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.
Song for Children
Brian Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wonderin' who. Wonderful you, a-wonderin'.
Child, the child, Father of the Son.
Where is the Father, Son.
Where is the wonderful me, wonderful you.
Tho' I know I'm won't to wonderin', nevermind, Wonderful you. I can't stop a-wonderin'.
Never you mind, wonderful you!
Child, the child, Father of the Son.
The opening lyrics of Brian Wilson's "Song for Children" may seem enigmatic at first, but they suggest a sense of curiosity and searching that runs through the entire song. The line "Maybe not one, maybe you too, wonderin'" speaks to a feeling of shared uncertainty or existential questioning. The repetition of the word "wonderin'" highlights the theme of uncertainty and a search for meaning that runs throughout the song. The next line, "Wonderful you, a-wonderin'," seems to suggest that the act of questioning and seeking is itself something to be celebrated. This is reinforced by the refrain "Never you mind, wonderful you!"
The rest of the song follows a similar pattern, with Wilson asking questions about the nature of existence, the relationship between father and son, and the place of individuals in the world. The repeated phrase "Child, the child, Father of the Son," seems to suggest a cyclical or generational aspect to the questions being asked. Finally, the closing phrase "Where is the wonderful me, wonderful you" speaks to a desire to locate a sense of self and identity in the midst of the uncertainty and searching conveyed by the rest of the lyrics.
Overall, "Song for Children" is a beautiful and contemplative song that explores themes of searching, questioning, and self-discovery. Its dreamy, ethereal melody and haunting harmonies create a sense of wonder and awe that perfectly complements the mysterious and thought-provoking lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe not one. Maybe you too, wonderin'.
Perhaps there are others who also wonder, not just myself.
Wonderin' who. Wonderful you, a-wonderin'.
Whoever is wondering, you are wonderful for pondering.
Child, the child, Father of the Son.
Referring to the Christian belief of God as the Father and Jesus as the Son.
Where is the Father, Son.
Questioning the whereabouts of God and his son, perhaps in the sense of a spiritual connection.
Where is the wonderful me, wonderful you.
Asking where the best versions of ourselves are, and reflecting on the wonderful aspects of each individual.
Tho' I know I'm won't to wonderin', nevermind,
Although I am prone to wondering, it does not matter.
Wonderful you. I can't stop a-wonderin'.
You are wonderful and I cannot help but keep thinking about you.
Never you mind, wonderful you!
Don't worry about it, you are still wonderful.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind