This also started life in another version, aeons ago. In 1990, I lived in Kemp Town, Brighton, UK. I had just graduated from University, was unemployed, and at something of a loose end. I hadn’t done as well at University as expected and felt a bit at sixes-and-sevens. 1990 was a bit of a “lost year”. I spent a lot of time drinking.
I used to play guitar with my friend and neighbour, James Carrick, who now lives in New Zealand.
The song is really about the kinds of types you meet in bars who have all these elaborate explanations for why they never made it – why they are there. I never suffered any such illusions. I really was at a loss…and knew it.
The main riff and bridge stems from the 1990 version. But the verses were a bit plodding and predictable. So Joe gave it a complete “facelift” during a writing and recording session on 04 December 2013. I absolutely love what he has done, melodically, with the verses and choruses.
Joe also put in the bridge, which I really like.
The guitar solo sees me (Henk) in a rare moment, getting in touch with my inner Dave Davies. I recorded that in a tiny flat in Paddington, London, I was living in, probably March 2013. Although it sounds like it’s played on a real “rock” guitar like a Gibson SG or Les Paul, it’s actually played on my Ovation acoustic guitar, put through an effects pedal and amp!