Brian didn't really write lyrics to the songs; he edited them. That means he might have simply said that he didn't like a particular line. I would then have tried to convince him of its merit, if I felt strongly about it, or I would have written an alternate in an attempt to get closer to what he seemed to be after. None of this is to say that he didn't supply words to some of the songs. He did. But his role was more to react to what I did after I did it, rather than to direct it before it occurred or even as it was occurring. It's fair to say that the general tenor of the lyrics was always his and the actual choice of words was usually mine. I was really just the interpreter.
More from Brian Wilson
Q Magazine to Brian Wilson: Did you ever meet Charles Manson? Brian: Yes I did. He seemed like an OK guy, but he went and murdered some people, which was prett…
Permalink to quote #36 Unless you were Kate Smith and you were singing 'God Bless America', no one thought you could say 'God' in a song. No one had done it, and Brian didn't want to…
Permalink to quote #38 You know Chuck, Buddy, and Elvis paved the road. The roots are deep inside us, it's the rhythm in our soul.
Permalink to quote #35