Playing The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds” is a pop masterpiece. It is an album with stunning musical collages and layers, breathtaking production, touching lyrics and a representation of a special era. The album is flawless. “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” has always been a highlight for me. It is a powerful song that represents a feeling of struggle, a desire for change, and a final result that doesn’t offer an obvious solution. Brian Wilson’s vocals are smooth, passionate perfection. The lyrics possess a message that many of us can relate to – who hasn’t felt like they weren’t made for “these times?”

Anyone familiar with Brian Wilson’s life during the “Pet Sounds” era knows the significance of the lyrics of “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times.” Wilson was a very troubled soul and a dedicated musical genius. The ability he had to create and produce the colorful sounds along with being able to arrange the spectacular, dramatic vocal arrangements of The Beach Boys’ music is nothing short of amazing. His emotional problems ultimately got the best of him, which derailed the great lost album “SMiLE.”

Whenever a short period of time passes where I have not played The Beach Boys, I end up spinning dazzling musical pieces such as “Let’s Go Away For Awhile,” “Til’ I Die,” “Surf’s Up,” “Good Vibrations,” “Lonely Sea,” the backing track to “Sail On Sailor,” or “The Warmth Of The Sun” – and I am absolutely blown away. The music removes the listener from reality. And often when I get into the Beach Boys' zone, "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" is part of the playlist.

Brian Wilson may not have felt he was made for the late-60's, but the music he created from that era is timeless. Carl Wilson once said The Beach Boys' music had a spiritual quality to it and that the sound did an indescribable thing to the environment. He couldn’t have summed it up any better.

I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
(Brian Wilson/Tony Asher)

I keep looking for a place to fit
Where I can speak my mind
I've been trying hard to find the people
That I won't leave behind

They say I got brains
But they ain't doing me no good
I wish they could

Each time things start to happen again
I think I got something good goin' for myself
But what goes wrong

Sometimes I feel very sad
Sometimes I feel very sad
(Can't find nothin' I can put my heart and soul into)
Sometimes I feel very sad
(Can't find nothin' I can put my heart and soul into)

I guess I just wasn't made for these times

Every time I get the inspiration
To go change things around
No one wants to help me look for places
Where new things might be found
Where can I turn when my fair weather friends cop out
What's it all about

Each time things start to happen again
I think I got something good goin' for myself
But what goes wrong

Sometimes I feel very sad
Sometimes I feel very sad
(Can't find nothin' I can put my heart and soul into)
Sometimes I feel very sad
(Can't find nothin' I can put my heart and soul into)

I guess I just wasn't made for these times
I guess I just wasn't made for these times
I guess I just wasn't made for these times
I guess I just wasn't made for these times
I guess I just wasn't made for these times