God Only Knows
Stories reflecting on the Beach Boys classic “God Only Knows” spanning years and touching souls wherever it’s played. From 2018.
"God only knows what I'd be without you"
For artist Kim Lynch God Only Knows is a song that she has carried with her from the moment her father played it to her mother back in their 1960's London home and it's the song that resonated throughout her parents 65 years together.
Meanwhile in land locked Burundi, another couple are bought together from two very different cultures. Sharing the same hopes and prayers, they began their married life by blending a traditional wedding ceremony with the Californian song that spans decades - and continents - to touch souls wherever it's played.
And across the ocean, Erin Prewitt tells her love story and describes how tragic and unexpected circumstances meant she has had to learn to live out those iconic lyrics and discover what it means to be without the person you love.
With reflections from:
* Musician, Al Kooper
* Author, Barry Miles.
Producer: Nicola Humphries
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2018.
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"There’s a sense of impending loss running through the song”
Duration: 02:41
Broadcasts
Wed 25 Apr 2018 09:00BBC Radio 4- Wed 25 Apr 2018 21:30BBC Radio 4
- Tue 4 Oct 2022 18:30BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 5 Oct 2022 00:30BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 21 Mar 2025 10:00BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 21 Mar 2025 16:00BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Sat 22 Mar 2025 00:00BBC Radio 4 Extra
Baroque 'n' Roll: 10 things you might not know about God Only Knows
The fascinating facts behind The Beach Boys' enduring, smash-hit number.
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Watch the animation - Professor Mary King describes how the song became a symbol of hope.
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Soul Music
Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact
