When the Beach Boys released Pet Sounds in 1966, it marked a turning point in their career – moving away from the surf and sun themes that had defined their early work, the group embraced a more experimental and emotional sound.
But despite its critical acclaim and influence, one of its standout tracks faced unexpected resistance from US radio.
‘God Only Knows’ is now widely regarded as one of the band’s most well-known songs. It was co-written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, with lyrics that deliberately pushed the boundaries of what was typical for a 1960s love song. Asher later explained to Goldmine magazine: “We were taking some real chances with it. First of all, the lyric opens by saying, ‘I may not always love you,’ which is a very unusual way to start a love song.”
However, it wasn’t the lyrical content that led to the song being banned on some American radio stations – it was the title.
At the time, the use of religious language in mainstream pop was still considered controversial in some parts of the United States. The word “God” in the title – despite being used in a non-religious context – was enough for some broadcasters to pull the track from airplay.
The issue was particularly pronounced in more conservative regions of the country, where religious sensitivities held greater weight over programming decisions.
In contrast, stations in more liberal states continued to play the song without issue, and the track performed well in many markets.
Brian Wilson had anticipated that the title might cause problems. In fact, he briefly considered changing it to something less likely to provoke a reaction. One idea reportedly floated was ‘Fred Only Knows’, though it never made it past the discussion stage, and, in the end, Wilson kept the original name, confident in the strength of the material.
While some radio stations did ban the song, it didn’t stop it from gaining traction. The song was still released as the B-side to ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ in the US and eventually earned widespread recognition.
Despite the initial pushback, the song’s reputation only grew. Today, God Only Knows is considered a milestone in pop songwriting and a key reason why Pet Sounds remains such a revered album, with some of the most acclaimed artists in the world praising it.
Paul McCartney has frequently cited it ‘God Only Knows’ as a personal favourite, as have John Lennon, Bono, Barry Gibb and Pete Townshend. The song was also covered – by Elton John, Lorde, Chris Martin, Kylie Minogue, Stevie Wonder, Brian May, One Direction, Dave Grohl, Sam Smith and many more – on a BBC special to commemorate the launch of BBC Music in 2014.