Question about "Surf's Up" (the song) : On wikipedia it says that the vocals are performed by Carl Wilson/Brian Wilson/Al Jardine. Can any one of you clarify which one of them sings which part? And I'd love to know some more interesting facts about the song. Brilliant song by the way. I also saw Brian's "Home Demo" of the song, and it was one of the most emotional things I've seen lately. Thanks in advance.
The "home demo" that you saw was recorded for an NBC TV special hosted by Leonard Bernstein (a classical conductor/composer who was impressed with Brian's music).
The released version was ensembled by Carl in 1971 (because Brian could hardly be bothered to do anything productive at the time) and is a combination of unfinished 1966/1967 recordings, and newly recorded vocals and instruments. The first section (the one that Carl sings) combines a finished 1966/1967 backing track that was left instrumental with a 1971 lead vocal by Carl. The second and third sections are a 1966/1967 lead vocal and piano track (not from the NBC special) with everything else added in 1971.
The third section is a "reprise" of another 'SMiLE' song called 'Child is Father of the Man'.
'Surf's Up' is even more impressive if you hear it in it's original "cycle of life section" context (as you can hear on Brian Wilson's 2004 version of the 'SMiLE' album). It starts with 'Wonderful' which then, through 'Song for Children' and 'Child is Father of the Man', seamlessly, slowly and very gracefully morphs into/builds up to 'Surf's Up'. Really one of the most amazing things I've ever heard and probably one of the best examples of Brian Wilson's brilliance.
CARL:A diamond necklace played the pawn
Hand in hand some drummed along, oh
To a handsome mannered baton
A blind class aristocracy
Back through the opera glass you see
The pit and the pendulum drawn
Columnated ruins domino
Canvass the town and brush the backdrop
Are you sleeping?
Hung velvet overtaken me
Dim chandelier awaken me
To a song dissolved in the dawn
The music hall a costly bow
The music all is lost for now
To a muted trumpeter swan
Columnated ruins domino
Canvass the town and brush the backdrop
Are you sleeping, Brother John?
BRIAN:Dove nested towers the hour was
Strike the street quicksilver moon
Carriage across the fog
Two-Step to lamp lights cellar tune
The laughs come hard in Auld Lang Syne
The glass was raised, the fired-roast
The fullness of the wine, the dim last toasting
While at port adieu or die
A choke of grief heart hardened I
Beyond belief a broken man too tough to cry
Surf's Up
Aboard a tidal wave
Come about hard and join
The young and often spring you gave
I heard the word
Wonderful thing
A children's song
GROUP:Child, child, child, child, child
A child is the father of the man
Child, child, child, child, child
A child is the father of the man
AL:A children's song
Have you listened as they played
Their song is love
And the children know the way
GROUP:Child, child, child, child, child
Child, child, child, child, child
Na na na na na na na na
Child, child, child, child, child
That's why the child is the father to the man
Child, child, child, child, child