Born in Hawthorne, California to Murry and Audree Wilson, Carl Wilson was the youngest of the Wilsons' three sons. A contrast to the ambitious and melancholy Brian and the rebellious Dennis, Carl was a quiet, well-mannered young man who rarely if ever felt the brunt of the parental abuse often perpetrated by father Murry. As a teenager, Carl became enamored with the growing rock and roll scene, particularly Chuck Berry, whom he sought to emulate when learning to play the guitar. Carl's love of rock and roll is partly credited with shaping the early sound of The Beach Boys, and as a result, surf rock as a whole.
When The Beach Boys were formed, Carl became lead guitarist; his Berry-inspired lead guitar lines are a staple of many of their early, primarily surf rock-driven hit singles, among them their very first, "Surfin'" (1961). During the first three years of the band's existence, Carl rarely sang lead vocals. Notably, when Brian's production methods started to shift more towards session musicians, Carl remained one of the few group members to still contribute instrumental tracks, recording guitar leads during vocal sessions with his guitar plugged directly into the soundboard.
As the '60s progressed, Carl became a more confident singer and performer; following his much-vaunted lead vocal for "God Only Knows", featured on the seminal Pet Sounds (1966), more and more often he found himself in the role of a featured lead vocalist, a role previously dominated by Brian and bandmate Mike Love. Following the worldwide success of "Good Vibrations", throughout the '60s Carl would continue to lend his voice to (admittedly more modest) hit singles such as "Darlin'", "I Can Hear Music", and "Wild Honey".
After brother Brian's retirement as an onstage performer in 1965, Carl assumed the role of de facto onstage bandleader (contracts from this time stipulating that promoters would be hiring "Carl Wilson plus four other musicians"), eventually taking charge of studio sessions as well in response to Brian's continually decreasing role within the group. In the late '60s, Carl also made headlines as a conscientious objector to the ongoing Vietnam War; at one point, the Beach Boys were forced to go on tour without Carl due to his having to appear before the draft board.
Though never a prolific songwriter, the dawn of the '70s saw the genesis of Carl's first self-composed songs; previously released songs credited to Carl had been either surf rock instrumentals, or songs on which he was credited for arrangement ideas rather than songwriting. Together with then-manager Jack Rieley, Carl wrote two songs for The Beach Boys' 1971 album Surf's Up; namely, "Feel Flows" and "Long Promised Road", the latter of which he viewed as his "first real song." Subsequent Beach Boys albums would typically feature a couple of Carl Wilson originals, usually co-written with a bandmember or other writer.. Another notable song composed with Rieley was "The Trader", an anti-imperialist opus that opened side two of the Beach Boys' 1972 album Holland. This particular album was meant to be Brian's glorious return to the producer's chair, but a lack of interest on his part resulted in Carl having to take the brunt of the responsibility.
Throughout the '70s, Carl also served as producer for a number of other artists such as Ricci Martin (son of Dean Martin; Carl would later marry Dean's daughter Gina), and South African group The Flame, of which members Blondie Chaplin Rikki Fataar would serve as members of The Beach Boys for a couple of years. The lineup including Chaplin and Fataar would release the album Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" (1972), its title a reference both to a long-forgotten name once used for the group that would become The Beach Boys, as well as a nod at Carl's long-running de facto leadership.
By the early 1980s, The Beach Boys had split into several camps, the two most basic of which were "nostalgia" and "progress"; Carl was of the latter group. Frustrated with the band's continuing reliance on decade-old hits and half-hearted emulation of their '60s aesthetics, Carl took a leave of absence in 1981. During the years that followed, he would release two solo albums--Carl Wilson (1981) and Youngblood (1983)--which received favorable reviews but disappointing sales, not at all helped by a lack of record label support and promotion.
By the time Youngblood was released, however, Carl had already rejoined his old group. That same year, brother Dennis drowned in an unfortunate accident, and was given the unique honor of receiving a burial at sea, an honor usually reserved for war heroes. Though Carl would relegate songwriting and production duties to other bandmates and parties, he continued to produce his own recordings throughout the years. Notably, he performed co-lead vocals on The Beach Boys' last #1 hit, "Kokomo".
A habitual smoker since age 13, Carl was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1997; he would continue performing live with The Beach Boys until a few months before his death. Though his illness had stricken him to the point where he had trouble standing up, when performing "God Only Knows", he always respectfully stood for the duration of the song. Carl Wilson died in February 1998, only three months after the death of his mother, Audree Wilson. He was survived by his brother Brian, wife Gina Martin Wilson, and two sons by his first marriage, Justyn and Jonah. His gravestone is inscribed with the words "The heart and voice of an angel."
Posthumously, Carl has been featured on a number of recordings, most notably with supergroup Beckley-Lamm-Wilson (consisting of Gerry Beckley of America and Robert Lamm of Chicago, alongside Carl), on some of brother Brian's (whose 1998 song "Lay Down Burden" was dedicated to his late brother) solo recordings, and the continuing slew of archival releases by The Beach Boys. Though his Beach Boys vocal spots are usually given to other group members now, performances of "God Only Knows" have often made use of Carl's original, irreplaceable vocal tracks.
Hold me
Carl Wilson Lyrics
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Tearin` me apart each lonely day
You can sooth my spirit with some of your lovin`
With you by my side we can make it OK
There`s a way of love with you
And I`m seeing the glow
All I need is understandin` just to
Let me grow
I can`t tell you now `bout all of my reasons
Burdens of this life have me in a trance
You can help unlock my other secrets
Though your warm embrace I give the
Good life a chance
There`s a way of love with you and I`m feelin` it flow
All I need is understandin` just to let me grow
Hold me - just a little tighter
`Cause when you hold me - I don`t have to fight it
I don`t want to sound like I`m full of self pity
`Cause that`s not the way I want it to be
All I need for now is your love to forget her
Love so sweet completely settin` me free
There`s a way of love with you
And I`m seeing the glow
All I need is understandin` just to
Let me grow
Hold me - just a little tighter
When you hold me - I don`t have to fight it
The lyrics to Carl Wilson's song "Hold Me" describe the singer's desire for love, understanding, and escape from the burdens of life. He explains that there is an ache deep inside of him that tears him apart each lonely day. He seeks comfort and healing through the love and support of his partner, who can soothe his spirit with her love. With her by his side, they can make things okay, finding a way of love that glows warmly.
The singer recognizes that there are secrets hidden within him that he cannot yet divulge, but he knows that his partner's understanding and warm embrace can help him unlock those secrets. He desires to let go of the burdens of his life and feel completely free, and he recognizes that the way to do this is by becoming closer to his partner and letting love grow.
Despite his desire to escape from the problems of his life, the singer does not want to sound like he is full of self-pity or completely helpless. He recognizes that his partner's love is all he needs to forget the burdens of his past and enjoy the good life that lies ahead. With her understanding and support, he knows that he can grow and become a better person.
Overall, the lyrics to "Hold Me" convey a sense of vulnerability, optimism, and longing for love and support. They speak to the importance of human connection and the power of love to heal and transform our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
You know that there`s an achin` deep inside me
I am experiencing an internal pain that is troubling me deeply.
Tearin` me apart each lonely day
This pain is continually driving me further away from contentment and joy.
You can sooth my spirit with some of your lovin`
Your love has the power to ease my emotional pain.
With you by my side we can make it OK
Having you in my life is comforting and reassuring, and I know we will be able to overcome any obstacles together.
There`s a way of love with you
I have discovered a unique path to love with you that brings me happiness and fulfillment.
And I`m seeing the glow
I am experiencing the radiant effects of this love, and it is enlightening me in many ways.
All I need is understandin` just to
All I require from you is empathy and compassion, so that
Let me grow
I can develop and reach my full potential, both personally and romantically.
I can`t tell you now `bout all of my reasons
There are many factors contributing to my current state of mind, but they are difficult to articulate at this time.
Burdens of this life have me in a trance
The daily pressures and challenges of life have me feeling overwhelmed and disoriented.
You can help unlock my other secrets
Through your support and encouragement, I feel comfortable sharing my innermost thoughts and feelings with you.
Though your warm embrace I give the Good life a chance
With the comfort of your affectionate embrace, I am able to face life's challenges with a newfound sense of optimism and joy.
Hold me - just a little tighter
In this moment, I need your comfort and reassurance more than ever.
`Cause when you hold me - I don`t have to fight it
Your embrace has the power to dissolve my worries and anxieties, allowing me to fully relax and let go.
I don`t want to sound like I`m full of self pity
I do not wish to seem overly dramatic or self-absorbed in expressing my feelings.
`Cause that`s not the way I want it to be
I simply desire to be honest and authentic with you, without unnecessary drama or exaggeration.
All I need for now is your love to forget her
In order to move forward emotionally, I require your love and affection to help me overcome feelings of heartbreak and loss.
Love so sweet completely settin` me free
Your love has a transformative power that liberates me from my emotional burdens, allowing me to experience a more joyful and fulfilling life.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Carl Dean Wilson, Myrna Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind