The Beach Boys Poem Analysis

In The Beach Boys song “God Only Knows,” the singer declares his everlasting love and contemplates life without his partner. Several literary elements demonstrate that the lyrics could very well serve as poetry. The song is told from the first person point of view. "Poets who write in the first-person point of view allow the reader to experience the imagery of a poem through the direct perception of the narrator" (Cascio). These lyrics are written so tenderly and deeply that you feel like a private and intimate moment is personally shared with you.
The theme of everlasting and all-consuming love is revealed by the writer's message that no matter what happens in life, extreme love is reachable. In this moment, nothing is more important than his love. His message is introduced as a hopeless question, "So what good would living do me?".
In the second line of the lyrics, “But as long as there are stars above you”, the writer uses both imagery and symbolism. The visual imagery allows the reader to imagine stars twinkling in the night sky. The use of imagery “allows the reader to identify with the story, the characters and the themes by making
“I may not always love you”, adds a bit of confusion to the love song. The writer applies the element of paradox with this line. The Encyclopedia Britannica’s website explains in literature “the purpose of a paradox is to arrest attention and provoke fresh thought” (Paradox). The negative connotation in that opening line is unexpected and a twist to typical love song lyrics. It is contrary to what is normally written, so it serves as a perplexing thought. The use of the word “if” in the line “If you should ever” introduces a conditional thought/statement and a sense of ambiguity. It is the result or effect of something else. His feelings may change or be present at a time in the future due many reasons: a breakup, death,