Top of the Charts: “Help Me, Rhonda”

May 29, 1965 - Hitting No. 1 today on the Billboard Hot 100 was “Help Me, Rhonda,” a song by the Beach Boys released last month as a single. It also appeared on the group’s album, “The Beach Boys Today!” (where it was spelled “Help Me, Ronda”). It is the California group’s second No. 1 single following last year’s “I Get Around.”

It was written by Brian Wilson, with additional lyrics by Mike Love. Band member Al Jardine sings the lead vocal, a rarity for the Beach Boys.

According to Wilson, “Help Me, Rhonda” is not based on a real person. After it was released in March as an album track on “Today!,” Wilson revisited the song, feeling it had commercial potential. A new version, featuring a different arrangement and slightly different lyrics, was released as a single last month.

The lyrics of “Help Me, Rhonda” tell the story of a man who was attracted to a woman who then found another man. To aid the healing process, he begs a woman named Rhonda to help him get over her.

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