Child Is Father of the Man

Track 11 on SMiLE (2011 Version)

Produced by

Another shorter track from the famed unfinished ‘Smile’ album, Child is Father of the Man forms part of the ‘life’ movement on the finished version completed by Brian… Read More

Oct. 28, 20111 viewer

Child Is Father of the Man Lyrics

[Lost Lyrics]

[Lyrics from "Brian Wilson presents Smile" (2004)]

[Refrain]
(Child, child, child, the child, the child)
Father of the man (Father of the man, father of the man)
(Child, child, child, the child, the child)
Father of the man (Father of the man, father of the man)
(Child, child, child, the child, the child)
Father of the man (Father of the man, father of the man)
(Child, child, child, the child, the child)
Father of the man (Father of the man)

[Verse]
Easy, my child, it's just enough to believe
(I believe, I believe, I believe)
Out of the wild into what you can't conceive
You'll achieve

[Refrain]
(Child, child, child, the child, the child)
Father of the man (Father of the man, father of the man)
(Child, child, child, the child, the child)
Father of the man (Father of the man, father of the man)
(Child, child, child, the child, the child)
Father of the man (Father of the man, father of the man)
(Child, child, child, the child, the child)
Father of the man (Father of the man)

[Instrumental Outro / Intro for Surf's Up]

About

Another shorter track from the famed unfinished ‘Smile’ album, Child is Father of the Man forms part of the ‘life’ movement on the finished version completed by Brian Wilson in 2004, preceding the track ‘Surf’s Up.’ The lyrics are sparse, yet convey this particular section of the album’s theme of childhood and the transition to adulthood.
There’s a parallel between the loss of innocence occurring in the previous track on Smile, ‘Wonderful,’ and here, the act growing old setting the stage for a child’s experiences shaping who the child grows into as an adult. This loss of innocence is also explored in the subsequent song, ‘Surf’s Up,’ as well.