Lowe began his recording career in 1966 as a member of psychedelic rock group Kippington Lodge, founded with his friend Brinsley Schwarz. That band released a few singles on Parlophone. Three years later, Kippington Lodge had changed its name to Brinsley Schwarz and its musical focus to country and blues rock.
After leaving Brinsley Schwarz in the mid-1970s, Lowe began playing in Rockpile with Dave Edmunds. In August 1976 Lowe released "So It Goes" b/w "Heart of the City", the first single on the Stiff Records label where he was in-house producer (the label's first EP was Lowe's 1977 four-track release Bowi, apparently named in response to David Bowie's contemporary LP Low) . On this and other labels, Lowe would go on to produce The Damned's Damned Damned Damned and many albums by Elvis Costello. Upon moving from Stiff to Jake Riviera's Radar and F-Beat labels, Lowe became extremely selective in his choice of production tasks.
Because the two main writers in Rockpile had contracts with different record labels and managers, albums were always credited to either Lowe or Edmunds, so there is only one official Rockpile album, from the very end of the collaboration - 1980's Seconds of Pleasure, featuring the Lowe songs "When I Write the Book" and "Teacher Teacher" - but all of Lowe's and Edmunds' solo albums from the period were effectively Rockpile albums. Rockpile's demise was hastened by a number of conflicts, not between the group, but their management.
Lowe's best-known song from this era is probably "I Knew the Bride When She Used to Rock 'n' Roll" (a reworking of Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell", a.k.a. "Teenage Wedding"). On the 1977 Live Stiffs compilation with a pickup band called Last Chicken in the Shop, he virtually sneers out his contempt for all concerned; in 1985, fronting Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit on the album The Rose of England, he hasn't changed the words, but the tone is entirely different, even affectionate. The latter recording featured Huey Lewis & the News as his backing band.
In 1979, Lowe married country singer Carlene Carter, daughter of country singers Carl Smith and June Carter Cash and step-daughter of Johnny Cash. He adopted her daughter, Tiffany Anastasia Lowe. The marriage with Lowe lasted until the mid-1980s, but they remained friends, and Lowe remained close to the Carter/Cash family; he and Johnny Cash played and recorded together, and Cash recorded several of his songs.
After the demise of Rockpile, Lowe toured for a period with his band Noise to Go and later with The Cowboy Outfit, which also included the noted keyboard player Paul Carrack. Lowe was also a member of the short-lived mainly studio project Little Village with John Hiatt, Ry Cooder, and Jim Keltner.
In 1992, "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" was covered by Curtis Stigers on the soundtrack album to The Bodyguard, an album that sold over fifteen million copies. Because Lowe received royalties from these sales, he suddenly found himself a millionaire. Freed from commercial constraints, Lowe has recorded more solo albums in his own very individual style to critical acclaim.
Lowe played Glastonbury 2011, performing a short solo set of Brinsley Schwarz tracks on The Spirit Of 71 stage, where they played back in 1971, before heading to the Acoustic Stage for a full band show.
Lowe performed as an opening act for Wilco in their North American tour, September 2011. He performed solo with acoustic guitar.
His more recent albums include
At My Age (2007)
The Old Magic (2011)
I Knew The Bride
Nick Lowe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
Well, the bride was a picture in the gown that her mama wore
When she was married herself nearly twenty-seven years before
They had to change the style a little but it looked just fine
Stayed up all night, but they got it finished just in time
I see her catch my eye and give me a secret smile
Maybe it's too old fashioned, but we once were close friends
Oh but the way that she looks today, she never could have then
Well, I can see her now in her tight blue jeans
Stuffin' all her money in the record machine
Spinnin' like a top, you should of seen her go
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
Well, the proud daddy only want to give his little girl the best
So he put down a grand on a cozy little lover's nest
You could have called the reception an unqualified success
At a flash hotel for a hundred and fifty guests
Well, 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 never would have looked at him twice
Well, 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
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
Well, I can see her now with her walk man on
Struttin' up and down to her favorite song
I still remember when she used to want to make a lot of noise
Hoppin' and boppin' with the street corner boys
She used to wanna party, she used to wanna go
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
I knew the bride when she used to do the pony
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
I knew the bride when she used to want to party
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
In "I Knew The Bride," Nick Lowe tells the story of seeing an old friend, the bride. He remembers her in her teenage years when she used to rock and roll. The bride has now grown up and is getting married. Lowe recalls the times when they would go out and party with the boys, dance, and have a good time. He remembers how she used to stuff all her money in the record machine in her tight blue jeans, spinning like a top, and dancing the stroll. The bride has now traded in her rock and roll lifestyle for a more conventional life.
He reminisces on the day of the wedding, the bride looking stunning in her mother's gown, as her father walks her down the aisle. The groom, happy with his new wife, greets their guests with a glassy look in his eye. Lowe reflects on how the bride has changed from her wild years, where she used to party, dance, and rock and roll, indicating that maybe they had been love interests or more than friends back then.
The lyrics of the song paint a picture of two friends that used to have a lot of fun together, but now they are on opposite sides of the aisle. The song is not just about two people who grew apart over time, but it also has wider themes about how people often lose their youthful wildness as they go through life. It emphasizes that sometimes, people move on from their youthful lifestyle, and it is up to the individual to decide on how he or she wants to advance into life's future.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
The singer is reminiscing about a woman he knew who used to be wild and rebellious.
Well, the bride was a picture in the gown that her mama wore
The woman looks beautiful and traditional in her wedding dress, which is reminiscent of her mother's.
When she was married herself nearly twenty-seven years before
The woman's mother got married 27 years before her daughter's wedding.
They had to change the style a little but it looked just fine
The dress needed some alterations to fit the current style, but still looks great.
Stayed up all night, but they got it finished just in time
Her dress was worked on until the last minute before the wedding.
Now on the arm of her daddy, she's walkin' down the aisle
Her father is walking her down the aisle during the ceremony.
I see her catch my eye and give me a secret smile
The bride acknowledges the singer with a smile during the wedding.
Maybe it's too old fashioned, but we were once close friends
The artist and the bride used to be friends, but their relationship has changed since then.
Oh but the way that she looks today, she never could have then
The bride looks so different now (in her elegant dress) that it's hard to imagine her wild past.
Well, I can see her now in her tight blue jeans
The artist remembers the bride wearing tight jeans, which was part of her wild style.
Stuffin' all her money in the record machine
She used to spend all her money on records at the record store.
Spinnin' like a top, you should of seen her go
She used to dance wildly to the records on the jukebox, with lots of energy and enthusiasm.
Well, the proud daddy only want to give his little girl the best
The bride's father wants to make sure his daughter has a wonderful wedding day.
So he put down a grand on a cozy little lover's nest
He paid a lot of money for a comfortable place for the newlyweds to live together.
You could have called the reception an unqualified success
The reception after the wedding was a huge success.
At a flash hotel for a hundred and fifty guests
The reception was held at an elegant hotel and had 150 guests in attendance.
Well, take a look at the bridegroom smilin' pleased as pie
The groom is very happy on his wedding day.
Shakin' hands all around with a glassy look in his eye
The groom is shaking hands with everyone, but looks slightly overwhelmed by the event.
He got a real good job and his shirt and tie is nice
The groom has a good job and is dressed up nicely for the wedding.
But I remember a time when she never would have looked at him twice
The artist remembers a time when the bride would not have been interested in someone like the groom.
Well, I can see her now drinkin' with the boys
The artist remembers the bride hanging out with male friends and drinking with them.
Breakin' their hearts like they were toys
She used to flirt with and reject the men she hung out with.
She used to do the pony, she used to do the stroll
The bride was a wild dancer and used to do popular dances at the time like the pony and the stroll.
Well, I can see her now with her walk man on
The artist remembers seeing the bride walking around with a Walkman (portable music player).
Struttin' up and down to her favorite song
She used to walk around confidently while listening to her favorite songs on her Walkman.
I still remember when she used to want to make a lot of noise
The bride used to be loud and boisterous, wanting to be noticed by everyone around her.
Hoppin' and boppin' with the street corner boys
She used to hang out with boys who hung out on the streets and dance with them.
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
The artist is reminiscing about the bride's wild past and how different she is now.
I knew the bride when she used to do the pony
The bride used to do the popular dance called the pony.
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
The singer is still thinking about the bride's wild past and how different she is now.
I knew the bride when she used to want to party
The bride used to enjoy partying with her friends.
I knew the bride when she used to rock and roll
The artist is still thinking about the wild, rebellious girl he knew in the past.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: NICHOLAS ORAIN LOWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@czkid54
Used to listen to the 'Basher' album in the car with the kids on long vacation drives. When they were little, my girls used to say "Daddy, will you dance with me at my wedding to "I Knew the Bride"? Of course I said yes. So fast forward to wedding day (1 down, 1 to go) and she and I did our Father/Daughter dance to "I Knew the Bride"... 5 months later, my kids took me to a Nick Lowe/Los StraightJackets concert at a small intimate club, and when they played this song, my daughter came up with me to the front of the stage and we danced together again... with Nick looking down and laughing with us.... such fun.
@moonlightride6256
Awe that's a great story!!! Cute.
@robdixon5016
Awesome!
@walterfisher5749
I wonder what your son in law was thinking......
@czkid54
lol...... @@walterfisher5749
@bobhuntsman7476
Every wedding DJ needs to have this in his arsenal. Guaranteed to get the crowd rockin'. . .
@RFED2O
Definitely π―
@donziperk
I request it every time.
@RFED2O
@@donziperk brilliant well said
@donziperk
@@RFED2O Even my sisters wedding lol