GOD ONLY KNOWS

The Beach Boys · 1966

Listen carefully and fill in the missing words.

    Verse 1
I may not always (1) you
But long as there are (2) above you
You never need to (3) it
I'll make you so (4) about it
God only knows what I'd be without you

Verse 2
If you should ever (5) me
Well, life would still go on, (6) me
The (7) could (8) nothing to me
So what (9) would (10) do me?
God only knows what I'd be without you

[Chorus]

Bridge
If you should ever leave me
(11) life would (12) go on, believe me
The world could show (13) to me
So what good would living do me?
God only (14) what I'd be without you

[Final Chorus × 8]
  

God Only Knows

The Beach Boys · 1966

ClassPlan.ai

Song Worksheets

Antonym Attack

Write the opposite of each word from the song.

1. love →

2. above →

3. sure →

4. leave →

5. nothing →

6. good →

Finish the Lyric

Complete these song lines in your own creative way. Think about the song's mood and message.

1. I may not always understand you, but long as there are...

2. If you should ever doubt me, well I would...

3. The future could mean nothing to me, so what good would...

4. God only knows where we'll be...

5. You never need to worry cause I'll always...

Did you know?

Read these facts about the song. Which one surprises you most?

🎵Paul McCartney called this his favorite song and said it inspired him to write better melodies for The Beatles.
⭐It was one of the first pop songs to use the phrase 'God' in the title, which was controversial at the time.
🎸The song features unusual instruments for pop music, including French horn and accordion.
📀Brian Wilson wrote it as part of the Pet Sounds album, considered one of the greatest albums ever made.
🎤The song has no traditional verse-chorus structure - it's built entirely around variations of the same musical theme.

Discussion & analysis

Discuss each question with your partner.

1What does 'God only knows' mean in this song context?
2How does the singer express uncertainty and certainty at the same time?

3Have you ever felt you couldn't live without someone?
4Why might love make people feel both strong and vulnerable?

🎭 Play It! — Charades

A student (or teacher) secretly picks a song title or artist from the board. They act it out — no speaking, no miming letters. First person to guess correctly takes the next turn.