Thought I’d try this with a more-than-usually-period vocal feel to the demo, but perhaps 60s rock ‘n’ roll isn’t really me:
Backup:
(Actually, I pinched that chord sequence between verses from Don MacLeod. Sorry, Don.)
There’s a desert wind pushing the leaves around
and rhythm on the radio
and I just picked up some headlines
you might just like to know
I’ve got high compression and four free wheels
and a change of scene is overdue
and I just can’t wait to get back on the road
– bumper to bumper with you
Keep your fingers off my stickshift
if you can’t take the pace
but there’s a tune-up behind my headlamps
to bring a smile back to your face
I used to get my kicks on a solo cruise
now the only thing I want to do
is step on the gas and get back on the road
– bumper to bumper with you
I used to be the hot-rod hotshot
straining every iron nerve
with devil behind me on a V8 trip
and my wheels on dead man’s curve
Now I’m in the mood for some locomotion
and burning off a little juice
and I just can’t wait to get back on the road
– bumper to bumper with you.
Underneath this somewhere there’s a 12-bar with some extraordinarily pretentious synth-ing. Just having fun, but I think there’s something here to build on.
I went to university a very indifferent guitarist and came back able to play Anji/Angie (more or less) and Light My Fire a la Feliciano, and with one or two fairly average songs, so I guess my time there wasn’t entirely wasted. Though you might disagree if you actually listen to this.
Once upon a time back in the very early 70s I and a friend scored a lift back to Bangor with a lorry driver who clearly believed that student life was all “boozing and [something that rhymes with nagging]”, to which our first reaction was “so who’s getting my share?”.
But I was a late developer… Just as well, I guess. If my life had really been like this, I probably wouldn’t have made it to my present ripe old age.
Anyway, this was, I guess, one of the first of my own songs to make its way into my repertoire, even if it was a bad case of wishful thinking.
Baby what a groove: Words and Music copyright David Harley, 1970
Remastered:
Backup:
The landlady called today
and asked me what I had to say
she said “All these parties night and day
and where’s the rent you’re due to pay?”
I said “I’m sorry I can’t talk now
I’ve got to get some gin
But don’t you worry about me
‘Cause baby what a groove I’m in”
My banker wrote me just to say
I’m way out in the red
But since they stopped my council grant [Remember those? -DH]
There’s nothing to be said
I hope Dad lays a little bread on me
To keep my funds in equity
Now I’ve got 25 hippies living off me
But baby what a groove we’re in
My tutor told me only yesterday
“Your work’s not up to scratch:
We don’t expect you to work all the time
But you’ve not done a patch
It’s all these parties I can see
No wonder you’ve no study time free
And I’ll have you kicked out if you don’t invite me
‘Cause baby what a groove you’re in”
The doctor told me just the other day
“Son, you’re getting in much too deep
You see your trouble is, basically,
Too much bed and too little sleep
Too many fags and too much booze”
I said “I know it’s not the life you’d choose
But I’d rather be dead than have the 9-to-5 blues
‘Cause baby what a groove I’m in
David Harley Words & Music 
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