Formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961, the original group comprised singer-musician-composer and bandleader Brian Wilson, his brothers Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Wilson neighbor David Marks appeared on their first four albums and was a member from 1962 to 1963 as a temporary replacement for Jardine, who had left the group to pursue a career in dentistry.
On their first few studio albums, the group primarily played surf music, but this changed after 1964 as their songs became more sophisticated and autobiographical. The 1965 album Today! particularly represented this shift in sound. Bruce Johnston joined the group that same year. Session drummer Hal Blaine is quoted: "We all studied in conservatories; we were trained musicians. We thought it was a fluke at first, but then we realized Brian was writing these incredible songs. This was not just a young kid writing about high school and surfing."
Following their most esteemed work, Pet Sounds (1966), the band became symbols of psychedelic counterculture. The highly anticipated follow-up, Smile, was left unfinished, and Brian soon relinquished his creative hold on the group. A trilogy of lo-fi releases followed: Smiley Smile (1967), Wild Honey (1967), and Friends (1968). Brian would not be credited as a primary composer for any Beach Boys album until 1977's Love You, an album on the fringe of synth-pop, new wave, and punk.
In Brian's absence, the Beach Boys still managed to release music that was regarded favorably by fans and critics despite poor sales: Sunflower (1970) and Surf's Up (1971). South African musicians Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar played and sang with the band on the next two albums: Carl & the Passions - So Tough (1972), and Holland (1973).
Many changes in both musical style and personnel have occurred in their sometimes-stormy career: Brian Wilson's mental illness and drug addiction; the deaths of Dennis Wilson in 1983 and Carl Wilson in 1998; and continuing legal battles among surviving members of the group. With the release of 1974's Endless Summer they became a more popular touring act, playing their greatest hits. They have recorded 36 Billboard Top 40 hits (including four number-one singles), have had over 100 million sales, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Official site: http://www.thebeachboys.com
God Only Knows
The Beach Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I'll make you so sure about it
God only knows what I'd be without you
If you should ever leave me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me?
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me?
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you (God only knows)
God only knows what I'd be without you (what I'd be without you)
God only knows what I'd be without you (God only knows)
God only knows what I'd be without you (what I'd be without you)
God only knows what I'd be without you (God only knows)
God only knows what I'd be without you (what I'd be without you)
God only knows what I'd be without you (God only knows)
God only knows what I'd be without you (what I'd be without you)
God only knows what I'd be without you
The lyrics to "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys are a testament to the powerful impact that love can have on someone's life. The opening line, "I may not always love you," sets the tone for a vulnerable confession from the singer, who acknowledges that feelings can change over time. However, they then reassure their partner that regardless of whether their feelings wane, the stars will always shine above them, and their devotion will remain unshaken.
The line "God only knows what I'd be without you" underscores the sentiment that the singer's life would be drastically different without their beloved by their side. The prospect of a future without them is almost unimaginable, and the world would hold no value for them. Their love for their partner is vital and all-consuming, and nothing can compare to the joy and completeness they feel when they are with them.
Line by Line Meaning
I may not always love you
There may be times when my love for you is in question
But long as there are stars above you
But as long as the stars shine in the sky, my love for you will endure
You never need to doubt it
You should never worry about the truth of my love
I'll make you so sure about it
I will always try my best to make you certain of my love
God only knows what I'd be without you
Only the divine can imagine what my life would be like if you were not in it
If you should ever leave me
In the unlikely event that you decide to go,
Well, life would still go on, believe me
the world would keep spinning, of course, but don't think that means my feelings for you would die
The world could show nothing to me
No matter what happens in the world, it means nothing without you
So what good would living do me?
If you are not there to share it with, what good is life?
God only knows what I'd be without you
Only a higher power knows what I would do if you were not by my side
God only knows what I'd be without you
My love for you is immeasurable and invaluable
God only knows what I'd be without you
My gratitude for your presence in my life cannot be expressed in words
God only knows what I'd be without you (God only knows)
Only a higher being can understand the depth of my emotions for you
God only knows what I'd be without you (what I'd be without you)
I cannot even fathom what my existence would be like without you
God only knows what I'd be without you (God only knows)
Only a higher power can comprehend how lost and incomplete I would feel without you
God only knows what I'd be without you (what I'd be without you)
I cannot begin to imagine a world without you in it
God only knows what I'd be without you
I will cherish every moment with you because without you, I am incomplete
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brian Douglas Wilson, Tony Asher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ww7ec2ot4n
Lyrics:
I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I’ll make you so sure about it
God only knows what i’d be without you
If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on , believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me
God only knows what I’d be without you
God only knows what I'd be without you
If you should ever leave me
Well, life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me
God only knows what I’d be without you
God only knows what I’d be without you
(God only knows)
God only knows what I’d be without you
God only knows what I’d be without you
(God only knows)
God only knows what I’d be without you
God only knows what I’d be without you
(God only knows)
God only knows what I’d be without you
God only knows what I’d be without you
(God only knows)
God only knows what I’d be without you
God only knows what I’d be without you
(God only knows)
God only knows what I’d be without you
God only knows what I’d be without you
(God only knows)
God only knows what I’d be without you
@jaddison1112
Paul McCartney has said he considers this the best song ever written ~ From one musical genius to another.
@williammclean5040
Yes, He did say that.
@DawnEvans1814
I can ABSOLUTELY agree w/ Mr. McCartney. After all, how can you not nod in agreement w/a Beatle?...
🎼🌌☮️💞🎶... 💋
@jeffsims8270
Agreed 100%!
@Chad-ye3ui
Between Rubber Soul & Beach Boys, Today lp Paul & Brian had enormous respect for each other until Brian's unfortunate decline during the Smile sessions, trying to equal or best Sgt Pepper's...
@justinfletcher9732
hes not wrong, wilson did it, he got the Beatles with this one
@aniweebph8073
A love song that starts with the line "I may not always love you" but is regarded as one of the most beautiful songs ever written. This would be a timeless masterpiece that will be enjoyed by future generations.
@musicluver1979
'would be"? I think It already is a masterpiece. The song is already 56 years old and still being played to all generations.
@chandralx398
My other half bought me a retro record player and Pet Sounds, planned to play this tune in a sunny field, but poured with rain,took me in car, set up player and played this to me, most romantic rainy drizzly day of my life. 😀
@stephencampbell2018
It's just silly lyrics that sound cool. And...it is nice to hear the word god in such a wonderful song. Music is magic.