Teaser // Dennis Wilson: PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE with Jason Woodbury — Side B

Summary

Jokermen Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: Teaser // Dennis Wilson: PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE with Jason Woodbury — Side B
Release Date: April 11, 2025
Host: Jokermen

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Introduction to "Pacific Ocean Blue"

In this episode, host Jokermen delves into Dennis Wilson's iconic album, "Pacific Ocean Blue," with special guest Jason Woodbury. The discussion centers around the title track and its intricate layers, shedding light on contributions from notable figures like Michael Love.

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Michael Love’s Contribution

At the outset, Dennis Wilson introduces Michael Love's sole contribution to the album:

[00:15] Michael Love: "We live on the edge of a body of water warmed by the blood of cold-hearted slaughter and odder wonder how she be mother seal it's no wonder the Pacific Ocean is blue."

Carl Wilson inquires about the nature of Love’s involvement, to which Dennis clarifies that Michael co-wrote the lyrics for the title track. The lyrics carry a deeper, somewhat cryptic message, blending environmental concerns with broader socio-political themes.

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Interpreting the Lyrics

The panel dissects the lyrical content, exploring its possible meanings:

• Anti-Capitalist and Environmental Themes: Dennis explains that the lyrics hint at anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist sentiments, emphasizing the detrimental impact of human actions on nature.
• "Save the Whales" Angle: Carl suggests that the song may be advocating for the preservation of marine life, particularly whales, aligning with environmental conservation movements.

Brian Wilson offers a nuanced perspective on the lyrics, oscillating between viewing them as either "the stupidest lyric" or "the most brilliant lyric," ultimately appreciating the song's groove and its balance between superficial cheerfulness and profound statements.

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Musicality and Groove

A significant portion of the discussion highlights the song's musical composition:

• Groove and Tonal Perfection: Both Carl and Brian commend the track for its captivating groove and how the lyrical depth complements the musicality.
• Comparison to Other Artists: Brian draws parallels to Elton John's collaborations with Bernie Taupin, noting the complexity and uniqueness of the lyrics set against a pop backdrop.

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Influences and Legacy

The conversation extends to the song's broader cultural impact:

• Influence on "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home": The panel speculates on the song's potential inspiration for the movie's theme of saving whales, highlighting its enduring legacy in pop culture.
• Artistic Grace of Michael Love: Brian praises Michael Love for his understated yet significant contribution, emphasizing his grace in contributing without being directly involved in the recording process.

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Final Reflections

Concluding the episode, Dennis Wilson expresses his deep appreciation for the song's groove and lyrical depth:

[06:23] Dennis Wilson: "Regardless of what I think anyone wants to say or not say about the lyrics, it's... magic music. Magic."

Brian echoes this sentiment, underscoring the song's ability to blend profound messages with captivating music, making it a standout track in Dennis Wilson's repertoire.

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Conclusion

This episode offers an insightful exploration of "Pacific Ocean Blue," unraveling the complexities behind its creation, lyrical depth, and lasting impact. Through engaging dialogue and expert analysis, listeners gain a deeper appreciation for Dennis Wilson's artistry and the collaborative spirit that brought this masterpiece to life.

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Transcript

[Dennis Wilson]

How about, how about the title track? The ostensible title track, Pacific Ocean Blues, you know, the record of course is Pacific Ocean Blue. This is where our friend, our friend Mr. Michael Love makes his one and only contribution to this record.

[Michael Love]

We live on the edge of a body of water Warmed by the blood of cold hearted slaughter and odder wonder how she be mother seal it's no wonder the Pacific Ocean is blue.

[Carl Wilson]

What's his contribution?

[Dennis Wilson]

The lyrics. He's got a co write on this one, him and Dennis.

[Carl Wilson]

This one's like don't go near the water too.

[Dennis Wilson]

It is a little bit like that.

[Carl Wilson]

But it's like less coherent. It's like there's bad stuff happening in the water, you know, but it's not like necessarily the pollution stuff. It's just like what Mother Nature being fierce.

[Dennis Wilson]

It's like the traitor. And don't go near the water because it's got this kind of like vaguely anti capitalist, anti imperialist. We live on the edge of a body of water Warmed by the blood of the cold hearted slaughter.

[Carl Wilson]

Oh yeah, it's like about whales and.

[Brian Wilson]

Otters and seals, you know, Wonderful.

[Carl Wilson]

It's like a save the whales angle.

[Brian Wilson]

Well, so I mean to me this is in some ways it's the height of Cool Mike in a certain sense.

[Dennis Wilson]

Okay.

[Brian Wilson]

Because what. Let me back. What I'll say is like this is Cool Mike because he is helping make this song exist. But he has the grace to not show up to be involved in the recording of it. So I think that's really first and foremost, this is gracious Mike. Thank you Mike, for, for that. But also, I can't decide. I've listened to this record a handful of times over the last couple days. I still can't decide if it's no wonder the Pacific Ocean's Blue is the stupidest lyric that anyone's ever sang or if it's the most brilliant lyric. I dig it. And I. To me it really is this thing where it's like that is walking just so on the line of like goofy, you know, stoner thought, profundity. But in the context of this song, which absolutely rips and is an incredible groove that is like so strange and like. Yeah, I just think it, I think it's a great song actually. And so I think that Mike, somehow that line works. I have to feel like he was involved in that specific line. But I don't know for sure. You know, it could have been Dennis. But yeah. Anyway, I think that's a. It's a good one and I think that's a. I think it's a great. I think it's a great groover of a song. But yeah, as far as the lyrics go, he's saying, you know, we got to quit extracting so much from. From Mother Nature. And I think, I think I agree.

[Carl Wilson]

I can dig it. That's why the. I, you know, that's why the Pacific Ocean's blue. No wonder. I mean, it's blue. I think it's not. I think it's not the most brilliant lyric of all time. That's my opinion on it. Probably not the most. Probably not. But it's one of the lyrics on this song.

[Dennis Wilson]

You know, I think it, I think it totally works.

[Brian Wilson]

I worked on this song.

[Carl Wilson]

It's tonally perfect for the way this song sounds and what it is.

[Brian Wilson]

It's also crazy when you think about just the way he sings this song because the lyrics are. It's like on some of those old Elton John songs where his lyricist Bernie Toppin would like hand him like the kind of most like mangled text to be like, all right, now go sing this over a pop song. And when you read like we live on the edge of a body of water warmed by the blood of the cold hearted slave slaughter of otter, like, it's so like, what on earth.

[Dennis Wilson]

Like, it took me a long time to realize that was even what they were saying at the beginning because you get to the end of it and it's just like, ooh, Pacific Ocean blue. It's like, it sounds so in many ways this is like kind of one of the poppiest, happiest, you know, kind of brightest sounding songs on this record. And yeah, might be the most fucked up, you know, kind of statement lyric.

[Brian Wilson]

The flagship of Death is an old Wayland failing troller.

[Dennis Wilson]

Like, it's just like brutal, man.

[Brian Wilson]

These are some like. And it mean like. And then when he's sing. It's like you. I want to hear Michael McDonald sing this one. I'd really like to hear. Let's hear how he enunciates. Let's hear how he enunciates those lines.

[Carl Wilson]

Sounds actually kind of a lot like Robert Palmer sneaking Sally through the alley.

[Brian Wilson]

That's a good. Yeah, I can hear that.

[Carl Wilson]

Which I think that Palmer is probably another touch point indirectly or directly in the air. Like white boy soul stuff.

[Brian Wilson]

No doubt if that.

[Carl Wilson]

If sneaking Sally through the alley instead of, instead of what that's about. It was about like whale, whale Saving whales.

[Brian Wilson]

Yeah.

[Carl Wilson]

Saving whales through the water way.

[Brian Wilson]

And so yeah, he. I'M trying to remember when the Star Trek movie about the whales comes out. I think that was Star Trek 4 the Voyage Home.

[Dennis Wilson]

I think that was the 80s, I think.

[Brian Wilson]

I think Dennis might already have been out the. Out of the. Out of the picture. So he didn't get to see them, say.

[Carl Wilson]

But he could have inspired it with the sound.

[Brian Wilson]

Yeah, very well. Leonard Nimoy might have been spinning. Spinning this one. It's not out of the question, but I think Pacific Ocean Blue. I do also love that it's called Pacific Ocean Blues, but the record is called Pacific Ocean Blue.

[Dennis Wilson]

Yes.

[Brian Wilson]

I don't know why that tickles me, but it does.

[Dennis Wilson]

So it's like the bottom of the why in Dylan on the COVID of Good As I've Been to youo deep cut. Does not make any sense whatsoever, but I love it.

[Brian Wilson]

It's.

[Dennis Wilson]

You know, it's. It's a delightful little morsel. To me. It is a deep cut, unimpeachable groove on this song, you know, Regardless of what I think anyone wants to say or not say about the lyrics, it's. By the time you get to the end, like, that's what this is really about, is just getting 100% getting to the end. Dennis Wilson just ripping Pacific Ocean Blue. That's like, come on. That's magic music. Magic.