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Nick Lowe — When I Write The Book
Album: Labour of Lust
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1238









Released: 1978
Length: 3:11
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Now I can remember like it was only yesterday
Love was young and foolish like a little child at play
But oh how lovers change - I never dreamed how easily
Cause now im just a shadow of the boy I used to be
And when I write the book about my love
It will be about a man who's torn in half
About his hopes and ambitions wasted through the years
The pain will be written on every page in tears
When I write the book about my love
I was a fool to myself when I kept on runnin around
And I fared little better when I tried settlin down
Maybe some magic moment - I've never known one, not for long
For all too soon the magic is in a moment gone
And when I write the book about my love
Itll be a heartbreaking story about love and luck
When i get down on the pages all i felt
It will make the hardest-hearted of critics hearts melt
When i write the book about my love
When i was young love was fun and i was so happy - i looked so good and i dressed so snappy
Two-tone shoes on my feet big old smile on my face - as i moved and grooved all over the place
Now im down in the heels my complexion is bad
Cause my love life is sadder than sad
And when i write the book about my love
Itll be a pop publication, tougher than tough
When i get down on the pages all i missed
It will shoot to the top of the best-sellers list
When i write the book about my love
Comments (77)add comment
 Rcallinjr wrote:


I too hate pop but I like this and don’t consider it pop by any definition of pop



Posted 6 days ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Canadian artist Colin James (born in my hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan) has a great cover of this on his 2005 album "Limelight". Colin started as a child prodigy blues guitarist, but expanded into a very "blue-eyed soul" artist covering tunes like this and, on the same album, a cracking version of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic". Check him out!

Colin James Wikipedia
Posted 6 days ago by RichardK    [ Reply ]
 ScottishWillie wrote:

What’s wrong with a bit of pop? I like fine cuisine but I also enjoy the odd burger and a beer. Life is way to short to limit your experiences, which is why I listen to an eclectic radio station.




I too hate pop but I like this and don’t consider it pop by any definition of pop
Posted 1 month ago by Rcallinjr    [ Reply ]
 TC1 wrote:


Umm... I think you meant WNEW NYC (says this lifelong New Yorker)

WPIX FM played easy listening and adult contemporary. 

do i miss wnew fm, great to listen too when i was in high school 
Posted 1 month ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
Saw Nick at The Kessler Theater in Oak Cliff (Dallas) TX in December.  At 75 years old he still brings it. The crowd went crazy over this tune. 
Posted 3 months ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:

Rockpile, Nick Lowe, Graham Parker, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson...so many great late '70s Pop Purveyors. Fondly remembering hearing them all on WPIX NYC



Umm... I think you meant WNEW NYC (says this lifelong New Yorker)

WPIX FM played easy listening and adult contemporary. 
Posted 3 months ago by TC1    [ Reply ]
So well produced, performed, and written. 

10 
Posted 10 months ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
Rockpile, please.
Posted 11 months ago by Ropes    [ Reply ]
Can't not sing along to this!
Posted 2 years ago by jelgator    [ Reply ]
It may be 'Pop', but it's really, really good Pop.
c.
Posted 2 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Immediate turn the volume up tune.  If this does not elevate your attitude call 911.
Posted 2 years ago by DW4554    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:

Rockpile, Nick Lowe, Graham Parker, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson...so many great late '70s Pop Purveyors. Fondly remembering hearing them all on WPIX NYC



Let's throw the Pretenders in there too! ( just barely ),  And ....
Posted 3 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
Good music and memories of this era.  
Posted 3 years ago by bigbwash1    [ Reply ]
Rockpile, Nick Lowe, Graham Parker, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson...so many great late '70s Pop Purveyors. Fondly remembering hearing them all on WPIX NYC
Posted 4 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 khardog145 wrote:
Gosh, can Nick Lowe really be called "pop".  Dig a little deeper into his library and there's some amazing stuff in there - including the collaboration Rockpile with Dave Edmonds.  Unless you don't like dancing{#Clap}
 
Now THAT was a band. Wow.
c.
Posted 4 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Classic flashback song. 
Posted 4 years ago by exjunkie    [ Reply ]
Gosh, I keep hearing Jerry...
Posted 6 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
Oh yeah...yes! 
Posted 6 years ago by Ropes    [ Reply ]
On of my favorites from Mr. Lowe.
Posted 6 years ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
Gosh, can Nick Lowe really be called "pop".  Dig a little deeper into his library and there's some amazing stuff in there - including the collaboration Rockpile with Dave Edmonds.  Unless you don't like dancing{#Clap}
Posted 6 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
Umm Umm ummmm man I need a sweet swinging pair of hips in my hands as I hear this bit of Nick Lowe magic, soooo good!!!

get over here girl  : )
Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 ScottishWillie wrote:

What’s wrong with a bit of pop? I like fine cuisine but I also enjoy the odd burger and a beer. Life is way to short to limit your experiences, which is why I listen to an eclectic radio station.



 
Well said.
Posted 7 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
 wasteman wrote:
Yuk!  This is the sort of music I despise on pop and prattle radio stations. 
 

What’s wrong with a bit of pop? I like fine cuisine but I also enjoy the odd burger and a beer. Life is way to short to limit your experiences, which is why I listen to an eclectic radio station.


Posted 9 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
love Love  LOVE me some Rockpile!  
Posted 9 years ago by PopKombo    [ Reply ]
Yuk!  This is the sort of music I despise on pop and prattle radio stations. 
Posted 10 years ago by wasteman    [ Reply ]
 Hear. Hear.
Proclivities wrote:

{#Yes}  Good point.

 


Posted 11 years ago by bodyschool    [ Reply ]
"When i was young love was fun and i was so happy - i looked so good and i dressed so snappy
Two-tone shoes on my feet, big old smile on my face - as i moved and grooved all over the place"

Super fun man, big ol smile on my face from the first time I heard it, gets me boppin  
Posted 11 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
good.... but let's have 'So It Goes'.... definitely in my all-time Top Ten!
 
Posted 12 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]
Looking for "Pulling Mussels From A Shell"
Posted 12 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
{#Curtain}
Posted 12 years ago by srose96    [ Reply ]
 copymonkey wrote:


Deceptively simple and happy. That's why Nick's a genius. He says more in 2 minutes than a thousand Roger Waters could say in two hours.
 
{#Yes}  Good point.
Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 bluedot wrote:

Huh? This song song is NOT happy! Listen to what he's saying!
 
what it matters what's sayin,
matters what's feels

mbaza lol
happy loops 
Posted 14 years ago by YKV    [ Reply ]
 rosedraws wrote:
Loves me some Nick Lowe. Happy, simple music.
 
Huh? This song song is NOT happy! Listen to what he's saying!

Posted 14 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
 rosedraws wrote:
Loves me some Nick Lowe. Happy, simple music.
 

Deceptively simple and happy. That's why Nick's a genius. He says more in 2 minutes than a thousand Roger Waters could say in two hours.
Posted 14 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
 Xeric wrote:

Next?  How 'bout instead? 

Tripe, Nick. . . .

 

{#Lol}
Posted 15 years ago by stephw    [ Reply ]
 manzanitafire wrote:
Next up - Everyday I Write the Book by Elvis Costello!
 
Next?  How 'bout instead? 

Tripe, Nick. . . .

Posted 16 years ago by Xeric    [ Reply ]
Love this song SO MUCH.
Posted 16 years ago by holborne    [ Reply ]
 rosedraws wrote:
Loves me some Nick Lowe. Happy, simple music.
 
I couldn't have said it better myself! {#Wave}
Posted 16 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
Next up - Everyday I Write the Book by Elvis Costello!
Posted 16 years ago by manzanitafire    [ Reply ]
Loves me some Nick Lowe. Happy, simple music.
Posted 16 years ago by rosedraws    [ Reply ]
kazuma wrote:
One of my old favorites. Sure wish I'd seen these guys play. I bet it was a riot.
Yeah, this song is on the Rockpile record, IMO the best one album band ever. That record is a masterpiece of intelligent Beatles influenced rockabilly genius. One of my all time favorite CD's, and each time I pull it out and play it, it stays on my player for a couple weeks or more.
Posted 16 years ago by andrewimft    [ Reply ]
stevetheshoe wrote:
I just love Nick Lowe, got to see one time in Copenhagen with Bill Kirchen on guitar, great show.
WOW! I would have loved to see that! If you haven't heard Kirchen's long, live version of "Hot Rod Lincoln," you haven't lived!
Posted 17 years ago by Essbee    [ Reply ]
Wow--everyone seems to love this song and this guy. This song reminds me of the luckiest guy in the musical world, Steve Miller. Catchy, but not particularly talented. Is Nick Lowe also Konocti-bound?
Posted 17 years ago by Rafter101    [ Reply ]
Nick is a genius. What a sweet tune; perfectly constructed pop.
Posted 17 years ago by E_A_D_G    [ Reply ]
I just love Nick Lowe, got to see one time in Copenhagen with Bill Kirchen on guitar, great show.
Posted 17 years ago by stevetheshoe    [ Reply ]
Happy happy happy is how I feel when I hear Nick Lowe! Even if it's his newer moodier stuff! Ultimate happiness: Abominable Showman.
Posted 17 years ago by Essbee    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by Misterfixit    [ Reply ]
To my felow Nick Lowe fans: Nick's new album At My Age is set to be released June 26. Mark your calendars.
Posted 17 years ago by RobK    [ Reply ]
Or... Paperback Writer WonderLizard wrote:
Or..."Book of Love" or "Little Red Book"...
Posted 18 years ago by kerr    [ Reply ]
sasa1170 wrote:
Ok- - if I'm on to this set...the next song should be Elvis Costello- "Everyday I write the book"??
Yeah, that's more likely than the old standard "I could write a book" sung by crooners.
Posted 18 years ago by celadonstone    [ Reply ]
TonyBear wrote:
Heard the name but never heard any of Nick Lowe's music before - very impressed
...Same here!
Posted 18 years ago by Thistle    [ Reply ]
Heard the name but never heard any of Nick Lowe's music before - very impressed
Posted 18 years ago by TonyBear    [ Reply ]
sasa1170 wrote:
Ok- - if I'm on to this set...the next song should be Elvis Costello- "Everyday I write the book"??
Or..."Book of Love" or "Little Red Book"...
Posted 18 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
Ok- - if I'm on to this set...the next song should be Elvis Costello- "Everyday I write the book"??
Posted 19 years ago by sasa1170    [ Reply ]
Posted 19 years ago by lixy    [ Reply ]
pope183 wrote:
wasn't this on the Rockpile album?
One of my old favorites. Sure wish I'd seen these guys play. I bet it was a riot.
Posted 19 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
The drums at the beginning sounded so much like Keith Moon I thought it was The Who for a second.
Posted 19 years ago by The_Seeker    [ Reply ]
pope183 wrote:
wasn't this on the Rockpile album?
Yes. Nick and Dave Edmunds formed Rockpile but were contracted for "solo" albums still, so only one LP got released as Rockpile proper. But it's Nick's song and he's singing so it qualifies for this best-of, I guess.
Posted 19 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
briandel wrote:
How you uh, how you comin' on that novel you're working on? Huh? Gotta a big, uh, big stack of papers there? Gotta, gotta nice litte story you're working on there? Your big novel you've been working on for 3 years? Huh? Gotta, gotta compelling protaganist? Yeah? Gotta obstacle for him to overcome? Huh? Gotta story brewing there? Working on, working on that for quite some time? Huh? Yea, talking about that 3 years ago. Been working on that the whole time? Nice little narrative? Beginning, middle, and end? Some friends become enemies, some enemies become friends? At the end your main character is richer from the experience? Yeah? Yeah? I look forward to reading it.
LOL! I love how you almost can't hear his voice...as he goes... Yeah, that's funny.
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
wasn't this on the Rockpile album?
Posted 19 years ago by pope183    [ Reply ]
briandel wrote:
How you uh, how you comin' on that novel you're working on? Huh? Gotta a big, uh, big stack of papers there? Gotta, gotta nice litte story you're working on there? Your big novel you've been working on for 3 years? Huh? Gotta, gotta compelling protaganist? Yeah? Gotta obstacle for him to overcome? Huh? Gotta story brewing there? Working on, working on that for quite some time? Huh? Yea, talking about that 3 years ago. Been working on that the whole time? Nice little narrative? Beginning, middle, and end? Some friends become enemies, some enemies become friends? At the end your main character is richer from the experience? Yeah? Yeah? I look forward to reading it.
Yes, Stewie, almost done with it, in fact. The main character is an overeducated little brat--sound familiar?--with plans for world domination--ditto?--who speaks with an accent like Erich von Stroheim, had he gone to a British boarding school--ring any bells? So it's not so much like Nick Lowe's "When I Write the Book" so much as Elvis Costello's "Everyday I Write the Book" (which has better literary allusions anyway). It's a science fiction epic with a bunch of Gabriel Garcia Marquez magic realism thrown in, and--oh yeah--a bunch of obscure pop culture references (like to the Nick Lowe canon, for instance, or to TV cartoon shows) thrown into the mix. ("Into the mix" is a great pop culture phrase in itself, dont'cha think?) Sorry--just being cruel to be kind. In the right measure.
Posted 19 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]
How you uh, how you comin' on that novel you're working on? Huh? Gotta a big, uh, big stack of papers there? Gotta, gotta nice litte story you're working on there? Your big novel you've been working on for 3 years? Huh? Gotta, gotta compelling protaganist? Yeah? Gotta obstacle for him to overcome? Huh? Gotta story brewing there? Working on, working on that for quite some time? Huh? Yea, talking about that 3 years ago. Been working on that the whole time? Nice little narrative? Beginning, middle, and end? Some friends become enemies, some enemies become friends? At the end your main character is richer from the experience? Yeah? Yeah? I look forward to reading it.
Posted 19 years ago by briandel    [ Reply ]
mediamarv wrote:
Did Loew do "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass?""
Ah, I would love to hear that one! (It being his best song.) ;-)
Posted 19 years ago by number6    [ Reply ]
mediamarv wrote:
Did Loew do "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass?""
Yep.
Posted 19 years ago by boileymon    [ Reply ]
Did Loew do "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass?""
Posted 19 years ago by mediamarv    [ Reply ]
Straight up. Love it.
Posted 20 years ago by Old_Pool_Skunk    [ Reply ]
ChardRemains wrote:
ahh this brings back memories...spun this one a lot in my college radio daze.
Hearing this again in rotation just made my day! Thanx RP!
Posted 20 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
ahh this brings back memories...spun this one a lot in my college radio daze.
Posted 20 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
What a funny song, I think! :)
Posted 22 years ago by qosforever    [ Reply ]
\"Rockpile\"---a great but underappreciated collection of talent. Lowe/Edmunds wrote and played some great stuff.
Posted 22 years ago by stinky    [ Reply ]
Well, we\'ve set the Way Back Machine to 1956 Mr. Peabody...
Posted 22 years ago by laytin1119    [ Reply ]
So strange, so good, so uncanny. Nick Lowe is what we all would listen to if the USA had won WWII.
Posted 23 years ago by samiyam    [ Reply ]
What a knockout -- Mr. Lowe\'s work on both sides of the board -- always a delight.
Posted 23 years ago by chasboco    [ Reply ]