"Surf's Up"

Backdated, archival post

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When I listened to SMiLE a few days ago, I got thinking about the "Are you sleeping, brother John?" in the lyrics of "Surf's Up."  The music doesn't match, but the lyrics are from "Frère Jacques."   However, I think there may also be a subtle Beatle reference within that quotation.

The line "Frère Jacques" sung to its original melody is in the backing vocals for the third and fourth verses of the Beatles' "Paperback Writer."  According to Lewisohn's The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, the "Paperback Writer" single (b/w "Rain") was released on 10 June 1966 (but apparently the American release was earlier).  In any case, "Paperback Writer" was released around the time as SMiLE was being written and recorded.  It's probable that Brian Wilson knew "Paperback Writer," and since he felt a degree of competitiveness with the Beatles, it's possible - perhaps even likely - that he (or Van Dyke Parks who wrote the lyrics for SMiLE) took a few things from them, like that "Frère Jacques" quote.

Even if they did take it from the Beatles, it's a different way of using the same source material.  The Beatles used it more melodically, but on SMiLE, it's used more lyrically.