In the late 1960s he led a blues-rock trio called Love Sculpture, who scored a quasi-novelty hit by reworking Khachaturian's classical piece "Sabre Dance" as a speed-crazed rock number. "Sabre Dance" became a hit after garnering the enthusiastic attention of British DJ John Peel.
After Love Sculpture split, Edmunds had a number one single with "I Hear You Knocking", a Smiley Lewis cover. His only acting role followed, as a band member in the David Essex movie Stardust (1974 movie). After learning the trade of producer, culminating in a couple of singles in the style of Phil Spector, "Baby I Love You" and "Born To Be With You", he became linked with the pub rock movement of the early 1970s, producing Brinsley Schwarz, Ducks Deluxe, and also The Flamin' Groovies, using a stripped down, grittier sound.
His own solo LP from that era, Subtle As A Flying Mallet, was similar in style. In 1977, the Brinsley Schwarz connection brought about a collaboration with Nick Lowe under the name Rockpile, with Billy Bremner and Terry Williams. For contractual reasons they could not record as Rockpile until 1980, but contemporary solo LPs (such as Nick Lowe's Labour of Lust and Edmunds' own Repeat When Necessary) were in fact group recordings. Dave Edmunds had more hits during this time, including Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk", Nick Lowe's "I Knew The Bride", Hank DeVito's "Queen of Hearts" ), Graham Parker's "Crawling From The Wreckage", and Melvin Endsley's "Singing The Blues" (originally a hit for Guy Mitchell).
Unexpectedly, after Rockpile relased their first LP under their own name (1980's Seconds Of Pleasure), the band split, generally attributed to tensions between Edmunds and Lowe. Edmunds spent the 1980s collaborating with and producing an assortment of artists, from Paul McCartney to King Kurt, and from The Stray Cats to Status Quo. He recorded the soundtrack for Porky's Revenge, supplying the main theme, "High School Nights", and was the musical director for a television special starring Carl Perkins, with assorted guests including George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Rosanne Cash.
On his 1983 and 1984 releases, Information and Riff Raff, Edmunds collaborated on two songs with Jeff Lynne, the lead musician of Electric Light Orchestra. He recorded less frequently after the mid 1980s.
Edmunds now lives in Wales in semi-retirement, touring Scandinavia infrequently, after surviving a quadruple bypass several years ago.
I Knew The Bride
Dave Edmunds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When she was married herself nearly twenty-seven years before
She had to change the style a little but it looked just fine
They stayed up all night, but they got it finished just in time
Now on the arm of her daddy, she's a-walkin' down the aisle
And she catches my eye and she gives me a secret smile
Maybe it's too old-fashioned, but we once were close friends
Well I can see her now in the tight blue jeans
Pumpin' all the money in the record machine
Spinnin' like a top, you shoulda seen her go
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll [Repeat: x4]
Now her proud daddy only wanna give his little girl the best
And so he put down a grand on a cozy little lover's nest
You could've called the reception an unqualified success
At a flash hotel for a hundred and fifty guests
Take a look at the bridegroom smilin' pleased as pie
Shakin' hands all around with a glassy look in his eye
He got a real good job and his shirt and tie is nice
But I remember a time when she would never even look him twice
But I can see her now drinkin' with the boys
Breakin' their hearts like they were toys
She used to do the pony, she used to do the stroll
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll [Repeat: x4]
Well I can see her now with her headphones on
Jumpin' up and down to her favorite song
I still remember when she used to wanna make a lot of noise
Hoppin' and boppin' with the street corner boys
She used to love to party, she used to love to go
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll [Repeat: x4]
Hey!
Dave Edmunds's “I Knew the Bride” is a nostalgic tribute to a bride walking down the aisle on her wedding day. The song evokes strong memories of the bride's earlier days when she was free-spirited and into rock and roll, a far cry from her reserved and sophisticated comportment on her wedding day. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the quaint event and the changes that have taken place.
The bride's dress has a history as it was passed down from her mother, and she had to alter the style slightly to fit the occasion. All-night efforts go into completing the dress on time, leading to a momentous walk with her father down the aisle. While she catches the eye of the singer (who once was her close friend), he feels that she looks more beautiful than ever. Edmunds reminisces about how he knew the bride in her wilder days as she rocked and rolled, spun like a top, and danced to the beat.
The song ends with a nostalgic verse about how the bride used to be an enthusiastic party-goer and would jump and hop with her friends on the street corner. Edmunds recalls fond memories of a past relationship, and how time has changed the dynamics between them.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, the bride looked a picture in the gown that her mama wore
The bride looked beautiful in her mother's gown which had to be altered a little for her
When she was married herself nearly twenty-seven years before
The gown was the same one her mother wore almost 27 years ago
She had to change the style a little but it looked just fine
Though the style needed alterations, it fitted the bride perfectly and looked great
They stayed up all night, but they got it finished just in time
The bride and her mother worked all night to make sure the gown was ready just in time for the wedding
Now on the arm of her daddy, she's a-walkin' down the aisle
The father walked his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day
And she catches my eye and she gives me a secret smile
The singer catches the bride's eye and she gives him a knowing smile
Maybe it's too old-fashioned, but we once were close friends
Although it might be considered old-fashioned, the singer and the bride were once good friends
Oh but the way that she looks today, she never could have then.
The bride looked completely different on her wedding day and it's hard to believe she's the same person from their past
Well I can see her now in the tight blue jeans
The artist remembers the bride wearing tight blue jeans
Pumpin' all the money in the record machine
The bride spent a lot of money on the record machine
Spinnin' like a top, you shoulda seen her go
The bride danced wildly and spun around like a top
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
The artist knew the bride in her wilder days when she loved to rock and roll
Now her proud daddy only wanna give his little girl the best
The bride's father wanted to give her everything she wanted on her special day
And so he put down a grand on a cozy little lover's nest
The father spent a lot of money on a nice honeymoon suite for the newlywed couple
You could've called the reception an unqualified success
The wedding reception was a huge success
At a flash hotel for a hundred and fifty guests
The reception was held at a fancy hotel with 150 guests
Take a look at the bridegroom smilin' pleased as pie
The groom looked very happy and satisfied on his wedding day
Shakin' hands all around with a glassy look in his eye
The groom was happy but perhaps a bit tipsy as he shook hands with everyone
He got a real good job and his shirt and tie is nice
The groom has a good job and looked smart in his suit and tie
But I remember a time when she would never even look him twice
The artist remembers when the bride wasn't interested in the groom at all
But I can see her now drinkin' with the boys
The artist remembers seeing the bride drinking with the boys
Breakin' their hearts like they were toys
The bride used to break hearts easily
She used to do the pony, she used to do the stroll
The bride used to dance differently in her wilder days
Well I can see her now with her headphones on
The artist can picture the bride with her headphones on
Jumpin' up and down to her favorite song
The bride used to jump around to her favourite tunes
I still remember when she used to wanna make a lot of noise
The singer vividly remembers when the bride loved being loud and making a lot of noise
Hoppin' and boppin' with the street corner boys
The bride used to enjoy dancing with the boys on the street corner
She used to love to party, she used to love to go
The bride used to love partying and going out
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
The artist fondly remembers the bride's wild days when she loved to rock and roll
Hey!
An upbeat interjection used to end the song
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NICHOLAS ORAIN LOWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
roy skuderin
Dave Edmunds, a TOTALLY underrated performer, he should be more popular.
George Gravette
@H Mackie As he stated in his Rolling Stone interview, it was "I Hear You Knockin.'" A great song.
TheSunKing
Unter rated?? - he’s a legend🎸😎
Rickard Ågren
Yes YSTÄVIÄ YSTÄVIÄ RAa
Rickard Ågren
Yes YSTÄVIÄ YSTÄVIÄ RAa
Tony Gallo
yup.. and no dummy when it came to players in his band. that's Steve Cropper playing guitar ...
Christopher O'Brien
Dave Edmunds was a mega musician when I was a kid. I'm 60 now , the man's a legend.
Jeff mack
Me too 😂
Paleo Man
same here, 60. loved rockpile. wish i could have seen them.
Fire bird 22
Yeah Chris.
You got my vote.
I'm 59 now.
Dave was the first rocking
Tunes I latched onto.
Before feelgood.