God Only Knows

[famous beagle]

Hey y'all,

Just thought I'd get opinions on this one.

I've never been one to analyze lyrics too much, but when a song is very straightforward with its lyrics, I can't help it when one line sticks out to me.

Every line in this song makes perfect sense to me, except for the very first one:

"I may not always love you."

The rest of it is a beautiful love song, with every line easily tying into the other, but this line seems to contradict the following lines.

"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."

Does anyone else find this odd? What is he saying here? I won't always love you, but I'll trick you into thinking I will?

I would be inclined to think that it was one of those lines that just came so naturally and sang so well, he decided to keep it. But the fact that Brian Wilson didn't write these lyrics kind of stomps on that idea.

So ... any opinions?

 

[gecko zzed]

Most curious!

I've never been a big fan of that song, so I've not paid a lot of attention to it.

But I see what you mean.

I think the general intent of the song and of that verse is to make a statement such as "I will always love you, don't you doubt it".

It is a case where the choice of words and syllables are so appropriate that they add to the theme, even if on closer examination they appear to contradict it, i.e. when heard within the context of the song, they just sound right. It's a bit like one of those islands off the east coast of Delaware (somewere in that general area), where the people use phrases such as "You sure don't look pretty" to mean exactly the opposite.

Tony Asher wrote the words, and I found this snippet from him: "This is the one [song] that I thought would be a hit record, because it was so incredibly beautiful. I was concerned that maybe the lyrics weren't up to the same level as the music: how many love songs start off with the line, 'I may not always love you'? I liked that twist, and fought to start the song that way. Working with Brian, I didn't have a whole lot of fighting to do, but I was certainly willing to fight to the end for that. I was probably saying to myself, 'God, I hope I'm right about this,' because you're never quite sure. But I knew that it would work, because by the second part, the real meaning of the song has come out: 'I'll love you till the sun burns out, then I'm gone,' ergo 'I'm gonna love you forever.' I guess that in the end, 'God Only Knows' is the song that most people remember, and love the most."

 

[Whatmysay]

I have always been a huge fan of this song - maybe no 1 love song for me.

I have always just taken the first line as playful irony.

'I may not always love you' combines with 'as long as there are starts above you' to complete the concept - there will always be stars above you therefore I will always love you

Great quote Gecko

 

[famous beagle]

I have always been a huge fan of this song - maybe no 1 love song for me.

I have always just taken the first line as playful irony.

'I may not always love you' combines with 'as long as there are starts above you' to complete the concept - there will always be stars above you therefore I will always love you

Great quote Gecko

Those aren't the lyrics though. It's:

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

I'm pretty sure the second line is meant to go with the third line. "But as long as there are stars, you don't need to doubt it."

I dunno for sure though, obviously.

 

[Whatmysay]

Those aren't the lyrics though. It's:

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

Absolutely right Beagle - so then the 2nd and 3rd line form the thought that, sets up the irony for the 1st line - maybe?

 

[rayc]

I think it was just a bit of clever-dicking: like is the pope catholic?
Present the problem - will you love me tomorrow - no, I'll love everyday!
Nothing is forever but for as long as you live (above ground?) my love will be constant.
It's - get the fear & heart fluttering and then reassure it.
Power in relationship stuff undoubtedly & very much an assertion of the upper hand.
I don't know how I'd live without you - because I need someone to lord it over!
It adds a darker edge to the lyric & is almost always passed over or missed - a bit like the initial public reaction to Every Breath You Take - my 1st thought was "how sinister & creepy?" I always got a laugh from people who used it at their wedding.
I run off at the mouth don't I - sorry!
Bye

 

[gecko zzed]

Power in relationship stuff undoubtedly & very much an assertion of the upper hand.

RayC presents an interesting perspective on the lyrics.

This is a classic "can't live without you" song.

The first verse is a declaration . . . "my love is so strong it will stand the test of time".

The second verse is the emotional blackmail . . . "if you go there is not much point in living".

There are many songs like this, and they make me nervous. I can't help feeling that there is something not right about being so totally dependent on someone that "so what good would living do me" if they weren't around.

No doubt people have deep emotional attachments to each other, and the use of hyperbole is a great way of expressing this lyrically. However, within this is no small measure of dependent behaviour. I'd much rather that people would be capable of an independent, integrated existence. Probably wouldn't make for as many songs, but.

 

[Whatmysay]

Gecko it is a long way from exaggerated feelings expressed in a love song to a suicide pact?

If we going to go down that path then I detest the passivity of 'Let it be' and the time wasting of 'Imagine'. Not to mention the self promotion of a rock song called 'I love rock and roll'; it should have at least been Jazz composition to maintain some sort of objectivity!

 

[gecko zzed]

it is a long way from exaggerated feelings expressed in a love song to a suicide pact

You are quite right, of course, and I shouldn't get too precious about it. It's a fine love song.

I have to say, though, that in love songs I prefer the lyrics to reflect supportiveness rather than dependency.

Consider, for example, the lyrics of "Annie's Song" (Denver) and "Bridge over troubled water" (Simon & Garfunkel), and how the feeling of love is manifested in them.

As for "Imagine", I had always regarded its lyrics as trite, superficial and simplistic. But . . . millions of people love the song, and maybe it has made a difference to the world, so who am I to judge? Nevertheless, my view is that "Blowin' in the wind" is lyrically far sharper, more powerful, and more insightful, and a much better peace anthem.