Goodbye to A Golden Beach Boy

Brian Wilson died today at age 82, and I am strangely sad. I say strangely because hey, who doesn't know we're all gonna die, so no surprise there. But he was quite special to my particular generation, and right now it feels like his passing took all my youthful exuberance and memories along with him. 

Brian suffered from depression during much of his lifetime, and one can only hope he has found peace in the afterlife with all those dead rockers who went before him. Imagine the jam sessions!

One of his most personally revealing songs was also one of my favorites, from the fabulous album Pet Sounds, considered by almost every music critic to be among the greatest albums ever produced. Following are Brian's lyrics to I Guess I Just Wasn't Made for These Times.

"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, 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?

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