The Beach Boys darkest songs

[matt-zeus]

By dark I mean either lyrically heavy or downbeat, or perhaps musically atonal, depressing (and ultimately uplifting) or downright eerie. Of course this is a matter of opinion. I know thats a bit vague, heres some I can think of (This can include covers, bootlegs and solo stuff as well):
Lonely Sea
I just wasn't made for these times
Caroline No
Surfs up
Wind chimes
Can't wait too long
Be with me
Cease to exist
My solution
'Til I die
A day in the life of a tree
Make it big
Carry me home
Sweet mountain
In the still of the night
Just once in my life
You've lost that lovin' feelin'
Thought of you
My Diane
Still I dream of it
Good timin'
All alone
Love surrounds me
Oh Lord
It's not easy being me

[Jon Stebbins]

I think Dennis has this area covered well...
Be With Me
Never Learn Not To Love
Carry Me Home
4th of July
All Alone
Thoughts of You
Time
Farewell My friend
Love Surrounds Me

But his darkest moment is undoubtedly...
Its Not Too Late

Brian's songs can be very dark too... but there is usually a more obvious degree of hope (and at times resolution) than with Dennis, who has scraps of hope in his darkest material...but they usually seem useless to him, like his opportunity for redemption has somehow passed.

A good compilation would be the Beach Boys "Dark"...something the average citizen might  think would be impossible to compile...But we all know a lot of their stuff is really, really sad.

[I. Spaceman]

Gotta be Problem Child.

[Old Rake]

"Hey Little Tomboy" is exTREMEly dark....in a very sick way.

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

Disturbing:

I Wanna Pick You Up
Roller Skating Child
Hey Little Tomboy
Wind Chimes (Smiley version.....SMiLE's is meant to be joyous)
Wonderful (Smiley version....it's disturbing that the strong subject matter is presented so mockingly from these high pitched weirdos)
Gettin' Hungry
Wild Honey (who knew the beach boys would make a song about 'eating out' a woman?)


Simply dark and depressing:

Till I Die
Busy Doin' Nothing

[I. Spaceman]

Wild Honey (who knew the beach boys would make a song about 'eating out' a woman?)

And only a few months after the Stones!

[JRauch]

uhm ... a little piece of music called "Mrs O'Learys Cow".

[Big Bri]

In a weird way,I think "Steamboat" has a darkness to it.
Bri

[Rocker]

In a weird way,I think "Steamboat" has a darkness to it.
Bri

I think "Holland" is a dark album, as well as "Surf's up".
"Leaving this town" has gotta be one of the darkest songs by the BBs

[PongHit]

I'm surprised no one's said "In My Room" yet...

[Fantastico!]

A Young Man is Gone.

[Jon Stebbins]

uhm ... a little piece of music called "Mrs O'Learys Cow".

Yeah...I feel like a knucklehead for not mentioning that one. That could be one of the darkest pieces of music ever recorded...truly scary. I'd also add Woody Woodpecker Symphony to any dark BB's list.

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

uhm ... a little piece of music called "Mrs O'Learys Cow".

Yeah...I feel like a knucklehead for not mentioning that one. That could be one of the darkest pieces of music ever recorded...truly scary. I'd also add Woody Woodpecker Symphony to any dark BB's list.

I think it all depends on what context the song is listened to in. Say, if Fire was played on a cartoon show -- say a Ren & Stimpy kind of thing then it would not be the darkest music ever. It might be a bit odd, but that would suit the show.

Also, SMiLE 67's 'Fire' is a lot darker than 2004's. Especially with the cackling fire burning along in the background.

[Artie]

uhm ... a little piece of music called "Mrs O'Learys Cow".

 I'd also add Woody Woodpecker Symphony to any dark BB's list.

I agree wholeheartedly. "Fall Breaks" is much darker than "Mrs O'Leary's" to me. It's downright scary. Truly haunting vocals.

[JRauch]

Also, SMiLE 67's 'Fire' is a lot darker than 2004's. Especially with the cackling fire burning along in the background.

Could you explain that a little more? Because I always feel that the new one is actually the scarier one. It has more ... uhm ... power, you know? To me, the old one sounds like you are watching a burning house from the other side of the street. With the new one, you are IN the house.
Could it be that the myths surrounding the original version make it seem darker?

[Reverend Joshua Sloane]

Also, SMiLE 67's 'Fire' is a lot darker than 2004's. Especially with the cackling fire burning along in the background.

Could you explain that a little more? Because I always feel that the new one is actually the scarier one. It has more ... uhm ... power, you know? To me, the old one sounds like you are watching a burning house from the other side of the street. With the new one, you are IN the house.
Could it be that the myths surrounding the original version make it seem darker?

I agree with the power statement, but that's partly down to the mixing on the album. The original "Fire" has so much mood to it, It sounds more demented and wild that the more powerful 2004 version. I don't let the myth surrounding the song get to me much; It's all just the paranoia of a crack-pot artist. Going to the recording studio to record Fire is no different than booking time to go record Surfer Girl in a way. There's one mono mix floating around of the song with the burning fire included -- and it's one dark piece. It mumbles along steadily like it's in a trance, the odd bass lines, the unusual organ voicings, the rising and falling strings, etc. IMO it was captured better in 67'.

[bluesno1fann]

Aside from Dennis's songs (which a majority are pretty dark), there's In My Room, The Elements: Fire, Tears In The Morning, A Day In The Life Of A Tree, Til' I Die, I'm So Lonely, etc.

[Gertie J.]

tree, be with me, fall breaks, fire, pob, bambu

[Marcella]

Tree for me...that simultaneously bad but appropriate vocal by Jack Rieley I'm not surprised Brian was move to tears when he heard it

[Rotat]

Fall Breaks Back To Winter (endlessly fascinated by this tune.. The Baldwin sounds scary on this)

Till I Die ("these things I'll be until I die")

Day In The Life Of A Tree (In an alternate reality, if Brian wrote the lyrics, I'd say it was a suicide note set to music. I still prefer to see it that way, no matter what Jack Rieley says. I know he wrote them and all.)

Wonderful on Smiley Smile (listen to this in the dark, and its one of the scariest songs you'll ever hear)

Sail Plane Song (something creepy about this one)

Be With Me (that scream at the end alone)

the Chorus of Heroes and Villains single version (must be the Baldwin again)

[punkinhead]

By dark I mean either lyrically heavy or downbeat, or perhaps musically atonal, depressing (and ultimately uplifting) or downright eerie. Of course this is a matter of opinion. I know thats a bit vague, heres some I can think of (This can include covers, bootlegs and solo stuff as well):
Lonely Sea
I just wasn't made for these times
Caroline No
Surfs up
Wind chimes
Can't wait too long
Be with me
Cease to exist
My solution
'Til I die
A day in the life of a tree
Make it big
Carry me home
Sweet mountain
In the still of the night
Just once in my life
You've lost that lovin' feelin'
Thought of you
My Diane
Still I dream of it
Good timin'
All alone
Love surrounds me
Oh Lord
It's not easy being me

Make it Big?
From what songs surround it, I'm gonna assume you meant Make it good.   

[urbanite]

Cease to Exist, the song Manson wrote some of or most of.

[Eric Aniversario]

No one has mentioned Morning Christmas yet. There is no other Beach Boys song that makes me as melancholy as that one. Particularly the last half.

[Jay]

I don't think anybody had mentioned it here, so I will. Let The Wind Blow. Listen to it with the lights off for the full effect. Listen to those weird backing vocals! The big pounding piano(or is it organ?)! But most of all, that sharp intake of breath as the song is fading! 

[Gabo]

Waves Of Love