Today let's go back to 1976, and one of the flowering moments of punk, with the first single by the London band, a declaration of love, perhaps not just for a girl, but for the music genre itself. Included on the first album, Damned Damned Damned, recorded in a day in Islington’s Pathway Studios, and produced by Nick Lowe, it still feels fresh, with that dry-delivery opening quote by singer Dave Vanian from The Shangri-Las song Leader of the Pack, Rat Scabies's energetic drum intro, songwriter and guitarist Brian James's blistering riff and Captain Sensible on bass. The band, like many back in the day, famously appearing in the borough's basement pub venue, the Hope and Anchor on Upper Street (still going), not far away on Essex Road there's long been another pub, The New Rose, named in this number's honour. This is a song that's not just a first-love memorial to music, but one that, in all who it has influenced, continues to flower.
[Intro]
Is she really going out with him?
[Verse 1]
I got a feeling inside of me
It's kind of strange like a stormy sea
I don't know why, I don't know why
I guess these things have got to be.
[Chorus]
I gotta new rose, I got it good
Guess I knew that I always would
I can't stop to mess around
I got a brand new rose in town.
[Verse 2]
See the sun, see the sun, it shines
Don't get too close or it'll burn your eyes
Don't you run away that way
You can come back another day.
[Chorus]
I got a new rose, I got it good
Guess I knew that I always would
I can't stop to mess around
I got a brand new rose in town.
[Verse 3]
I never thought this could happen to me
This is strange, why should it be
I don't deserve somebody this great
I'd better go or it'll be too late
I got a feeling inside of me
It's kind of strange like a stormy sea
I don't know why, I don't know why
I guess these things have got to be.
[Chorus]
I got a new rose, I got her good
Guess I knew that I always would
I can't stop to mess around
I got a brand new rose in town.
Want to suggest songs for Song of the Day or to say anything about it? Does this song make you think of something else? Then feel free to comment below, on the contact page, or on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube. Please subscribe, follow and share.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...