Paul McCartney’s Favorite Song of All Time Was Recorded 60 Years Ago Today
On March 9, 1966, the Beach Boys began recording their infamous single "God Only Knows" as the opener to the second side of their critically acclaimed album Pet Sounds.
The song was an immediate hit upon release, with many influential artists praising the simple songwriting and effective musicianship. Paul McCartney of the Beatles has frequently called it the best song ever written.
'God Only Knows' Marked A New Era for The Beach Boys
One of the countless reasons that Pet Sounds is so frequently cited as the greatest album ever recorded is that it was so foundationally different from anything the Beach Boys had released before. While songs like "Surfin' U.S.A." had cemented them as icons of lighthearted "surf rock", Pet Sounds proved that frontman Brian Wilson was capable of much more.
"God Only Knows" is a perfect example of the vulnerable, tender songwriting that's on display throughout Pet Sounds. It's an incredibly simple love song on the surface, with lyrics that discuss the narrator's pure love and adoration of their partner—it's not trying to be experimental or edgy, and that's what made it so refreshing.
The song culminates in a beautiful, melodic outro where Wilson and his colleagues sing the central refrain—"God only knows what I'd do without you"—in the round, creating an almost angelic effect that was rarely captured on tape.
The song was a huge success, although it was demoted to the B-Side of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" due to the record label's fears that a song with "God" in the title wouldn't be as commercially appealing to general audiences. Still, it reached No. 2 on the U.S. Singles Chart and remains one of the most iconic love songs ever written even today.
Paul McCartney Has Repeatedly Praised 'God Only Knows'
In their early years, there were countless comparisons drawn between the Beatles and their overseas contemporaries, the Beach Boys. But instead of letting these similarities manifest in a rivalry, the Beatles and the Beach Boys always considered themselves in friendly competition with each other.
At least to some degree, it was the critical success of albums like Rubber Soul that pushed Wilson to be more open and vulnerable on Pet Sounds, which in turn inspired the Beatles to experiment more with unconventional recording techniques.
In 2007, McCartney admitted: “‘God Only Knows’ is one of the few songs that reduces me to tears every time I hear it. It’s really just a love song, but it’s brilliantly done. It shows the genius of Brian. I’ve actually performed it with him and I’m afraid to say that during the sound check I broke down.”
The performance in question took place in Los Angeles in 2002, where McCartney appeared on stage to perform his favorite song with his old friend.
When Wilson died in 2025, McCartney paid a heartfelt tribute on Instagram: "Brian had that mysterious sense of musical genius that made his songs so achingly special. The notes he heard in his head and passed to us were simple and brilliant at the same time. I loved him, and was privileged to be around his bright shining light for a little while. How we will continue without Brian Wilson, ‘God Only Knows’."