In 1966, the band toured the Pacific Northwest without Wheatbread, who was recruited as the house drummer on the television series, Where the Action Is; he later rejoined the line-up. Under manager Dick Badger, the band were renamed The Union Gap in early 1967, and fitted themselves out with Union Army-style Civil War uniforms as a visual gimmick. They then recorded a demo, which was heard by CBS record producer and songwriter Jerry Fuller. Impressed by Puckett's baritone voice and the band's soft rock leanings, Fuller signed them to a recording contract with Columbia Records.
The band recorded their first single, "Woman Woman", a song written by Jim Glaser and Jimmy Payne, in August 1967. It became their first hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and being certified as a gold disc. This was followed during the next two years by "Young Girl" (#2), "Lady Willpower" (#2), "Over You" (#7), and "Don't Give In To Him" (#15). All were produced by Fuller, who also wrote "Young Girl," "Lady Willpower," and "Over You". Although the band never had a #1 record in the United States, "Young Girl" reached #1 on the UK singles chart, and #6 when it was reissued in the UK six years later. Controversial at the time and later for its risqué lyrical references to underage romance, Allmusic labeled the groups lyrics "bizarrely pedophilic". "Young Girl" was the second million selling disc for the band, which it reached less than two months after issue; "Lady Willpower" and "Over You" also won gold discs. The band headlined at a White House reception for Prince Charles and at Disneyland in 1968, and were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1969, losing out to José Feliciano.
The band, however, wanted to write and produce its own material, and Puckett resented singing the power ballads written by Fuller. In 1969 Fuller prepared a 40-piece studio orchestra to record a new song he had written, but Puckett and the group refused to record it, the session was canceled, and Fuller never again worked with the group. The band returned to the charts with "This Girl Is a Woman Now," produced by Dick Glasser, but later releases failed to make the Billboard Top 40. Chater and Withem left the band; Bement took over on bass guitar and keyboardist, Barry McCoy, and horn player, Richard Gabriel, were added. In 1970 Puckett began recording as a solo act, but with limited success; the Union Gap remained his live backing band until they were dismissed following an appearance at the 1971 Orange County Fair. Puckett's recording contract was terminated one year later.
In 2009, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
Now and Then
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shall I check under your hood?
I wonder where she could be
Your water pump isn't working too good
Whatever took her from me?
So I fill the radiator
Oh, what made her want to go?
Please drive in again
I miss her so
Hello, my friend
You're leaking some air
All I could her was love
All of your tires are beginning to wear
I guess that wasn't enough
Today we have a sale on retreads
Tears that she shed told me so
Thank you, my friend
Please drive in again
I miss her so
Good afternoon
Are you bound for LA?
What was she looking to find?
This is the last truck stop on the way
Could I still be on her mind?
Get out awhile and straight your legs, sir
How I begged her not to go
Thank you, my friend
Please drive in again
I miss her so
The song "Now and Then" talks about a man who is trying to deal with the pain of losing his lover. In the first verse, he is talking to a mechanic who is checking under his hood and fixing the water pump, all the while wondering where his lover could have gone. He fills the radiator and thanks the mechanic for his help while expressing his sorrow for missing her. The second verse sees him talking to another mechanic, who tells him that his tires are beginning to wear. He thinks about how all he could hear from her was love, but that wasn't enough to keep her by his side. The tears she shed were a sign that she was leaving. He thanks the mechanic for the service and expresses his pain once again.
In the final verse, he is talking to a truck driver who might be going to LA, the same place his lover went to. He asks the driver if he knows what his lover was looking to find, trying to understand why she left. He also asks the driver to get out and stretch his legs, which could be a metaphor for him trying to move on from his pain. He remembers how he begged her not to go, but she did anyway. Once again, he thanks the driver and asks him to come back, indicating that he is still searching for answers and trying to cope with the loss.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the pain of losing a loved one and trying to find closure.
Line by Line Meaning
Good day
A greeting to the customer entering the auto repair shop.
Shall I check under your hood?
Offering to inspect the car engine for any issues.
I wonder where she could be
Reflecting on the whereabouts of the singer's lost love interest.
Your water pump isn't working too good
Pointing out the specific issue with the car engine.
Whatever took her from me?
Musing over the reason for the singer's loss of his love interest.
So I fill the radiator
Taking steps to repair the car engine issue.
Oh, what made her want to go?
Questioning the motivation behind the lost love interest's departure.
Thank you, my friend
Expressing gratitude to the customer for their patronage.
Please drive in again
Inviting the customer to return for future auto repairs.
I miss her so
Expressing the singer's deep longing for his lost love interest.
Hello, my friend
Another greeting to a different customer at the truck stop.
You're leaking some air
Pointing out a tire issue with the customer's vehicle.
All I could her was love
Recalling the positive memories of the lost love interest.
All of your tires are beginning to wear
Noticing a potential hazard with the tires and urging the customer to replace them.
I guess that wasn't enough
Reflecting on whether love was not enough to keep the singer's relationship intact.
Today we have a sale on retreads
Advertising a promotion on replacement tires.
Tears that she shed told me so
Recalling the heartfelt emotions shown by the lost love interest.
Good afternoon
Another greeting to a customer at the truck stop.
Are you bound for LA?
Asking about the destination of the customer's journey.
What was she looking to find?
Wondering what the lost love interest was searching for in life.
This is the last truck stop on the way
Informing the customer of the last opportunity to stop for vehicle repairs.
Could I still be on her mind?
Pondering the possibility of the singer's lingering presence in the lost love interest's thoughts.
Get out awhile and straight your legs, sir
Suggesting the customer exit the vehicle and stretch their legs while waiting.
How I begged her not to go
Revisiting the pain of the lost love interest's departure.
Thank you, my friend
Expressing gratitude to the customer for their patronage once again.
Please drive in again
Inviting the customer to return for future auto repairs once again.
I miss her so
Echoing the singer's deep longing for his lost love interest again.
Contributed by Sebastian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cheryl Schurlknight
on No One Really Knows
What are the lyrics to Gary’s song... no one really knows?
Louise Reiter
on I'm Just a Man
Get out and stretch your legs...