Heroes and Villains
Smiley Smile version
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Original Album
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Smiley Smile
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Single
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Heroes And Villains / You're Welcome
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Also Appeared On
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Written By
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Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks
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Produced By
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The Beach Boys
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Lead Vocals
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Brian
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Recorded On
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Length
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3:37
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Other Versions
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Notes
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- Arguably, the musical theme and centerpiece of the unreleased "Smile" album. The various "Heroes and Villains" themes were to be interwoven throughout the album.
- Smiley Smile consisted of stripped down reworkings of several "Smile" songs. In the case of this track, the original "Smile" backing track was used (for the most part). The Beach Boys overdubbed the vocals at Brian Wilson's home studio.
- Although, the original "Smile" version is different, this track still ranks as one of the most complex tracks the group recorded.
- Original "Smile" track features a different section sung by Brian and Mike Love, which is referred to as the "in the cantina" section and features a lyric that confuses Beach Boys fans about as much as "cranberry sauce/I buried Paul" does to Beatles fans. :-)
- This version uses "Bicycle Rider" as a chorus, only with different lyrics. When the band played the song in the early 70's, Mike grunted the "de heroes, de heroes, de heroes and villains" chant from "Bicycle Rider".
- The vocals are just out of this world.
- The very first single released on the Brother Records label.
- Lyrics
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I've been in this town so long that back in the city
I've been taken for lost and gone
And unknown for a long long time
Fell in love years ago
With an innocent girl
From the Spanish and Indian home
Home of the heroes and villains
Once at night Catillian squared the fight
And she was right in the rain of the bullets that eventually brought her down
But she's still dancing in the night
Unafraid of what a dude'll do in a town full of heroes and villains
Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done
Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done
Stand or fall I know there
Shall be peace in the valley
And it's all an affair
Of my life with the heroes and villains
My children were raised
You know they suddenly rise
They started slow long ago
Head to toe healthy weathy and wise
I've been in this town so long
So long to the city
I'm fit with the stuff
To ride in the rough
And sunny down snuff I'm alright
By the heroes and
Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done
Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done
- Chords
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(original key: C#)
.........C
I've been in this town so long that back in the city
..............................................................................................D7
I've been taken for lost and gone and unknown for a long long time
.............G7
Fell in love years ago with an innocent girl
............................................................................................................C
From the Spanish and Indian home, home of the heroes and villains
C
Once at night Cotillian squared the fight
...........................................................................................................D7
And she was right in the rain of the bullets that eventually brought her down
.........G7
But she's still dancing in the night
.........................................................................................................C.......C#dim.....G7/D
Unafraid of what a dude'll do in a town full of heroes and villains
Dm.......................................................................G7
Heroes and villains, just see what you've done
Dm.......................................................................G7
Heroes and villains, just see what you've done
Em........A7........Dm........Fm6
C.............D7
La-la-la-la (etc.)
.................G7
Stand or fall I know there shall be peace in the valley
...........................................................................................C
And it's all an affair of my life with the heroes and villains
C........D7........G7........C...C#dim....G7/D
Duh-duh etc.
...........C...................Dm7................................C/E............F
My children were raised you know they suddenly rise
........................C/G..............F.................C/E................Dm7........G7...C..Dm7..C/E..F..C/G..F..C/E..Dm7
They started slow long ago head to toe healthy wealthy and wise
..........C..................E7....................F......................F#dim
I've been in this town so long so long to the city
C/G....................F#dim..C/G............F#dim
I'm fit with the stuff to ride in the rough
..........C/G...............F#dim..........G7
And sunny down snuff I'm alright, by the heroes and
Chart prepared by Francis Greene