The first official release credited to Wilson as a solo artist was the 1966 Beach Boys single "Caroline, No" (b/w "Summer Means New Love"), due to being the single's arranger and sole vocal presence. Around the same time, Wilson also produced cuts for other artists such as The Beach Boys' spear counterpart The Honeys (member Marilyn Rovell was Wilson's first wife), and Jan & Dean, whose "Surf City" became a #1 hit single. The 1977 album Love You and the unreleased Adult/Child (recorded during the same sessions) were tentatively considered for release as Brian Wilson solo albums, although the idea fell through. Love You would be last Beach Boys albums to feature Wilson's extended involvement for the better part of 35 years.
Brian's solo career, despite a few false starts, began in earnest with the 1987 single "Let's Go to Heaven in My Car" (b/w "Too Much Sugar"), featured in the film Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol. A year later, his debut solo album, the eponymous Brian Wilson, was released, at the time hailed as a 1980s equivalent of what is widely regarded as Wilson's magnum opus, 1966's Pet Sounds. A follow-up in much the same vein, Sweet Insanity, was scrapped due to various personal issues.
Also left on the shelf was a fruitful collaborative project with multi-instrumentalist Andy Paley, informally known as "The Paley Sessions". Over the years, a few tracks were released through various albums, but dozens more have been bootlegged, and a comprehensive release has yet to be assembled.
Instead, 1995 saw the release of two albums: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, a collection of re-recordings seemingly meant to reintroduce him to the public, and Orange Crate Art, a song cycle written by one-time lyricist Van Dyke Parks with contributions by Wilson, were released. An album of new compositions entitled Imagination followed in 1998.
Wilson began performing live again in 1999, and with his confidence as a performer growing ever stronger, he chose to release a live album documenting the Imagination tour (Live at the Roxy Theatre). In 2002, he began incorporating Pet Sounds in its entirety into his live performances; this, too, was documented in a live album titled Pet Sounds Live.
In 2004, Wilson revived and completed SMiLE, his unfinished 1967 album, performing the work in its entirety on a celebrated tour. The positive response lead him to record a studio version which met similar acclaim; the album cut "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental. That same year, he released Gettin' in Over My Head (containing many songs originating with the ill-fated Sweet Insanity album), featuring guest musicians Elton John, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and brother Carl, who passed away in 1998. Brian's song "Lay Down Burden" was written in tribute of his brother.
Brian released a collection of Christmas songs entitled What I Really Want For Christmas in 2005. His 2008 album, That Lucky Old Sun, marked his return to Capitol Records. As part of a two-album deal with Disney, Wilson released Reimagines Gershwin (2010), a tribute to his idol George Gershwin, and In the Key of Disney (2011), a collection of cover songs from various Disney films.
2012 saw the The Beach Boys celebrate their 50th anniversary, reuniting a majority of surviving band members including Brian, for a worldwide tour as well as the release of an album, That's Why God Made the Radio, composed almost entirely by Wilson with an assortment of co-writers. The album became the group's biggest chart success in decades, peaking at #3 on the Billboard album charts. Status quo was restored as the group members went their separate ways again after the conclusion of the tour.
In 2015, Wilson released his eleventh studio album, No Pier Pressure. Originally conceived as a follow-up to That's Why God Made the Radio before The Beach Boys reunion fell through, the album features guest appearances by contemporary artists such as Kacey Musgraves, She & Him, and Nate Ruess (of fun.), as well as former Beach Boys Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin, and David Marks. Summer 2015 will also see the public release of Wilson's autobiographical motion picture Love and Mercy (named after Wilson's 1988 comeback single), with actors Paul Dano and John Cusack starring as a younger and older Wilson.
'Til I Die
Brian Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brian wilson
I'm a cork on the ocean
Floating over the raging sea
How deep is the ocean?
How deep is the ocean?
I lost my wayHey hey hey
I'm a rock in a landslide
Rolling over the mountainside
How deep is the valley?
How deep is the valley?
It kills my soul
Hey hey hey
I'm a leaf on a windy day
Pretty soon I'll be blown away
How long will the wind blow?
How long will the wind blow?
Dip do do do
Do do do do
Do do
Until I die
Until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
In Brian Wilson’s song ‘Til I Die, the singer uses a series of metaphors to describe his place in the world and his state of being. He begins by comparing himself to a cork on the ocean, floating aimlessly without direction. This suggests a feeling of being lost or out of control, overwhelmed by the vastness of the world around him. He then compares himself to a rock in a landslide, rolling uncontrollably down the mountainside. This metaphor emphasizes his lack of agency and a feeling of being helpless in the face of life’s challenges.
The final metaphor comes in the form of a leaf on a windy day, a symbol of the fleeting nature of life itself. The singer acknowledges that he will eventually be blown away by the constant winds of change, emphasizing the transience and impermanence of existence. The repeated refrain of “how deep” and “how long” in each stanza suggests a sense of longing for deeper meaning or purpose, while the use of the simple phrase “hey hey hey” adds a plaintive and melancholic tone to the song.
Overall, ‘Til I Die is a beautifully introspective song that explores themes of mortality and the human struggle to find meaning in an unpredictable world. With its evocative imagery and heartfelt sentiments, this song represents the best of Brian Wilson’s lyrical and musical talents.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a cork on the ocean
I am just a small part of this vast world, floating aimlessly and without control
Floating over the raging sea
Drifting along the rough waters, unable to steer or direct my course
How deep is the ocean?
Wondering about the vastness and unknown depths of the ocean, just as I wonder about the mysteries of life
How deep is the ocean?
Repeating the question, emphasizing my curiosity and fascination with the unknown
I lost my way
Feeling lost and directionless, unsure of my purpose and place in the world
Hey hey hey
Emphasizing the feeling of being lost and alone, calling out for help or guidance
I'm a rock in a landslide
Feeling stuck and unable to move, as though I am part of a larger motion or chaos that overwhelms me
Rolling over the mountainside
Going through the ups and downs of life, experiencing the highs and lows that accompany any journey
How deep is the valley?
Wondering about the depths and shadows of life, questioning the difficult moments that we all must face
How deep is the valley?
Asking the question again, emphasizing the importance of understanding and grappling with difficult experiences
It kills my soul
Feeling like life's challenges and struggles take away a part of me, that they rob me of my spirit and vitality
Hey hey hey
Echoing the despair and sadness of feeling 'killed inside', seeking an outlet or release
I'm a leaf on a windy day
Feeling vulnerable and exposed to the elements, tossed about by external forces beyond my control
Pretty soon I'll be blown away
Acknowledging life's fragility and transience, realizing that nothing lasts forever and everything must eventually come to an end
How long will the wind blow?
Questioning how long my own 'wind' or time will last, how much longer I have left in this life
Until I die
Emphasizing that these experiences and feelings will stay with me until the end of my life
Until I die
Repeating the message, cementing the importance and weight of these experiences
These things I'll be until I die
Acknowledging that these struggles and questions are a part of my identity and existence, they are a fundamental part of who I am
These things I'll be until I die
Repeating and emphasizing the message of the previous line, driving home the point of the song
These things I'll be until I die
Echoing the same statement for emphasis and impact
These things I'll be until I die
Repeating and driving home the message until it sticks, signifying the weight and importance of these thoughts and feelings
These things I'll be until I die
One final repetition to drive the point home, that these struggles and questions will follow me until the end
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Brian Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roblester2110
I'm a cork on the ocean
Floating over the raging sea
How deep is the ocean?
How deep is the ocean?
I lost my way
Hey hey hey
I'm a rock in a landslide
Rolling over the mountainside
How deep is the valley?
How deep is the valley?
It kills my soul
Hey hey hey
I'm a leaf on a windy day
Pretty soon I'll be blown away
How long will the wind blow?
How long will the wind blow?
Ohhhh
Until I die
Until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
These things I'll be until I die
@landlinesandpercolators8822
Brian Wilson wrote this instead of committing suicide. Saved my life too.
@alaricperez
me too
@78thedayafter
me as well
@KathleenEReed
After the death of my brother, my best friend, it saved me, too - from madness and premature endlessness. How does Brian Wilson accomplish it? How does he take all of our collective pain and sorrow and create the feeling of hope and comfort? He's a genius, blessed with a most brilliant gift and a loving, compassionate heart.
@EverTheTwain
mine too
@gianmarcobezada4206
Trapped in my own head with nobody around me to help, loneliness kills me and I got nothing in my life to look forward too or any family who cares about me anymore. Music's all I got, been homeless a couple times and all by myself I'm only 15 years old. Life is the worst thing you can't ask for.
@glannapolisteam8681
It is too bad that so many people just think of the Beach Boys surfing/hot rod songs & don't pay attention to the great later stuff like this !
@hitty9
Not quite true. All great R&R guys revere Pet Sounds. Always listed in the top 100 albums of all time.
@superpotiron
"It's a rite of passage for students of pop music history: At some point, you learn that the Beach Boys
weren't just a fun 1960s surf band with a run of singles that later came to be used in commercials; at their best, they were making capital-A Art."
Mark Richardson from Picthfork
@SartorialisticSavage65
Yeah but he (the original commentor) means general people. There are people who lived the 60's who don't know what Pet Sounds the album even is. They just know the popular singles and give you a weird look if you ask them about the album. Let alone what was supposed to be Smile...or Sunflower or Surf's Up. I've had these experiences quite often and because I'm younger, people think I'm nutty when I bring it up haha. I suppose Pet Sounds is an odd thing to ask about. It can easily be taken litterally.