Editing Pet Sounds (section)

===Side two===
{{listen|pos=left
|filename=God Only Knows choral fantasy.ogg|title=Bridge of "God Only Knows"|description=The basic rhythmic feel of "God Only Knows" blends harpsichord, piano, sleigh bells, and strings with slapback echo.{{sfn|Zak|2001|p=88}} Lambert describes the song as the album's "musical high point".{{sfn|Lambert|2008|p=127}}
}}

"[[God Only Knows]]" depicts a narrator contemplating the end of a romantic relationship, asserting that life without their partner could only be fathomed by God.{{sfn|Lambert|2007|p=244}} It challenged pop music conventions of the mid-1960s by explicitly referencing "God" in its title and lyrics—an action then considered [[taboo]], with at least one recent prior instance of a radio ban due to a song containing words such as "hell" and "damn".{{sfn|Leaf|1978|p=82}} Wilson and Asher debated the risks of limited airplay, as well as the deceptive opening line, "I may not always love you".{{sfn|Granata|2003|pp=100–101}} Wilson credited Asher with ultimately broadening his songwriting approach, inspiring the song through discussions of standards like "[[Stella by Starlight]]".<ref name="BrianWilson1997" /> Its harmonic structure features an ambiguous tonal center,{{sfn|Harrison|1997|p=39}} an element cited by musicologist Stephen Downes as contributing to its innovation within pop music and the [[Baroque music|Baroque]] style it emulates.{{sfn|Downes|2014|pp=36–38}} 
[[File:Al Jardine Pet Sounds.jpg|thumb|upright|"[[I Know There's an Answer]]" featured a lead vocal from Jardine]]

"[[I Know There's an Answer]]", initially titled "Let Go Your Ego" and "Hang On to Your Ego",{{sfn|Granata|2003|pp=104–105}} portrays an individual reluctant to advise others on improving their lifestyle.{{sfn|Fusilli|2005|p=90}} Its lyrics sparked internal controversy over perceived allusions to drug culture.{{sfn|Love|2016|pp=105, 131–132}}{{refn|group=nb|Loren Schwartz, who introduced Wilson to LSD, later reflected that Wilson experienced "the full-on [[ego death]]. It was a beautiful thing."{{sfn|Carlin|2006|pp=174–175}}}} Wilson later stated that the original chorus contained "an inappropriate lyric" which he dedicated "a lot of thought" before revising,<ref name=Bittersweet1999>{{cite magazine |last1=Valania |first1=Jonathon |title=Bittersweet Symphony |magazine=[[Magnet magazine|Magnet]] |date=August–September 1999 |url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.music.artists.beach-boys/gI4CokP5A7Q}}</ref> resulting in a song he later described as rejecting escapist LSD culture.{{sfn|Wilson|Greenman|2016|pp=179–180}} The track feature a bass harmonica solo performed by session musician [[Tommy Morgan]].{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=150}} According to Lambert, "More so than any other song on the album, this one celebrates instruments and instrumental colours."{{sfn|Lambert|2008|p=128}}

"[[Here Today (The Beach Boys song)|Here Today]]" is narrated from an ex-boyfriend's perspective{{sfn|Doe|Tobler|2009|p=24}} warning of inevitable heartbreak in new relationships.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=105}} Wilson described the track as an experiment in basslines, aiming to feature a bass guitar played an octave higher as the lead instrument.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=163}} It was the last song written for the album.{{sfn|Lambert|2007|p=248}}{{refn|group=nb|Asher said, "'Here Today' contains a little more of me both lyrically and melodically than Brian."{{sfn|Kent|2009|p=16}}}} Perone suggested that the high-register bass echoes elements of "God Only Knows", interpreting the narrator as cautioning the latter's protagonist about the impermanence of romantic promises.{{sfn|Perone|2012|p=29}}

"[[I Just Wasn't Made for These Times]]" addresses [[social alienation]].{{sfn|Granata|2003|pp=106–107}} Wilson described the song as depicting someone like himself "crying because he thought he was too advanced" and might "leave people behind".{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=108}} The instrumentation incorporates harpsichord, tack piano, flutes, temple blocks, timpani, and an Electro-Theremin performed by its inventor [[Paul Tanner]].{{sfn|Granata|2003|pp=151–152}} Lambert called the chorus vocals, constructed through repeat overdubbing, emblematic of his "progressive vision for the album".{{sfn|Lambert|2008|p=130}}

"Run, James, Run" served as the working title for the second instrumental track, "[[Pet Sounds (instrumental)|Pet Sounds]]", initially intended for use in a [[James Bond]] film.<ref name=BrianWilson1997 /> Its percussion involved [[Coca-Cola]] cans and a [[güiro]].<ref name=tracks /> Perone observes that while the piece emphasizes lead guitar—aligning with the Beach Boys' [[surf music]] background—its "elaborate arrangement", featuring layered "auxiliary percussion", "abruptly changing textures", and minimal use of traditional rock drumming, distinguishes it from a surf composition.{{sfn|Perone|2012|p=29}} Lambert interprets the track as a "musical synopsis" of the album's key themes and a reflective pause for the narrator following the emotional climax of "Here Today".{{sfn|Lambert|2008|pp=114–115, 131}}

[[File:SP 6461 Above Caliente PRS SPec Apr71x4.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Owl'', otherwise known as the train heard after "Caroline, No"]]

"[[Caroline, No]]" grapples with [[loss of innocence|lost innocence]].{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=110}} Asher conceived the title as "Carol, I Know", which Wilson misheard as "Caroline, No"—a revision Asher deemed more impactful.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=111}} Wilson considered the song "probably the best I've ever written", framing it as a melancholic reflection on irretrievable love.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=112}} The track opens with the sound of a struck Sparkletts water cooler jug{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=149}} and concludes with a fade-out featuring Wilson's dogs barking alongside sounds of passing trains [[sample (music)|sampled]] from the 1963 sound effects album ''Mister D's Machine''.<ref name="Runtagh2016">{{cite magazine |last1=Runtagh |first1=Jordan |date=May 16, 2016 |title=Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds': 15 Things You Didn't Know |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beach-boys-pet-sounds-15-things-you-didnt-know-186297/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028112353/https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/beach-boys-pet-sounds-15-things-you-didnt-know-186297/ |archive-date=October 28, 2021}}</ref>