This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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
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
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
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
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
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
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Lot's of talk about the wonder years, not much about the song. So, here we go. It's a plain and simple love song - the title says it all. But the reason it's so good is the first line of each verse. How many love songs do you know that start with a sentiment - "I may not always love you"? This is to throw you off course, because he later reveals that actually he'll love her forever "as long as there are stars above you, you never need to doubt it. it's a little lovers joke.
Same in the second verse. So many songs say how you can't go on without the other person, but Wilson sings "life would still go on". But again, it's a ruse. He says life would go on, but that it would not be worth living. Again, he flips it round. That's why this is one of the best love songs ever. Plus, let's not forget that the music itself is unfathomably touching.
I get hardcore chills just THINKING about this song, the vocal harmonies.. the vocal shift at "So what good would living do me?" ahhh I can't even type, Beach Boys rule! Says a 21 year old guy.
At 17, this is my favourite song of all time. I'm not afraid to tell anyone this, and am constantly trying to introduce others to it's perfection. No song in the present or future will be better than this. Brian Wilson is a complete genius regardless of his problems.
God only knows what I'd be without this song.
:)
For me this song IS about love. I don't think that there is any twisted, underlying theme here. Thanks to Hollywood, people seem to think that 'true love' is like some magical act of destiny. I have fallen in love with my partner over and over again over the years. We have been together since we were 15. W'ere now almost 30 and we've had our ups and downs. Sometimes we forget what people mean to us and are reminded at a later date when we fall in love with them all over again. Relationships take hard work and dedication. It isn't an easy ride. That's why we say for better, for worse. So yeah, to me when he says "I may not always love you" he is acknowledging that there may be tough times in the future, but he is reassuring his lover that no matter what he belongs to them. For me this song is about true romance in all of its ugliness and beauty.
I'd like people to verify this story if they can, I'm taking it from the top of my head. Tony was singing this song. He sang the first line to Brian. "I may not always love you", he sang and played. Brian didn't like it. Asher found himself having to justify. "Brian, that's life. People may not stay together all their lives, and so be it when it happens". He was struck by the pure beauty of it, and, from my personal point of view, anything that's voted the best Beach Boys song by loads and loads of fans (view Cabinessence for more details) they must agree with me, too.
God seriously only knows how much they’re in love with this person and adore them.
@Twinflames1 I've been searching for my souls counterpoint for quite sometime. I've researched twin flames and I think they're real. It's usually the timing; however, if they're right for each other it shouldn't matter. Anyway, nice name:)
This will be played at my wedding...who cares that I don't even have a boyfriend.
@jeannie So did you get married and did you use the song?
Great song ... I love the clever simplicity of the phrase "God only knows what I'd be without you." God only knows can either mean I'll be a wreck without you or can be seen as a sarcastic jeez how could I live without you? Clever words and great harmonies.
@tubesocks:<br /> I've always assumed he meant, No one but God could possibly know. Technically, this is more clearly expressed by "Only God knows," but Brian is not an English teacher. He's a genius songwriter who knows how to put words (and music) in the right order: that is, the one in which they sound best, and go directly to the heart.
this song is unbelievable. it makes me teary-eyed. i love it. the second verse, i believe, is the most powerful. he's saying that if she left him, he wouldn't die or anything...but everything would just mean so much left. that's how real, healthy love is. it's a good thing to be so greatful for someone in your life.
Definitely one of the most underrated love songs of all time. It has a SoCal laid back feel to it and the deepness is great too. You can't help but find yourself captivated by it