no , the SU vocal response at the end of initial verses is

"BLIND A, BLIND A"

it's a typical VD Parks style punnish response,
reversing the words of the first verse.

that is, "A BLIND..."  becomes "BLIND A".  (in either case A is of course short vowel)

BTW in similar VDP manner the first verse line can  be reworded
from "A DIAMOND NECKLACE PLAYED UPON"
to "A DIAMOND NECK LESS PLAYED UPON"

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not, but none of that is correct.

"Bygone, bygone" and "A diamond necklace played the pawn" are what is being sung.

[pixletwin]

They're serious, I think, but still wrong.

[hideyotsuburaya]

what i posted earlier is perfectly correct

[EgoHanger1966]

what i posted earlier is perfectly correct

It's really not. Check your Surf's Up (album) or SMiLE Sessions lyric booklets.

[Andrew G. Doe]

what i posted earlier is perfectly correct

As anyone who's heard the vocals isolated out will confirm, you're wrong.

[Roger Ryan]

Given that this was "hideyotsuburaya"'s first post doesn't bode well for future contributions 

[Zach95]

I think this thread ought to be deleted now that the OP's question has been answered.

[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.

[37!ws]

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

[EgoHanger1966]

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.

The second line sounds a lot like "drummed a long ode" which sounds pretty Van Dyke Parks-ian.

There's a cover version of Surf's Up on Youtube of a guy and his piano, he's getting words incorrect all over the place, but the funny thing (to me, anyway) was he was singing "Michael, Michael" instead of bygone!

[ontor pertawst]

The second line sounds a lot like "drummed a long ode" which sounds pretty Van Dyke Parks-ian.

It sounds pretty dang clunky against "baton," tho.

Plus VDP would know what an ode was and how it has nothing to do with drumming. If you'll excuse me, I have an opera to perform on this clarinet.

[Stephen W. Desper]

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?"

COMMENT:

Here are the words >>>  http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/80399/

Here is Brian Explaining the words (see page eight)   >>>
http://books.google.com/books?id=_uEXXP86DcMC&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10&dq=goodbye+surfing+hello+god+beach+boys,+At+home,+as+the+black+acetate+dub&source=bl&ots=pwyoGN_E7I&sig=Shr03KlF5pRw8AxfRv1USjSS6fI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=M_kTULP7M-q90QGztIDgCg&ved=0CEsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=goodbye%20surfing%20hello%20god%20beach%20boys%2C%20At%20home%2C%20as%20the%20black%20acetate%20dub&f=false

~swd

[Mikie]

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?

[Stephen W. Desper]

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

[SMiLE Brian]

That's awesome you have hand written lyrics!

[sockittome]

I've known for years that it was 'bygone, bygone', but there was a time when I thought it was 'right on, right on', which would have been a fairly hip addition in 1971! 


And for the longest time I was trying to figure out what was meant by 'Color made it ruins....domino'   

[Stephen W. Desper]

That's awesome you have hand written lyrics!

COMMENT: 

Complete Words:

SURF'S UP

A diamond necklace played the pawn
Hand in hand some drummed along, oh
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)
Columnated ruins Domino

Canvass the town
And brush the backdrop
Are you sleepin'?

Hung velvet overtaken me
Dim chandelier awaken me
To a song dissolved in the dawn
(Michael, Michael)

The music hall a costly bow
The music all is lost for now
To a muted trumpeter swan
(Michael, Michael)
Columnated ruins Domino

Canvass the town
And brush the backdrop
Are you sleepin', Brother John?

Dove nested towers the hour was
Strike the street quicksilver moon
Carriage across the fog
Two step to lamp lights cellar tune
The laughs come hard in auld lang syne

The glass was raised, the fired rose
The fullness of the wine
The dim last toastin'
While at port a do or die

A choke of grief hard hardened I
Beyond belief
A broken man too tough
To cry

Surf's up
(Hmm, hmm, hmm)
Aboard a tidal wave
Come about hard and join
The young and often spring you gave
I heard the word
Wonderful thing
A childrens song

A childrens song
(Child, child, the child, child)
(A child is the father of man)
Have you listened as they played
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
Their song is love
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
And the children know the way
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
The children say
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
Have you listened as they played
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
(That's why the child is the father to the man)
Their song is love
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
And the children know the way
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
A child

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

Yes, I have the manuscript handwritten by Carl (with some corrections by Brian). This was the lyric sheet read by Carl as he recorded his part of Surf's Up. Some of the lead is also Brian. On the back side is Brian's handwritten part that he read when he sings at the end -- a children's song... .

It's in a fireproof safe.

~swd

[Stephen W. Desper]

I've known for years that it was 'bygone, bygone', but there was a time when I thought it was 'right on, right on', which would have been a fairly hip addition in 1971! 


And for the longest time I was trying to figure out what was meant by 'Color made it ruins....domino'   

COMMENT:

Those of you hear "by gone" or "my god" or "rise up" or other phrases, you need to do the following.

Play Surf's Up with the volume low.

Getting away from room reflections will help to understand the recorded word.
 
Put your ear very close to one of the stereo speakers. Say a couple of inches or so.

Now listen.

It's  "Mike, ell" or Michael. It's hard to make "Michael" sound musical. They did it by changing the emphasis.


You can also play the psycoacoustic game of thinking what you want to hear. Like "by gone." If you think you hear that, you may seem to hear it.

The reason it's on the lyric sheet as "Michael" is because that is the lyric.

~swd

[sockittome]

That's awesome you have hand written lyrics!

COMMENT: 

Complete Words:

SURF'S UP

A diamond necklace played the pawn
Hand in hand some drummed along, oh
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)
Columnated ruins Domino

Canvass the town
And brush the backdrop
Are you sleepin'?

Hung velvet overtaken me
Dim chandelier awaken me
To a song dissolved in the dawn
(Michael, Michael)

The music hall a costly bow
The music all is lost for now
To a muted trumpeter swan
(Michael, Michael)
Columnated ruins Domino

Canvass the town
And brush the backdrop
Are you sleepin', Brother John?

Dove nested towers the hour was
Strike the street quicksilver moon
Carriage across the fog
Two step to lamp lights cellar tune
The laughs come hard in auld lang syne

The glass was raised, the fired rose
The fullness of the wine
The dim last toastin'
While at port a do or die

A choke of grief hard hardened I
Beyond belief
A broken man too tough
To cry

Surf's up
(Hmm, hmm, hmm)
Aboard a tidal wave
Come about hard and join
The young and often spring you gave
I heard the word
Wonderful thing
A childrens song

A childrens song
(Child, child, the child, child)
(A child is the father of man)
Have you listened as they played
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
Their song is love
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
And the children know the way
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
The children say
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
Have you listened as they played
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
(That's why the child is the father to the man)
Their song is love
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
And the children know the way
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
A child

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

Yes, I have the manuscript handwritten by Carl (with some corrections by Brian). This was the lyric sheet read by Carl as he recorded his part of Surf's Up. Some of the lead is also Brian. On the back side is Brian's handwritten part that he read when he sings at the end -- a children's song... .

It's in a fireproof safe.

~swd

Thank you for posting this, Mr. Desper!  Straight from the source, it clears up a number of questions.  I had heard for so long (on this board, even) that it was "by gone", that's what I thought I was hearing.  Guess I was wrong again! 

[pixletwin]

That's awesome you have hand written lyrics!

COMMENT: 

Complete Words:

SURF'S UP

A diamond necklace played the pawn
Hand in hand some drummed along, oh
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)
Columnated ruins Domino

Canvass the town
And brush the backdrop
Are you sleepin'?

Hung velvet overtaken me
Dim chandelier awaken me
To a song dissolved in the dawn
(Michael, Michael)

The music hall a costly bow
The music all is lost for now
To a muted trumpeter swan
(Michael, Michael)
Columnated ruins Domino

Canvass the town
And brush the backdrop
Are you sleepin', Brother John?

Dove nested towers the hour was
Strike the street quicksilver moon
Carriage across the fog
Two step to lamp lights cellar tune
The laughs come hard in auld lang syne

The glass was raised, the fired rose
The fullness of the wine
The dim last toastin'
While at port a do or die

A choke of grief hard hardened I
Beyond belief
A broken man too tough
To cry

Surf's up
(Hmm, hmm, hmm)
Aboard a tidal wave
Come about hard and join
The young and often spring you gave
I heard the word
Wonderful thing
A childrens song

A childrens song
(Child, child, the child, child)
(A child is the father of man)
Have you listened as they played
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
Their song is love
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
And the children know the way
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
The children say
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
Have you listened as they played
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
(That's why the child is the father to the man)
Their song is love
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
And the children know the way
(Child, child, the child)
(A child is the father of man)
A child

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

Yes, I have the manuscript handwritten by Carl (with some corrections by Brian). This was the lyric sheet read by Carl as he recorded his part of Surf's Up. Some of the lead is also Brian. On the back side is Brian's handwritten part that he read when he sings at the end -- a children's song... .

It's in a fireproof safe.

~swd

Thank you for posting this, Mr. Desper!  Straight from the source, it clears up a number of questions.  I had heard for so long (on this board, even) that it was "by gone", that's what I thought I was hearing.  Guess I was wrong again! 

Excellent thread sockittome. Thank you Mr. Desper  for setting the record strait on this. It makes me love this song all the more.