Back I Just Wasn't Made for These Times Spanish I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times Finnish I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times Hungarian I Just Wasn't Made for These Times Italian 駄目な僕 Japanese
| "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" | |
|---|---|
 1996 Sub Pop single cover | |
| Song by the Beach Boys | |
| from the album Pet Sounds | |
| Released | May 16, 1966 |
| Recorded | February 14 – April 13, 1966 |
| Studio | Gold Star and Columbia, Hollywood |
| Length | 3:21 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Brian Wilson |
| Licensed audio | |
| "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" on YouTube | |
| Audio sample | |
"I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, the lyrics describe the disillusionment of someone who struggles to fit into society. Musically, it is distinguished for its melodic bass guitar, layered vocals, and Electro-Theremin solo, marking the first time the instrument was used in popular music and the first time theremin-like sounds were used on a rock record.
One of the last tracks completed for Pet Sounds, Wilson produced the recording with the aid of 14 studio musicians—including Electro-Theremin inventor Paul Tanner—who variously played percussion, basses, guitars, clarinets, piccolo, harpsichord, tack piano, and bass harmonica. All six Beach Boys sang on the track. In addition to multiple vocal counterpoints, the chorus features Spanish-sung backing vocals: "Oh, ¿cuándo seré? Un día seré" ("When will I be? One day I will be").
"I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" remains one of the Beach Boys' most celebrated songs, and one closely identified with Wilson's personal life. In 1995, it provided the title of Don Was' documentary of Wilson's life, and, in turn, the title of the film's soundtrack (also Wilson's second solo album). In 1996, to promote the upcoming release of The Pet Sounds Sessions, the first true stereo mix of the song was released as a single on the alternative rock label Sub Pop.