The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby

The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby

‘Don't Worry Baby’ is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their March 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2. Written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian, Wilson's lead vocal on the track is considered one of his defining performances, and he later referred to ‘Don't Worry Baby’ as perhaps the Beach Boys' finest record. It was issued in May 1964 as the B-side of ‘I Get Around’, and charted separately at number 24.

Deriving from Wilson's obsession with the Ronettes' 1963 hit ‘Be My Baby’, ‘Don't Worry Baby’ has a similar musical structure, but different subject matter and production approach. The lyrics portray a braggadocian man who agrees to a drag race, much to his regret, and is subsequently consoled by his girlfriend with the song's title phrase. The song was originally offered to the Ronettes, but was rejected by their producer, Phil Spector, leaving Wilson to produce it for his own band. On the recording, all of the Beach Boys played their own instruments.

In his 1991 memoir, Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story, it is stated that Wilson adopted the song title phrase from his then-girlfriend Marilyn Rovell shortly after hearing ‘Be My Baby’ for the first time. In a 2009 interview, he said that he composed ‘Don't Worry Baby’ over the course of two days. "I started out with the verse idea and then wrote the chorus. It was a very simple and beautiful song. It’s a really heart and soul song, I really did feel that in my heart." The memoir provides further details of the collaboration: "I called [my] lyricist Roger Christian and told him I had an idea. He met me one afternoon at my parents' house, where, in one of our last collaborations, we wrote a lush ballad whose title and chorus came directly from Marilyn's comforting words, 'Don't Worry, Baby.' I knew the song was a smash before we finished writing it." On another occasion, Wilson recalled, "I met [Roger] in the parking lot at KFWB and he presented the lyrics for me. I went home and wrote the song in about an hour-and-a-half."

In 1988, ‘Don't Worry Baby’ was ranked number 11 on Spin's list of the greatest singles in history. In 2010, it was ranked number 178 on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest songs in history. In 2010, it was ranked number 14 on Pitchfork's list of the greatest songs of the 1960s. B.J. Thomas covered this in 1977. His version hit #17 in the US. This song was used in the Drew Barrymore film Never Been Kissed. It also appeared in Good Morning Vietnam. Billy Joel sang this at the "Tribute to Brian Wilson" concert that aired on July 4, 2001.

Label – Capitol
Songwriters – Brian Wilson, Roger Christian
Producer – Brian Wilson

SONG LYRICS

[Verse 1]
Well it's been building up inside of me
For, oh, I don't know how long
I don't know why but I keep thinking
Something's bound to go wrong
But she looks in my eyes
And makes me realize
 
[Chorus]
When she says, "don't worry baby"
Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
Everything will turn out alright (don't worry baby)
Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
 
[Verse 2]
I guess I should've kept my mouth shut
When I started to brag about my car
But I can't back down now because
I pushed the other guys too far
She makes me come alive
And makes me wanna drive
 
[Chorus]
When she says, "don't worry baby"
Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
Everything will turn out alright (don't worry baby)
Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
 
[Verse 3]
She told me, "baby, when you race today
Just take along my love with you
And if you knew how much I loved you, baby
Nothing could go wrong with you"
Oh, what she does to me
When she makes love to me
 
[Chorus]
And she says, "don't worry baby"
Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
Everything will turn out alright (don't worry baby)
Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
Everything will turn out alright (don't worry baby)
Don't worry baby (don't worry baby)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooooh
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