The Beach Girls

Written for Song Lyric Sunday. This week Jim Adams has
asked his readers in his post “Do It Again” to write about a song
by children of famous singers who also became famous.
This theme was suggested by Barbara (ghostmmnc) at teleportingweena.wordpress.com. This is my choice.

Keeping it in the family and following in ones parent’s career footsteps is pretty common in life, regardless of the occupation. There are family-run funeral homes, restaurants and hardware stores. Doctors, lawyers and teachers are all common careers goals passed down from generation to generation. The children of professional sports stars often follow the same path as their parents as do those in the entertainment industry. With that in mind, today I am focusing on one of the legends of American pop music.
Brian Wilson is arguably one of the greatest composers of popular music in the rock era. As the founder of the Beach Boys, Wilson’s songwriting captured the arc of innocence and turmoil that played out for those coming of age in the 1960s, quickly moving from the carefree fun of his early songs about cars, surfing, and teenage love to the complex self-inspection and vulnerability exhibited on his 1966 masterpiece Pet Sounds.
Wilson’s drive for experimentation only heightened as his music fell out of mainstream favor, but his art would also be influenced by his mental health struggles. Solo efforts such as his self-titled 1988 album showed that Wilson still had a gift for songwriting, but his legacy remained defined by the “teenage symphonies to God” that he crafted for the Beach Boys.
In December 1964, Brian Wilson married Marilyn Rovell; together they had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, born 1968 and 1969, respectively. Brian Wilson called himself a “neglectful father and husband“; wife Marilyn said that he had completely “backed out” of raising their children because he felt that he was an unfit parent and would repeat his own father’s mistakes. Wilson’s daughters inspired his songs “Roller Skating Child” (1977) and “Little Children” (1988).
The Wilson Sisters (Carnie & Wendy) – along with close friend Chynna Phillips, daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas – formed the group Wilson Phillips, which made a big splash in the music world. The trio sold ten million copies of their self-titled debut album and scored three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Wilson Phillips first appeared in 1990, flaunting a harmony-rich sound that helped send three singles – “Hold On,” “Release Me,” and “You’re In Love” – from their debut album to the top of the charts.
Although their time at the top was short, in that brief window they were one of the biggest pop acts in the world. Between 1990 & 1992, they had two multi-platinum top five albums, which spun off seven top 40 hits combined.
In 1992, after two years, the group split, with Chynna Phillips pursuing a solo career and Carnie and Wendy releasing material together. Wilson Phillips reunited again in 2008 for a pair of live performances in California. A holiday-themed album, Christmas in Harmony, was released in 2010. To celebrate their 20th anniversary as a recording act, Wilson Phillips fully acknowledged its legacy by putting out Dedicated in 2012 … an album devoted entirely to songs made famous by the Beach Boys and the Mamas & the Papas.

“Hold On” became Wilson Phillips’ first #1 single, reaching the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 on June 9, 1990, and, despite spending just a single week at #1, was ranked the top song of the year by Billboard. Chynna Phillips wrote the song’s lyrics while battling substance abuse as well as being in a “toxic” relationship. “Hold On” also spent a week at the top of the Adult Contemporary chart that same year. In Europe, “Hold On” peaked at #6 on the UK Singles Chart, due in large part to a performance by the group on the legendary British music series Top of the Pops. 

From 1990, this is “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips.

LYRICS

I know this pain (I know this pain)
Why do you lock yourself up in these chains? (these chains)
No one can change your life except for you
Don’t ever let anyone step all over you
Just open your heart and your mind (mmm)
Is it really fair to feel, this way inside? (woah)

Someday somebody’s gonna make you want to turn around and say goodbye
Until then, baby, are you going to let ’em hold you down and make you cry?
Don’t you know?
Don’t you know, things can change
Things’ll go your way
If you hold… on for one more day
Can you hold… on for one more day?
Things’ll go your way…
Hold on for one more day

You could sustain (you could sustain)
Or are you comfortable with the pain?
You’ve got no one to blame for your unhappiness (no, baby)
You got yourself into your own mess (oooh…)
Lettin’ your worries pass you by (lettin’ your worries pass you by)
Baby, don’t you think it’s worth your time
To change your mind? (no, no)

Someday somebody’s gonna make you want to turn around and say goodbye
Until then, baby, are you going to let ’em hold you down and make you cry?
Don’t you know?
Don’t you know, things can change
Things’ll go your way
If you hold… on for one more day
Can you hold… on for one more day?
Things’ll go your way (oh, things’ll go your way)
Hold on for one more day

I know that there is pain, but you
Hold on for one more day, and ya
Break free from the chains…
Yeah I know that there is pain, but you
Hold for one more day, and ya
Break free, break from the chains

Someday somebody’s gonna make you want to turn around and say goodbye (and say goodbye)
Until then, baby, are you going to let ’em hold you down and make you cry?
Don’t you know?
Don’t you know, things can change (know)
Things’ll go your way
If you hold… on for one more day, yeah
Can you hold… on…

Don’t you know, things could change
Things could go your way
If you hold… on for one more day
Can you hold… on
Can you hold on

Mmm, can you hold on, baby

Won’t you tell me know
Hold on for one more day, cause
It’s gonna go your way

Don’t you know, things could change
Things could go your way
If you hold on for one more day, yeah

Can’t you change it this time
Make up your mind
Hold on, hold on
Baby hold on

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Glen Ballard/Chynna Phillips/Carnie Wilson
Hold On lyrics © Emi Blackwood Music Inc., Universal Music Corp., Duchess Music Corp., Arlovol Music, Smooshie Music, MCA Music Publishing, A.D.O. Universal S

““Release Me” became the second #1 hit for Wilson Phillips, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary chart in 1990. The success of the song helped keep the group from becoming a one-hit-wonder. It’s a strong early pop ballad that features the girls’ harmonies at their best.

This is “Release Me” by Wilson Phillips

LYRICS

I know that it’s time for a change
Mmm but when that change comes
Will you still feel the same?

How many times have I tried to turn this love around?
I don’t want to give up
But baby it’s time I had two feet on the ground
Can you release me
Can you release me
Now that you’re gone I can’t help myself from wondering
Oh, if you’d have come down from your high
Would we’ve been all right?
Release me
Can you release me

Come on baby, come on baby
You knew it was time to just let go
‘Cause we want to be free
But somehow it’s just not that easy
Come on Darlin’, hear me Darlin’
‘Cause you’re a waste of time for me
I’m trying to make you see
That baby you’ve just got to release me
Release me
Release me
I’m not going back to you anymore
Finally my weakened heart is healing though very slow
So stop coming around my door
‘Cause you’re not gonna find
What you’re looking for

Come on baby, come on baby
You knew it was time to just let go
‘Cause we want to be free
But somehow it’s just not that easy
Come on Darlin’, hear me Darlin’
‘Cause you’re a waste of time for me
I’m trying to make you see
That baby you’ve just got to release me
Release me
Release me
I’m not going back to you anymore
Finally my weakened heart is healing though very slow
So stop coming around my door
‘Cause you’re not gonna find
What you’re looking for

What is this power you’ve got on me
What is this power, Oh
What is it, What is it

Come on baby, come on baby
You knew it was time to just let go
‘Cause we want to be free
But somehow it’s just not that easy
Come on Darlin’, hear me Darlin’
‘Cause you’re a waste of time for me
I’m trying to make you see
That baby you’ve just got to release me
Release me
Release me
I’m not going back to you anymore
Finally my weakened heart is healing though very slow
So stop coming around my door
‘Cause you’re not gonna find
What you’re looking for

Release me
Will you release me
Ah…Release me
Will you release me

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Carnie Wilson/Chynna Phillips/Wendy Viora Wilson
Release Me lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

And finally, as a tribute to their famous parents Brian Wilson, and John & Michelle Phillips, this is “California Dreamin” from the Dedicated album by Wilson Phillips.

LYRICS

All the leaves are brown
(All the leaves are brown)
And the sky is grey
(And the sky is grey)
I’ve been for a walk
(I’ve been for a walk)
On a winter’s day
(On a winter’s day)

I’d be safe and warm
(I’d be safe and warm)
If I was in L.A.
(If I was in L.A.)
California dreaming
(California dreaming)
On such a winter’s day

Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees
(Got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray
(I pretend to pray)

You know the preacher likes the cold
(Preacher likes the cold)
He knows I’m gonna stay
(Knows I’m gonna stay
California dreaming
(California dreaming)
On such a winter’s day

All the leaves are brown
(All the leaves are brown)
And the sky is grey
(And the sky is grey)
I’ve been for a walk
(I’ve been for a walk)
On a winter’s day
(On a winter’s day)

If I didn’t tell her
(If I didn’t tell her)
I could leave today
(I could leave today)
California dreaming
(California dreaming)
On such a winter’s day
(California dreaming)
On such a winter’s day
(California dreaming)
On such a winter’s day

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Edmund Andrew Phillips/Michelle Gilliam Phillips
California Dreamin’ lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Do It Again

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week. Be sure to follow the link and check out Jim’s site. Thanks to Barbara for a really cool theme!

Thanks for stopping by. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2024

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.