The Smiley Smile Message Board
Welcome,
Guest
. Please
login
or
register
.
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
If you like this message board, please help with the hosting costs!
680749
Posts in
27614
Topics by
4068
Members - Latest Member:
Dae Lims
April 19, 2024, 08:35:33 AM
The Smiley Smile Message Board
|
Smiley Smile Stuff
|
General On Topic Discussions
|
I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
« previous
next »
Pages:
[
1
]
Author
Topic: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem (Read 4281 times)
JK
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 6053
Maybe I put too much faith in atmosphere
I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
on:
May 11, 2014, 03:47:06 AM »
I posted this elsewhere a couple of years back. This is a slightly revised version. All comments welcome.
I've been checking out the words to "I'm So Young" and there's a puzzle in the line following after "Pretty soon now, I'll go to sea". (The internet is singularly unhelpful on this score.)
In the version by The Students it sounds to me like "Then mother's baby, Will have seen the last of me". What's that supposed to mean? Will the singer have grown up after being in the marines? It's an odd way of putting it. It is doo-wop of course...
In both BB versions (the one on
Today!
and the flute'n'drum alternative version) Brian seems to be singing "Then mother's baby, Has seen the last of me". Just as odd. Am I hearing it right? Any other opinions on this?
As for the instrumentation, the flute's a bit weird in the alternative version, like someone just wandered in from another studio to practise. But the big drum fills are a stroke of genius, as was the decision to leave them off the final version, haha. Actually, they come from The Ronettes' version (see below).
The final verse seems to have been the subject of serious dispute on at least one doo-wop site [now for members only]. The girls (Rosie and Ronnie) sing "sleep" instead of "sea". Check if you don't believe me. No navy for them. Ronnie even sings "cry myself to sleep". In the Tren-Dells' glorious doo-wop rendition, the lead voice sings (if I'm not mistaken) "Then Mom and Daddy, Will have seen the last of me". The plot thickens...
According to that doo-wop site, someone asked the composer, William "Prez" Tyus, about it. "I think he said it's been argued about for so long, he wants to keep it an open issue."
As for the intro: Rosie & The Originals do a more extended instrumental version of The Students' intro. The Tren-Dells add vocals from the beginning but their "I have a girlfriend" section has the chords we know from the BB version (I-IV-V). The Ronettes, like the BBs, leave out the preamble and begins with those three chords. Brian's octave drop in the voices (which seems to have taken the Boys an age to get right) was clearly influenced by (and in fact begins with) the upward "smear" in The Ronettes' version.
Here are links to the versions discussed above:
The Students:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX5YPpfOINQ
The Tren-Dells:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH3d5UwCB24
Rosie & The Originals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngSXX7QzMtQ
The Ronettes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUYJFj2IamM
The BBs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uieE43uxur0
The BBs (alt):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSxx7ESSngY
Logged
"Ik bun moar een eenvoudige boerenlul en doar schoam ik mien niet veur" (Normaal, 1978)
You're Grass and I'm a Power Mower: A Beach Boys Orchestration Web Series
the Carbon Freeze | Eclectic Essays & Art
Ebb and Flow
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 599
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #1 on:
May 11, 2014, 04:32:51 AM »
Quote from: john k on May 11, 2014, 03:47:06 AM
I've been checking out the words to "I'm So Young" and there's a puzzle in the line following after "Pretty soon now, I'll go to sea". (The internet is singularly unhelpful on this score.)
In the version by The Students it sounds to me like "Then mother's baby, Will have seen the last of me". What's that supposed to mean? Will the singer have grown up after being in the marines? It's an odd way of putting it. It is doo-wop of course...
In both BB versions (the one on
Today!
and the flute'n'drum alternative version) Brian seems to be singing "Then mother's baby, Has seen the last of me". Just as odd. Am I hearing it right? Any other opinions on this?
I've always took it as being specifically about the girlfriend's parents (though the last verse implies just the mother) keeping the two of them apart and the girl caving into their decision. "Mother's baby" is referring to the girlfriend, not the narrator. When he "goes to sea" she will have seen the last of him.
While the lyrics may not be entirely clear, perhaps it was written out of personal experience?
Logged
JK
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 6053
Maybe I put too much faith in atmosphere
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #2 on:
May 11, 2014, 05:03:46 AM »
Quote from: Ebb and Flow on May 11, 2014, 04:32:51 AM
Quote from: john k on May 11, 2014, 03:47:06 AM
I've been checking out the words to "I'm So Young" and there's a puzzle in the line following after "Pretty soon now, I'll go to sea". (The internet is singularly unhelpful on this score.)
In the version by The Students it sounds to me like "Then mother's baby, Will have seen the last of me". What's that supposed to mean? Will the singer have grown up after being in the marines? It's an odd way of putting it. It is doo-wop of course...
In both BB versions (the one on
Today!
and the flute'n'drum alternative version) Brian seems to be singing "Then mother's baby, Has seen the last of me". Just as odd. Am I hearing it right? Any other opinions on this?
I've always took it as being specifically about the girlfriend's parents (though the last verse implies just the mother) keeping the two of them apart and the girl caving into their decision. "Mother's baby" is referring to the girlfriend, not the narrator. When he "goes to sea" she will have seen the last of him.
While the lyrics may not be entirely clear, perhaps it was written out of personal experience?
Thank you! It's the most logical explanation so far. And it seems it
was
out of personal experience:
"William 'Prez' Tyus, a student at [Cincinnati] Central High, was desperately in love with a girl named Patricia Pearson, and he'd written a song for her called 'I'm So Young'." [
Source
]
Logged
"Ik bun moar een eenvoudige boerenlul en doar schoam ik mien niet veur" (Normaal, 1978)
You're Grass and I'm a Power Mower: A Beach Boys Orchestration Web Series
the Carbon Freeze | Eclectic Essays & Art
Mendota Heights
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 927
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #3 on:
May 11, 2014, 05:23:39 AM »
I think it means Brian wants the C: "I'll go to C".
That's what my family believes anyway, because it seems like a likely scenario.
«
Last Edit: May 11, 2014, 05:24:38 AM by Swedish Frog
»
Logged
I have been dubbed Mr. Pet Sounds and Mr. Country Love by polite and honored board member Smile Brian. I hope I live up to those esteemed titles.
leggo of my ego
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 1453
Beach Boys Stomp
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #4 on:
May 11, 2014, 05:27:32 AM »
Cool website. I didnt know Im So Young was a cover song.
Logged
Hey Little Tomboy is creepy. Banging women by the pool is fun and conjures up warm summer thoughts a Beach Boys song should.
Necessity knows no law
A bootlegger knows no law
Therefore: A bootlegger is a necessity
Cabinessenceking
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 2164
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #5 on:
May 11, 2014, 07:11:19 PM »
I liked the BB version of I'm So Young, but then I heard the angelic version by the Ronettes and fell in love with Ronnie's deliverance (+ the wall of sound backing track by Phil Spector is very well done). IMO the song works better from a girls perspective too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlYF3pwvPQ0
Logged
Scott
Honored Guest
Offline
Posts: 67
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #6 on:
May 11, 2014, 07:19:00 PM »
"Then marvelous baby, will have seen the last of me…"
Logged
Freddie French-Pounce
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1571
A.K.A. mrmoustachioto
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #7 on:
May 12, 2014, 05:22:26 PM »
I always heard gibberish at that point - "Then marshlidlbaby, willnothalfseethelast of me...."
Now I hear " then mah little baybeh, will have seen the last of me."
Logged
Check out the Mono/Stereo Mix Breakdown podcast Mixology here:
https://mixology.podbean.com/
RangeRoverA1
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 4336
I drink expired tea. wanna sip or spit?
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #8 on:
May 30, 2014, 07:01:16 AM »
This is quite intriguing, I like riddles. Actually, I never heard "baby" in that line. I hear it as 2 words - bake me, break me, beg me, what have you. The transition from "ba-" to "-by" goes uninterrupted, but in this case, I always catch some barrier between that sounds like [k] or [g]. 1st I used to explain it by interference of the back track with the vocal - no. Then figured maybe it's another example of noises & oddities that appear in many BBs songs - I paid careful attention, no. So it's Brian himself singing unclear. As for "I'll go to sea" vs. "I got to see" - well, now, that's dilemma.
Listened to every link & wow, The Boys version is so fresh & nifty the rest just fails in compare. Thank you, john! I still prefer alternate over studio, but now the diff is low.
Logged
Short notice: the cat you see to the left is the best. Not counting your indoor cat who might have habit sitting at your left side when you post at SmileySmile.
Who is Lucille Ball & Vivian Vance Duet Fan Club CEO? Btw, such Club exists?
Zany zealous Zeddie eats broccoli at brunch break but doesn't do's & don't's due to duties.
bossaroo
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 1631
...let's be friends...
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #9 on:
May 30, 2014, 07:32:21 AM »
the original lyric is:
Pretty soon now, I'll go to sea
then mother's baby will have seen the last of me
but Brian sings:
Pretty soon now, I'll go to see
that mother's baby who hasn't seen the last of me
«
Last Edit: May 30, 2014, 07:36:25 AM by bossaroo
»
Logged
RangeRoverA1
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 4336
I drink expired tea. wanna sip or spit?
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #10 on:
May 30, 2014, 07:44:58 AM »
Quote from: bossaroo on May 30, 2014, 07:32:21 AM
the lyric is:
Pretty soon now, I'll go to see
that mother's baby who hasn't seen the last of me
but Brian sings:
Pretty soon now, I'll go to see
that mother's baby who hasn't seen the last of me
If that's so, Brian has
very
weird phrasing here. Any reliable source besides surfermoon/other lyrics site? Or I'm still sticking to my ears.
«
Last Edit: May 30, 2014, 07:46:51 AM by RangeRoverA1
»
Logged
Short notice: the cat you see to the left is the best. Not counting your indoor cat who might have habit sitting at your left side when you post at SmileySmile.
Who is Lucille Ball & Vivian Vance Duet Fan Club CEO? Btw, such Club exists?
Zany zealous Zeddie eats broccoli at brunch break but doesn't do's & don't's due to duties.
Sheriff John Stone
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 5309
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #11 on:
May 30, 2014, 07:54:33 AM »
I always thought Brian was singing, "Then mama's baby has seen the last of me..."
Logged
bossaroo
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 1631
...let's be friends...
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #12 on:
May 30, 2014, 08:02:05 AM »
Quote from: RangeRoverA1 on May 30, 2014, 07:44:58 AM
Quote from: bossaroo on May 30, 2014, 07:32:21 AM
the lyric is:
Pretty soon now, I'll go to see
that mother's baby who hasn't seen the last of me
but Brian sings:
Pretty soon now, I'll go to see
that mother's baby who hasn't seen the last of me
If that's so, Brian has
very
weird phrasing here. Any reliable source besides surfermoon/other lyrics site? Or I'm still sticking to my ears.
and your ears tell you that Brian sings "break me" or "beg me" instead of "baby"? ok.
Logged
hideyotsuburaya
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 270
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #13 on:
May 30, 2014, 08:05:16 AM »
how i've heard it and understand it makes sense:
"then, mama's baby--they'll have seen the last of me"
Logged
RangeRoverA1
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 4336
I drink expired tea. wanna sip or spit?
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #14 on:
May 30, 2014, 08:15:52 AM »
Quote from: bossaroo on May 30, 2014, 08:02:05 AM
Quote from: RangeRoverA1 on May 30, 2014, 07:44:58 AM
Quote from: bossaroo on May 30, 2014, 07:32:21 AM
the lyric is:
Pretty soon now, I'll go to see
that mother's baby who hasn't seen the last of me
but Brian sings:
Pretty soon now, I'll go to see
that mother's baby who hasn't seen the last of me
If that's so, Brian has
very
weird phrasing here. Any reliable source besides surfermoon/other lyrics site? Or I'm still sticking to my ears.
and your ears tell you that Brian sings "break me" or "beg me" instead of "baby"? ok.
No, I was just giving examples meaning I hear some guttural sound there that I have doubts for sth. seamless as "ba-by".
Logged
Short notice: the cat you see to the left is the best. Not counting your indoor cat who might have habit sitting at your left side when you post at SmileySmile.
Who is Lucille Ball & Vivian Vance Duet Fan Club CEO? Btw, such Club exists?
Zany zealous Zeddie eats broccoli at brunch break but doesn't do's & don't's due to duties.
Jon Stebbins
Honored Guest
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 2635
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #15 on:
May 30, 2014, 08:27:32 AM »
Another example of a great Beach Boys track often credited as played by the Wrecking Crew when in fact all of the core instruments are played by the Beach Boys...Brian (organ, bass), Dennis (drums), Carl (guitar, bass)...plus an additional bass by Al.
Logged
RangeRoverA1
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 4336
I drink expired tea. wanna sip or spit?
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #16 on:
May 30, 2014, 08:31:57 AM »
Quote from: Jon Stebbins on May 30, 2014, 08:27:32 AM
Another example of a great Beach Boys track often credited as played by the Wrecking Crew when in fact all of the core instruments are played by the Beach Boys...Brian (organ, bass), Dennis (drums), Carl (guitar, bass)...plus an additional bass by Al.
I always like reading stuff like that. Thank you, Mr. Stebbins. Don't you think their version is the best (I hope you won't join others saying how great The Ronettes version is)?
Logged
Short notice: the cat you see to the left is the best. Not counting your indoor cat who might have habit sitting at your left side when you post at SmileySmile.
Who is Lucille Ball & Vivian Vance Duet Fan Club CEO? Btw, such Club exists?
Zany zealous Zeddie eats broccoli at brunch break but doesn't do's & don't's due to duties.
JK
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 6053
Maybe I put too much faith in atmosphere
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #17 on:
May 30, 2014, 08:41:09 AM »
Quote from: Jon Stebbins on May 30, 2014, 08:27:32 AM
Another example of a great Beach Boys track often credited as played by the Wrecking Crew when in fact all of the core instruments are played by the Beach Boys...Brian (organ, bass), Dennis (drums), Carl (guitar, bass)...plus an additional bass by Al.
Thank you, sir. So there were
three
bassists involved----wow.
Logged
"Ik bun moar een eenvoudige boerenlul en doar schoam ik mien niet veur" (Normaal, 1978)
You're Grass and I'm a Power Mower: A Beach Boys Orchestration Web Series
the Carbon Freeze | Eclectic Essays & Art
JK
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 6053
Maybe I put too much faith in atmosphere
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #18 on:
May 30, 2014, 08:59:30 AM »
Quote from: bossaroo on May 30, 2014, 07:32:21 AM
the original lyric is:
Pretty soon now, I'll go to sea
then mother's baby will have seen the last of me
The combination "go to sea" (as in "called up", one assumes) and "seen the last of me" has always struck me as a bit ominous...
Logged
"Ik bun moar een eenvoudige boerenlul en doar schoam ik mien niet veur" (Normaal, 1978)
You're Grass and I'm a Power Mower: A Beach Boys Orchestration Web Series
the Carbon Freeze | Eclectic Essays & Art
Jon Stebbins
Honored Guest
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 2635
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #19 on:
May 30, 2014, 09:03:28 AM »
Quote from: john k on May 30, 2014, 08:41:09 AM
Quote from: Jon Stebbins on May 30, 2014, 08:27:32 AM
Another example of a great Beach Boys track often credited as played by the Wrecking Crew when in fact all of the core instruments are played by the Beach Boys...Brian (organ, bass), Dennis (drums), Carl (guitar, bass)...plus an additional bass by Al.
Thank you, sir. So there were
three
bassists involved----wow.
C-man will correct this if wrong, but i believe the main bass (six string) is Carl, while Brian does a bass insert somewhere in the track, and Al plays the basic root.
Logged
halblaineisgood
Guest
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #20 on:
May 30, 2014, 09:25:09 AM »
.
«
Last Edit: December 27, 2014, 07:56:34 PM by halblaineisgood
»
Logged
Scott
Honored Guest
Offline
Posts: 67
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #21 on:
May 30, 2014, 09:34:16 AM »
Don't trust what you find on Lyricsfreak.com.
Logged
bossaroo
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Posts: 1631
...let's be friends...
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #22 on:
May 30, 2014, 09:42:46 AM »
Quote from: john k on May 30, 2014, 08:59:30 AM
Quote from: bossaroo on May 30, 2014, 07:32:21 AM
the original lyric is:
Pretty soon now, I'll go to sea
then mother's baby will have seen the last of me
The combination "go to sea" (as in "called up", one assumes) and "seen the last of me" has always struck me as a bit ominous...
indeed. Brian's alteration removes all ominousness
Pretty soon now, I'll go to sea
then mother's baby will have seen the last of me
vs.
Pretty soon now, I'll go to
see
that
mother's baby
who hasn't
seen the last of me
it's the difference between a young soldier going off to war and a young teenager going off to bed.
«
Last Edit: May 30, 2014, 09:45:33 AM by bossaroo
»
Logged
Shady
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 6483
I had to fix a lot of things this morning
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #23 on:
May 30, 2014, 11:11:03 AM »
Such an amazing vocal by brian, how wonderful does he sounds on the today! Album
Logged
Quote from: Andrew G. Doe on October 24, 2011, 11:14:41 PM
According to someone who would know.
Quote from: AvanTodd on January 17, 2015, 07:48:15 PM
Seriously, there was a Beach Boys Love You condom?! Amazing.
drbeachboy
Smiley Smile Associate
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 5214
Re: I'm So Young----Today's hidden gem
«
Reply #24 on:
May 30, 2014, 11:34:03 AM »
Quote from: Aren't You Shady on May 30, 2014, 11:11:03 AM
Such an amazing vocal by brian, how wonderful does he sounds on the today! Album
Absolutely! Great arrangement and bass work on I'm So Young, as well.
Logged
The Brianista Prayer
Oh Brian
Thou Art In Hawthorne,
Harmonied Be Thy name
Your Kingdom Come,
Your Steak Well Done,
On Stage As It Is In Studio,
Give Us This Day, Our Shortenin' Bread
And Forgive Us Our Bootlegs,
As We Also Have Forgiven Our Wife And Managers,
And Lead Us Not Into Kokomo,
But Deliver Us From Mike Love.
Amen. ---hypehat
Pages:
[
1
]
Jump to:
Please select a destination:
-----------------------------
Smiley Smile Stuff
-----------------------------
=> BRIAN WILSON Q & A
=> Welcome to the Smiley Smile board
=> General On Topic Discussions
===> Ask The Honored Guests
===> Smiley Smile Reference Threads
=> Smile Sessions Box Set (2011)
=> The Beach Boys Media
=> Concert Reviews
=> Album, Book and Video Reviews And Discussions
===> 1960's Beach Boys Albums
===> 1970's Beach Boys Albums
===> 1980's Beach Boys Albums
===> 1990's Beach Boys Albums
===> 21st Century Beach Boys Albums
===> Brian Wilson Solo Albums
===> Other Solo Albums
===> Produced by or otherwise related to
===> Tribute Albums
===> DVDs and Videos
===> Book Reviews
===> 'Rank the Tracks'
===> Polls
-----------------------------
Non Smiley Smile Stuff
-----------------------------
=> General Music Discussion
=> General Entertainment Thread
=> Smiley Smilers Who Make Music
=> The Sandbox
Powered by SMF 1.1.21
|
SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
Page created in 1.869 seconds with 22 queries.
Helios Multi
design by
Bloc
Loading...