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.
I'm in Great Shape / I Wanna Be Around / Workshop
Brian Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of bed Eggs and grits and lickety-split
Look at me jump!
I'm in the great shape of agriculture
I wanna be around to pick up the pieces When
Somebody breaks your heart (your heart) Yes when
Somebody breaks your heart (your heart) In two (in two)
The first part of the lyrics from Brian Wilson's song "I'm in Great Shape" describe a feeling of energy and freshness in the morning, possibly after a night's sleep. The lyrics use agricultural imagery to convey this feeling of vitality, with "freshened air" and "mornings tumble out of bed" suggesting a connection to nature and the start of a new day. The mention of "eggs and grits" adds to this sense of a wholesome, hearty start to the day.
The second part of the lyrics, from "I Wanna Be Around," take on a different tone. Rather than the upbeat, energetic feel of the first part, these lyrics adopt a more melancholic attitude. Brian Wilson sings of wanting to be there to help someone through heartbreak and pain, indicating a desire to provide support and comfort to those he cares about. The repetition of the phrase "your heart" emphasizes the emotional vulnerability of the situation and the importance of being there for others during difficult times.
Overall, these lyrics combine contrasting moods and themes, highlighting different sides of Brian Wilson as a songwriter and artist.
Line by Line Meaning
Freshened air around my head
The atmosphere feels refreshing and clean around me
Mornings tumble out of bed
I wake up in the morning feeling a bit disorientated
Eggs and grits and lickety-split
I quickly eat my breakfast of eggs and grits
Look at me jump!
I feel full of energy and vitality
I'm in the great shape of agriculture
I feel healthy and strong, like I work on a farm or do manual labor
I wanna be around to pick up the pieces
I want to be there for someone when they need emotional support
When somebody breaks your heart (your heart)
When someone hurts you emotionally
Yes when somebody breaks your heart (your heart) in two (in two)
When someone hurts you so deeply that it feels like your heart is broken in two
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRIAN WILSON, VAN DYKE PARKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind