# In 1965, Brian Wilson wrote one of the greatest love songs of all time. It only took him an hour

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1965-brian-wilson-wrote-one-of-the-greatest-love-songs-of-all-time-it-only-took-him-an-hour/
- Published: 2026-11-01T20:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T21:20:52+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1965-brian-wilson-wrote-one-of-the-greatest-love-songs-of-all-time-it-only-took-him-an-hour-to-do-it/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Brian Wilson said “God Only Knows” took about an hour to write.
- Tony Asher collaborated on the lyrics.
- The song helped shape the ambitious sound of *Pet Sounds*.

## Summary

Brian Wilson and lyricist Tony Asher wrote “God Only Knows” in about an hour, Wilson said. The song became one of the defining love songs on the Beach Boys’ *Pet Sounds*, reflecting Wilson’s drive to move beyond the band’s surf-pop image and explore more ambitious music.

The article describes the song’s unusual opening line and distinctive inverted chords as part of what sets it apart from conventional love songs. Wilson recalled that he and Asher were astonished by how quickly it came together and felt they had written a classic; the piece presents it as a key step in the Beach Boys’ musical development.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.