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.
First Noel
Brian Wilson Lyrics
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Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
The First Noel is a song that retells the epic biblical story of the birth of Jesus. The first verse talks about how the angels visited the shepherds in the field and announced the birth of Jesus to them. This was on a cold winter's night, and the shepherds looked up, and they saw a star shining in the east, farther than them.
The second verse is about the same star that the shepherds saw that gave great light, and the three Wise men, who came from a country far away, saw it too, and they started on their journey to Judea to see this King who was born. The star formed their guide, and it remained with them both day and night.
The third verse talks about how the Wise men followed the star until it led them to Bethlehem, where they found Jesus, and right over the place, the sweet star shone. The last verse is a call to everyone to sing praises to the heavenly Lord for creating the earth out of nothing and, with his blood, redeeming mankind.
Overall, The First Noel is a song that celebrates the joy of the birth of Jesus and instills hope in the hearts of believers that God is always with us, and His love is infinite.
Line by Line Meaning
The First Noel, the Angels did say
The Angels announced the first Christmas by sharing it with certain shepherds who were so poor they could only afford to dwell in fields
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
The Angels came with tidings of great joy for those shepherds who had no warm beds to lay in that cold winter's night
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
The shepherds lay in fields watching over their sheep with nobody around to join them in that lonesome vigil
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
It was a freezing winter night with cold winds blowing so fiercely that it felt like the depth of winter
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
The Angels shouted out the name of a baby who would soon bring salvation
Born is the King of Israel!
The Messiah, the King of Israel, was born
They looked up and saw a star
The shepherds noticed the brightest star gleaming in the sky
Shining in the East beyond them far
The star was shining so brightly to the East, far beyond their reach
And to the earth it gave great light
The star illuminated the earth with a light so bright that the shepherds were in awe of it
And so it continued both day and night.
The star continued to light up the sky with its brilliance, day and night
And by the light of that same star
The three Wise Men were guided by the same star
Three Wise men came from country far
Three Wise Men traveled from a distant land, following that bright star
To seek for a King was their intent
The Wise Men wished to find and worship a King who was born
And to follow the star wherever it went.
They followed the star to find the King, wherever it led them
This star drew nigh to the northwest
The star led them towards the northwest direction
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
The star came to a halt over Bethlehem
And there it did both Pause and stay
The star paused and stayed over the place where Jesus was born
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
The star shone directly over the place where the baby Jesus had been born
Then entered in those Wise men three
The three Wise Men entered the place where the baby Jesus lay
Full reverently upon their knee
They knelt down in great reverence towards the newborn King
And offered there in His presence
In the presence of the newborn King, they offered gifts
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
They presented gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense
Then let us all with one accord
Now, let us all celebrate in unison
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
Let us sing praises to our Creator, who reigns in Heaven
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
Our Lord created Heaven and earth, out of nothing
And with his blood mankind has bought.
And with his divine sacrifice, he has redeemed all of humankind
Lyrics © Phonographic Digital Limited (PDL), Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind