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.
Darlin
Brian Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My darlin' you're so fine
Don't know if words can say
But darlin' I'll find a way
To let you know what you meant to me
Guess it was meant to be
I hold you in my heart
[Chorus]
Oh darlin'
I dream about you often my pretty darlin'
(Darlin' you're so fine)
I love the way you soften my life with your love
Your precious love
I was living like half a man
Then I couldn't love but now I can
You pick me up when I'm feeling sad
More soul than I ever had
Gonna love you every single night
Cause I think you're too outta sight
[Chorus]
Whoa
Every night darlin'
Gonna love you every single night, yes I will
Cause I think you're too doggone outta sight
[Chorus]
The song Darlin' by Brian Wilson is a beautiful love ballad that exudes a deep sense of emotion and gratitude for love. The singer expresses his feelings towards his beloved partner and how she has brought joy and completeness into his life. The opening lines "Oh darlin', my darlin', you're so fine" sets the tone for the rest of the song where Wilson describes his love's qualities and how she has changed his life for the better. He also acknowledges that words may not be enough to express his feelings, but he will find a way to make her see how much she means to him. The way he holds her in his heart and how she has become the most precious part of his life indicates that she is someone he never wants to lose.
In the chorus, Wilson talks about how he dreams about his darlin' and how she softens his life with her love. He also confesses that he loves her every single night, and she is too outta sight not to love. The third verse describes the transformation that occurred in his life when he met his love. Before he met her, he felt like half a man and couldn't love. However, she brought light into his life and even when he is feeling down, she lifts him up. He describes her soul as more than he ever had, indicating that she is a vital part of his being now.
Overall, the lyrics of Darlin' are touching and heartfelt, expressing the deep love and gratitude the singer feels for his partner. It shows how love can transform one's life and help them become a better version of themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh darlin'
The singer addresses his beloved with affection.
My darlin' you're so fine
The singer expresses his admiration for his beloved's beauty.
Don't know if words can say
The singer doubts his ability to express his feelings through words.
But darlin' I'll find a way
The singer assures his beloved that he will try his best to convey his feelings.
To let you know what you meant to me
The singer wants to communicate how important his beloved is to him.
Guess it was meant to be
The singer believes that their relationship was predestined.
I hold you in my heart
The singer cherishes his beloved deeply.
As life's most precious part
The singer considers his beloved to be the most important thing in his life.
Oh darlin'
Repeats the initial address to the beloved.
I dream about you often my pretty darlin'
The singer reveals that he frequently thinks of his beloved in his dreams.
(Darlin' you're so fine)
Repeats the compliment to the beloved's beauty.
I love the way you soften my life with your love
The singer appreciates how his beloved's love has made his life more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Your precious love
The singer acknowledges that his beloved's love is valuable and important to him.
I was living like half a man
The singer suggests that he felt incomplete before he met his beloved.
Then I couldn't love but now I can
The singer suggests that he wasn't able to fully experience and express love before he met his beloved.
You pick me up when I'm feeling sad
The singer appreciates how his beloved supports him emotionally.
More soul than I ever had
The singer suggests that his beloved has enriched his life and brought him greater happiness and fulfillment.
Gonna love you every single night
The singer expresses his intention to love his beloved every night.
Cause I think you're too outta sight
The singer thinks that his beloved is amazing and wonderful.
Whoa
An interjection expressing strong emotion or surprise.
Every night darlin'
Repeats the singer's intention to love his beloved every night.
Gonna love you every single night, yes I will
The singer reiterates his commitment to loving his beloved every night.
Cause I think you're too doggone outta sight
Repeats the singer's belief that his beloved is amazing and wonderful.
Oh darlin'
Repeats the final address to the beloved.
[Chorus]
Repeats the chorus expressing the singer's love and admiration for his beloved.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Brian Wilson, Michael Love
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind