Yer favorite lyrics

[Shady]

The Trader---the first half

Classic, good choice.

Such a well written song.

[nobody]

Well since she put me down, boo ba dab a do ba dab ba dy ba dy ba

Oh, Murry... 

[hypehat]

The Trader---the first half

I might actually prefer the 2nd half. That song is all good, though. It's a shame Carl didn't write more like that, he obivously liked Reily as a partner.


I wonder why Carl didn't find an ally in The BB's to write with like that? He might have been a more celebrated songwriter if that had been the case.



And for my personal best songwriting bet.... 'I don't know where but she sends me there'....

[Sheriff John Stone]

- "I could try to big in the eyes of the world, what matters to me is how I could be to just one girl"

- "It's three o'clock I go to my sink, I pour some milk and I start to think..."

- "You open up my wallet and dust falls out that's alright with me, because the song that I'll sing won't be blue...."

- "I'm the kinda guy who loves to mess around, know a lot of women, but they don't fill my heart with love, completely free...." 

[Jay]

In my opinion, the whole of Surf's Up is the single best written song in the entire history of songwriting. As far as single lyrics go, my favorites are "I don't know where, but she send me there" and "Young and beautiful, like a tree that's just been planted I found life today". So simple, yet so thought provoking and complex at the same time.

[MBE]

I used to blow my mind sky high
Searching for the lost elation
Little did I know the joy I was to find
In knowing I am only me

Although many people don't like Dennis' songs on Sunflower, I like them, and I find this lyric tremendously meaningful.

What are your favorites? First that come to mind. Go!

Dennis' songs on Sunflower are four of my favorite songs period and generally they are well received critically.

My favorite lyrics would have to be Break Away because they are so important to who Brian and Murry both were. I don't buy Leaf's theory on them being a decloration to be apart from the Beach Boys. He would say that!

[Mr. Cohen]

Though it's hard, I try not to look at my wind chimes
now and then, a tear rolls off my cheek

[Amanda Hart]

- "I'm the kinda guy who loves to mess around, know a lot of women, but they don't fill my heart with love, completely free...." 

The best lyrics in a Dennis song, IMO.  That song always gets me, it is so honest.

[Mr. Wilson]

The Lyrics to:  You Still Believe In Me.. Could be singin to a girl or GOD....The Lyrics to: Forever...Wish id written both of these songs.

[punkinhead]

-Passing By
-Metal Beach
-One For the Boys
-We Gotta Groove
-Fall Breaks

[SG7]

I built all my goals around you
That some day my love would surround you
You'll never know what we've been through

[rogerlancelot]

All lyrics written by Van Dyke Parks or Jack Reiley.

Plus "Baby Blue", "That's Not Me", "Til I Die", "Tears In The Morning", "Disney Girls", "Wake The World", "Leaving This Town", "Let The Wind Blow", "Hold On Dear Brother" and some others.

Seriously, why not start a thread with the worst lyrics? "Good Time" and "Solar System" could start such a list.

[punkinhead]

idk, i find myself singing Solar System everynow and then

[rogerlancelot]

I love the song "Solar System" very much (as well as all of Love You). I just think the lyrics are a bit too childish to compare say with Reiley's work with Carl for instance. (If Mars had life on it I might find my wife on it, etc.)

Now I'm really looking for bad lyrics for BB songs. How about "She's Got Rhythm"? Truth is I still like all of these songs. There just seems to be a big contrast say from original Smile lyrics to what followed on Smiley & WH.

[Big Bri]

"Let The Wind Blow"  espescially the "In Concert '73" version:

Let The Wind Blow
Let the wind blow
Let the grass grow
But don't let her go

Don't take her out of my life
Don't take her out of my life

Let the moon glow
(let the moon glow)
(on the fallen snow)
On the fallen snow
(let the moon glow)
(on the fallen snow)

But i just got to know
(let me please know oh oh oh)
Know she'll be a part of my life
Know she'll be a part of my life
Forever


Let the bees make honey
Let the poor find money
Take away their sorrows
Give them sunshine tomorrow

But don't take her out of my life
Don't take her out of my life
What would i do without her tell me now

Let the bird sing
With the coming spring
Let the church bells ring
Let the rain fall
Let the grass grow
Let the moon glow
On the fallen snow

But don't take her out of my life
Please keep her a part of my life

Big Bri

[Alex]

My favorite BB lyricists were Gene Landy and Alexandra Morgan!! 

[phirnis]

Big Bri - totally agree about "Let The Wind Blow", easily one of the most beautiful and desperate lyrics ever set to a pop tune. Carl indeed gave it an incredible reading on that early seventies version and I think that in general Mike wrote some pretty good lyrics around that time.

[Nicko1234]

All lyrics written by Van Dyke Parks or Jack Reiley.

I wouldn`t agree with that. Just because lyrics are pretentious doesn`t always make them good. VDP obviously wrote some excellent lyrics but there is some dire stuff there too. Rieley`s lyrics work with the songs but on their own not always.

[Sound of Free]

I don't know where but she sends me there.

I'm glad I went, now I that much more sure that we're ready.

Then I wondered as it got light
Were you still awake like me?

Lots of people with no place to go
I know a place where you can go

[punkinhead]

joking aside, i love the lyrics to:

Time to Get Alone
That's Not Me
Please Let Me Wonder
You're So Good To Me
Aren't You Glad

[rogerlancelot]

All lyrics written by Van Dyke Parks or Jack Reiley.

I wouldn`t agree with that. Just because lyrics are pretentious doesn`t always make them good. VDP obviously wrote some excellent lyrics but there is some dire stuff there too. Rieley`s lyrics work with the songs but on their own not always.

I don't believe the words to "Feel Flows" are pretentious. Those lyrics are way beyond Mr. Love's scope for sure. Love "The Trader" as well.

Van Dyke beyond being a great composer is not a very bad lyricist. Some of us may not like say "The Waltz" or whatever but surely we all agree on "Surf's Up". I really enjoy all of his albums (I'm missing one of them) and I wrote him an e-mail once about a song of his ("Wall Street") and he took the time to write me back. Cool guy!

[Alex]

I'll learn to talk-a like a local I'll betcha...

[donald]

The spinning stopped and the world stood still

I broke her fall and I always will

Strung out in no man's land

Somewhere near Japan


This has become one of my favorite Beach Boys songs. For personal reasons and just because its a damn fine song that stands well above any song they released in the previous 15 years.

[phirnis]

He's gonna tell her
She's gonna tell him too
He's gonna tell her baby
He's gonna tell her
She's gonna tell him too
Who's gonna tell him baby
He's gonna tell her
She's gonna tell him too
He's gonna tell her baby
He's gonna tell her
She's gonna tell him too
Who's gonna tell 'em baby
He's gonna tell her
She's gonna tell him too
He's gonna tell her baby
He's gonna tell her
She's gonna tell him too
He's gonna tell her baby

[tpesky]

All lyrics written by Van Dyke Parks or Jack Reiley.

I wouldn`t agree with that. Just because lyrics are pretentious doesn`t always make them good. VDP obviously wrote some excellent lyrics but there is some dire stuff there too. Rieley`s lyrics work with the songs but on their own not always.

I don't believe the words to "Feel Flows" are pretentious. Those lyrics are way beyond Mr. Love's scope for sure. Love "The Trader" as well.

Van Dyke beyond being a great composer is not a very bad lyricist. Some of us may not like say "The Waltz" or whatever but surely we all agree on "Surf's Up". I really enjoy all of his albums (I'm missing one of them) and I wrote him an e-mail once about a song of his ("Wall Street") and he took the time to write me back. Cool guy!

Not so sure Carl always agreed, I have heard a couple late 70's concerts where he is apologizing for the "bad" lyrics to Feel Flows.  In my opinion, the lyrics are what detract from Feel Flows and Trader and would keep them from being hits. (The fact that Trader lasts forever is another reason) They don't make much sense, aren't really relatable and are just about impossible to sing along to. Van Dyke's have a theme at least, Reilly's to me are all over the place.