The Beach Boys Most Romantic Song Was Written in Less Than 1 Hour
The Beach Boys Most Romantic Song Was Written in Less Than 1 Hour
Lucille BarillaSat, February 21, 2026 at 1:58 PM UTC
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(Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
It’s hard to imagine that one of The Beach Boys’ most swoon-worthy love songs came together in less time than it takes to watch a sitcom episode.
In an interview with The Guardian, Brian Wilson revealed, "I wrote 'God Only Knows' in 45 minutes. Me and Tony Asher."
He added, "It’s my favorite song. Of mine."
In a video posted to his official YouTube channel, Wilson elaborated on the song further. He reflected on the inspiration behind the track and explained how the melody and lyrics came together so quickly.
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"God Only Knows is a very spiritual, religious song, with the word God in it," Wilson explained.
"Tony Asher and I came up with a very clever love song," he added.
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In an interview with The Beatles producer George Martin, Wilson discussed the song, its recording, and his feelings about this enduring piece of music. RELATED: The Surprising Story Behind The Beach Boys’ First No. 1 Album
Martin said that "God Only Knows" was always one of his favorite Beach Boys songs. In the video clip, the producer stripped down the song to take a better look at its components via the song's original master tapes.
Wilson admitted that he had a blueprint in his head "arrangement-wise, but not sound-wise." After watching Martin tinker with the song in the studio, Wilson joked, "You're making a better mix of this than I did on the master!"
Parade previously reported that the beloved song has a surprising twist. Only three Beach Boys members, Carl Wilson, Brian Wilson, and Bruce Johnston, contributed their voices to the track, producing an unforgettable sound that has resonated with fans since the tune's 1966 release.
"God Only Knows" remains one of the Beach Boys' most beloved pieces of music. Ironically, it only hit a chart peak of No. 39 on the Billboard charts in 1966.
The song remains widely regarded as one of the most influential love songs in pop history, praised for its emotional vulnerability and sophisticated harmonies. "God Only Knows" helped redefine what a pop ballad could be, raising the bar for songwriting and studio artistry in the decades that followed.
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
