Heroes and Villains

Brian Wilson

About Heroes and Villains

"Heroes and Villains" is a song written and produced by Brian Wilson with words by Van Dyke Parks, recorded by the American rock band the Beach Boys. Envisioned as a three-minute music comedy, it was the follow-up single to the group's "Good Vibrations" (1966) and intended as the centerpiece to the unfinished album Smile. After the album was shelved, the song was rearranged and issued as a single in July 1967 with "You're Welcome" as the B-side. It charted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two months later, it was placed as the opening track to the studio album Smiley Smile. Parks said that he modeled the lyrics after "El Paso" (1959) and denied a popular theory claiming that "Heroes and Villains" was a song about the Vietnam War. Though the lyrics are distinctly Western with some allusions to the American Indian genocides, then-wife Marilyn Wilson said that Brian meant the "heroes" and "villains" to represent those in his life. Like "Good Vibrations", "Heroes and Villains" was produced using the same unorthodox method of recording a surplus of interchangeable musical sections at multiple Hollywood recording studios. Only during its final production stages would the song then be reduced and assembled into a coherent structure. This proved difficult for Wilson, who grew increasingly frustrated with the virtually limitless number of possible song edits. Bandmate Al Jardine later expressed dissatisfaction with the final composite, calling it "a pale facsimile" of Wilson's original vision, and believed that he had "underproduced" the song at the last minute. Jimi Hendrix dismissed the single as a "psychedelic barbershop quartet". 


Year:
2004
4:52
1,310 
#2

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I been in this town so long that back in the city I been
Taken for lost and gone and unknown for a long, long time

Fell in love years ago with an innocent girl from the
Spanish and Indian home of the Heroes and Villains.

Once at night, cotillion squared, the fight, and she was right
In the rain of the bullets that eventually brought her down 

But she's still dancing in the night unafraid of what
A dude'll do in a town full of Heroes and Villains.

Heroes and Villains
Just see what you done-done
Heroes and villains
Just see what you done-done

Stand or fall, I know there shall be peace in the valley, and
It's all an affair of my life with the Heroes and Villains.

In the cantina, Margarita keeps the spirits high.
There I watched her, she spun around and wound in 
The warmth, her body fanned the flame of the dance. 

Dance Margarita! Don't you know I love you!

My children were raised, you know they suddenly rise. 
They started slow long ago, head to toe, healthy, wealthy, and wise. 

I been in this town so long, so long to the city
I'm fit with the stuff to ride in the rough, and Sonny, 
Down snuff, I'm alright by the Heroes and Villains.

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Brian Wilson

Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. On stage, Wilson provided many of the lead vocals, and often harmonized with the group in falsetto. Early during his on-stage career, Wilson primarily played bass guitar on stage, but gradually transitioned to primarily playing piano/keyboards. Besides being the primary composer in The Beach Boys, he also functioned as the band's main producer and arranger. After signing with Capitol Records in mid-1962, Wilson wrote or co-wrote more than two dozen Top 40 hits including "Surfin' Safari", "Surfin' USA", "Shut Down", "Little Deuce Coupe", "Be True to Your School", "In My Room", "Fun, Fun, Fun", "I Get Around", "Dance Danc… more »

2 fans

Written by: BRIAN WILSON, VAN DYKE PARKS

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Group Involvement
"Heroes and Villains" is a part of the Beach Boys' unreleased album. It is recognized as a creation of the group's leader, Brian Wilson, and collaborator, Van Dyke Parks.
Album
The song first entered the public domain when it appeared on the Beach Boys' 1967 album, "Smiley Smile".
Classification
"Heroes and Villains" is classified under the Pop and Psychedelic Pop genres.
Musical Structure
The song is known for its intricate and densely layered production, which includes a myriad of vocal harmonies and bizarre sound effects.
Complex Creation Process
Wilson and Parks composed and recorded "Heroes and Villains" over a period of several months, from late 1966 to mid-1967, making it one of the most complex songs in terms of creation.
Musical Saga
It was initially designed as a musical saga that included a once-planned "comedy" album named "Smile".
Chart Performance
Despite its complex process and issues, the single reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Recreations
In 2004, a new version of "Heroes and Villains" was created for the finally completed "Smile" album.
Sound Engineer Contribution
The song was engineered by Chuck Britz, his contribution allowed the coalescence of avant-garde music with, what was supposed to be, traditional pop.
Controversies
There has been speculation that Wilson initially intended "Heroes and Villains" to be a multi-part suite or concept album, but these ideas were scaled down as production progressed.
Legacy
Today, "Heroes and Villains" is considered a milestone song in the Beach Boys' catalog and is noted for its musical ambition.
Inspiration
Wilson once revealed that part of the inspiration for "Heroes and Villains" was Phil Spector's 1963 single "Da Doo Ron Ron".
Alteration Over Time
There exist many alternate versions, sections and edits of "Heroes and Villains" that were recorded across multiple sessions as it underwent significant alterations over time.
Lyric Interpretations
The cryptic lyrics and fractured storytelling shrouds "Heroes and Villains", inviting different interpretations. Some say the song tells a sprawling narrative of the old American West.
Pop Culture
It has been used multiple times in pop culture for movies and TV shows, adding to its longevity and popularity.

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