SameDiff BNL
Select from alphabetical lists: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
or Albums: BN, Gordon, MYSD, BOAPS, RS, Stunt, Maroon, Disc 1, E2E, BFTH, [MISC].

Brian Wilson

Drove downtown in the rain
Nine-thirty on a Tuesday night,
Just to check out the late-night record shop
Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane;
But when I'm surrounded I just can't stop.

It's a matter of instinct, It's a matter of conditioning,
It's a matter of fact.
You can call me Pavlov's dog
Ring a bell and I'll salivate - how'd you like that?
Dr. Landy tell me you're not just a pedagogue,
'Cause right now I'm

Chorus:
Lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did Well I'm lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did

So I'm lying here
Just staring at the ceiling tiles,
And I'm thinking about what to think about
Just listening and relistening to Smiley Smile,
And I'm wondering if this is some kind of creative drought
Because I'm

Chorus

And if you want to find me I'll be out in the sandbox
Wondering where the hell all the love has gone,
Playing my guitar and building castles in the sun
And singing "Fun, Fun, Fun."

Chorus

I had a dream
That I was three hundred pounds
And though I was very heavy
I floated 'til I couldn't see the ground
I floated 'til I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me, I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me, I couldn't see the ground
Somebody help me because I'm

Chorus

Drove downtown in the rain
Nine-thirty on a Tuesday night,
Just to check out the late-night record shop.
Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane;
But when I'm surrounded I just can't stop.


Words and Music by Stephen Page

Barenaked Ladies (Cassette EP) Barenaked Ladies (Yellow Tape) Version:
Gordon (Studio Album)

Brian Wilson (Single)
Gordon Version:
Andy Creeggan: Congas, vocals.
Jim Creeggan: Double bass, vocals.
Steven Page: Guitar, lead vocal.
Ed Robertson: Guitars, vocals.
Tyler Stewart: Drums.
Rock Spectacle (Live Album)

Disc 1: All Their Greatest Hits (1991-2001)
Live Rock Spectacle Version:
Recorded live at either the Riviera in Chicago or the Olympia in Montreal, in Spring 1996.

Jim Creeggan: Bass guitar, double bass, vocals.
Kevin Hearn: Accordion, electric guitar, keyboards, vocals.
Steven Page: Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead vocal.
Ed Robertson: Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals.
Tyler Stewart: Drums, vocals.


Written in my parent's basement in 1990, this song has been recorded more times than any other Barenaked Ladies song. I think we've recorded five different versions of it, ranging from a basement tape recorded on a four-track cassette to something called "Brian Wilson 2000," which we thought was funny until about 1999.

We made our U.S. television debut with this song in 1993, on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. One of the U.K. music weeklies called the song "horribly misguided" and "painfully provincial." Brian Wilson himself covered it last year.

This version is from our live album, and although it speeds up like crazy, I think it captures the energy of our shows better than any of our studio versions of "Brian."

- Steven Page, 2001.

Brian Wilson 2000 (Single) Brian Wilson 2000 Version:
The musical arrangement has been changed for this version, also the "Drove downtown in the rain..." introduction has been removed.
The UK single also contains an Instrumental (lyric-less) edit of the same version.
JingleBall '98 The CD (Live Radio Station X-Mas Show) "JingleBall '98 The CD" Version:
Recorded at Jingle Ball '98: Cox Arena, SDSU on 18th December '98.
Released over the web by San Diego radio station KFMB (Star 100.7).
The disc also contained an 2 minute unlisted BNL improv rap.
Live From the Mix Lounge (Live and Acoustic Radio Compilation) "Live From the Mix Lounge" Version:
This CD was put out by Boston radio station Mix 98.5 in late 2000.
It consists of all exclusive Live or Acoustic performances.
The Best of Hard Rock Live (Live Compilation) "Hard Rock Live" Version:
Recorded live in 2000 at Hard Rock Live Orlando, a 3,000-capacity concert venue located at Universal Studios CityWalk.