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.
Caroline No
Brian Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where is the girl I used to know
How could you lose that happy glow
Oh, Caroline no
Who took that look away
I remember how you used to say
You'd never change, but that's not true
Oh, Caroline youBreak my heart
I want to go and cry
It's so sad to watch a sweet thing die
Oh, Caroline why
Could I ever find in you again
Things that made me love you so much then
Could we ever bring 'em back once they have gone
Oh, Caroline no
The lyrics to Brian Wilson's song "Caroline No" convey a sense of nostalgia and heartbreak as the singer reflects on the changes that have befallen the woman he once knew as Caroline. The opening lines express confusion and disappointment as he wonders where her signature long hair has gone and where the girl he used to know has disappeared to. He expresses sadness at the fact that she has lost her happy glow, perhaps indicating a loss of innocence or a shedding of her former carefree demeanor.
The second half of the song is filled with regret and longing as the singer reflects on how Caroline had promised never to change, but has ultimately done so. He is heartbroken watching her undergo a transformation that has left her different from the girl he once knew and loved. He wonders if there is any hope of finding the things that made him love her so much again, or if they are lost forever. This sense of yearning and disappointment is underscored by the melancholic, lullaby-esque melody of the song, which adds to the poignancy of the lyrics.
Overall, "Caroline No" is a powerful meditation on the passage of time and the irreversible changes that come with it, as well as the pain of watching someone you love change and grow apart from you.
Line by Line Meaning
Where did your long hair go
Brian is noticing that Caroline has cut her hair and is wondering what inspired the change.
Where is the girl I used to know
Brian is expressing that Caroline has changed and he can no longer recognize her as the girl he once knew.
How could you lose that happy glow
Brian is questioning what happened to the happiness that Caroline used to radiate.
Oh, Caroline no
This line is repeated throughout the song and highlights Brian's disappointment about Caroline's changes.
Who took that look away
Brian is questioning who or what has caused Caroline to lose her spark.
I remember how you used to say
Brian recalls a time when Caroline promised she would never change, adding to his sadness.
You'd never change, but that's not true
This line highlights the contrast between Caroline's earlier promise and her current situation.
Oh, Caroline you
Again, Brian expresses his disappointment about Caroline's changes.
Break my heart
Brian is feeling heartbroken over the changes he is observing in Caroline.
I want to go and cry
Brian is expressing his sadness and feeling of wanting to cry.
It's so sad to watch a sweet thing die
Brian is using a metaphor to describe how he feels about Caroline's changes and how it is affecting him.
Oh, Caroline why
This line is similar in meaning to 'Oh, Caroline no', expressing a sense of disappointment and sadness towards her changes.
Could I ever find in you again
Brian is expressing his doubt about whether he could ever find the girl he once knew in Caroline again.
Things that made me love you so much then
Brian is referring to the things that attracted him to Caroline in the first place.
Could we ever bring 'em back once they have gone
Brian is questioning whether it is possible for Caroline to change back to the person she used to be.
Oh, Caroline no
This final line emphasizes Brian's continued disappointment and regret over Caroline's changes.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brian Wilson, Tony Asher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind