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.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Brian Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came,
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
"Fear not then," then said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might."
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace,
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
The song God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is a traditional Christmas carol that has been covered by numerous musical artists over the years. In this version by Brian Wilson, he starts off by encouraging the listener to be merry and not be disheartened by anything, by reminding them of the birth of Jesus Christ who was born on Christmas day. He tells us that Christ came to save us all from Satan's power when we had gone astray. The chorus is a repetition of the good news of "comfort and joy" that came with the birth of Christ.
The second verse of the song tells us of the appearance of a blessed angel to shepherds bringing them good tidings of the birth of the Son of God in Bethlehem. The angel tells the shepherds not to be afraid and that a Savior had been born to free them from Satan's power and might. The chorus repeats the good news of comfort and joy that had come with the birth of the Savior.
In the final verse, Brian calls for praises to be sung to the Lord and for true love and brotherhood to be embraced during this holy time of Christmas. He concludes the song by repeating the verses and chorus from the beginning. The song has a positive message of hope and salvation, and encourages listeners to find comfort and joy in their faith.
Line by Line Meaning
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
May God grant you peace and happiness, oh noble and joyful companions
Let nothing you dismay
Don't let anything discourage you
Remember, Christ, our Savior
Recall that Jesus, who saves us from sin and death, is our rescuer
Was born on Christmas day
He was born on a day we celebrate as Christmas
To save us all from Satan's power
Christ came into this world to deliver us from Satan's grip
When we were gone astray
When we were lost, confused and trapped in sin
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Here is a message that brings comfort and happiness
Comfort and joy
A message that assures us of consolation and immense happiness
From God our Heavenly Father
An angel who came from God
A blessed Angel came,
This was no ordinary angel, but a blessed envoy
And unto certain Shepherds
And he came to specific shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
He brought the same glad message
How that in Bethlehem was born
The joyous news was that the savior was born in Bethlehem
The Son of God by Name.
He was named as the Son of God
Fear not then," then said the Angel,
Don't be afraid," instructed the angel
Let nothing you affright,
Don't be afraid or worried about anything
This day is born a Savior
Today, an emancipator of humankind was born
Of a pure Virgin bright,
Born to an immaculate and pure virgin
To free all those who trust in Him
The purpose of his birth is to deliver all those who repose trust in him
From Satan's power and might.
Christ came to unshackle mankind from the tyranny and grip of Satan
Now to the Lord sing praises,
Let us sing the Lord's praises
All you within this place,
Everyone present, come sing his praises
And with true love and brotherhood
In brotherly love and with genuine affection
Each other now embrace,
Let us embrace each other now
This holy tide of Christmas
This holy time of Christmas
All other doth deface.
Dampens every other joyous occasion in comparison.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GRACE PRICE, ROBERT LEE BLACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind