This introspective ballad was written November 22, 1963. Brian and Mike Love had started formulating the idea that morning, and finished the song as a reaction to the tragedy of that day. Though not specifically about the death of the President, it taps into the deep emotion of loss in the wake of a break-up, and relying on the happy memories of the girl who once was there. It’s a sublime piece, and though it was never more than an album cut or a b-side, the song remains one of the band’s most popular tunes, and rightfully so; it is recognized as one of Brian’s first compositional masterpieces.