My wife and I married in 1991. We were both 25. We knew everything. We knew good music, and of course we had excellent taste in movies and literature. We cared about the world around us, and dedicated ourselves to a life of meaning and impact. We loved each other very much, and we couldn’t wait to start our lives together.
But as it turned out, we really didn’t know that much at all. We bought our first couch at Ace Hardware. We subscribed to Garbage Magazine because we cared about the environment (and every issue of that magazine, ironically, ended up in the garbage). We even ate tempeh.
It was a time of joyous innocence and eager righteousness. We were learning more about life and each other every single day. Sometimes we argued, but most times we had fun. And we were happy. And excited about the future. We laughed a lot. Sometimes we were scared.
And of course, we both loved music. For our wedding, we chose the music carefully, and probably the wedding band got annoyed that they had to learn so many new songs. “Have a Little Faith in Me,” by John Hiatt. “Someone Like You” by Van Morrison. We even convinced the band to play “I Knew The Bride” by Nick Lowe. We loved that song.
“I Knew the Bride” had been released just a few years earlier. It was trapped in our heads, made that much more special by the fact we were preparing for our own wedding.
Nick Lowe was a pioneer in the pub rock scene in the 1970’s. Writing and performing at the intersection of punk and rockabilly music, Lowe’s music always hit you right where you lived, and it felt good, and it was catchy, and it was so very well crafted.
“I Knew The Bride” was originally written for and recorded by the great Dave Edmunds, but then Nick Lowe recorded his own version with Huey Lewis and the News as the backup band, and now that you know that tasty fact, you will absolutely hear Huey Lewis’ voice stand out every time you listen to this song.
It begins with an a cappella chorus, bolstered by Huey Lewis’ perfectly nasal bass voice, and then the band comes in sounding like the best Chuck Berry cover band you ever heard. And away we go.
“Well, the bride was a picture in the gown that her mama wore
When she was married herself nearly twenty-seven years before
The had to change the style a little but it looked just fine
Stayed up all night, but they got it finished just in time”
Like a train choogaling down the tracks, this song is propelled by the non-stop bass of News bassist Mario Cipollina. It could have been played at a 1950’s high school dance. The cool kids in the corner with the turned up collars while the girls are carving up the dance floor, dancing circles around their nerdy boyfriends.
“Now on the arm of her daddy, she’s walkin’ down the aisle
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.“
We now realize that the narrator is an old boyfriend, and now he is a guest at the wedding as he watches the bride walk down the aisle. They make eye contact. He remembers.
“Well, I can see her now in her tight blue jeans
Stuffin’ all her money in the record machine
Spinnin’ like a top, you shoulda 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”
He knew her from before. Sounds like her knew her well. He is remembering their good times together back before she met the groom, and how she loved the music. The music was their connection. They both loved the music they listened to, which probably sounded a lot like the music of this song. Thumping and wild. Catchy and fun.
“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 posh 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”
Is he imagining this wedding could have been his wedding? The fancy hotel and the new house her daddy bought. The groom sounds like a real (draw the outline in the air with your hands) square, and the narrator knows the bride well. He knows there was a time she never would have been interested in him. She is too cool for her groom, the narrator is too cool for them both.
“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
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 wanta 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”
Our wedding band was lousy, and as my brand new wife and I danced with our guests, we gave each other a questioning look…“Is this “I Knew the Bride?!?!” It sounded terrible, but we didn’t care. We were having the time of our lives.
Just like the couple in the song, we too connected over music, sitting in the car late at night playing important songs for each other. We talked about our childhoods, and we talked about our families. We each had important romances before we met each other. All of that history and all of that experience led us to that dance floor on our wedding day, to gleefully suffering through a truly terrible version of a great song, to having a wonderful life and family together.
I knew the bride then. I still know her. And lucky for me, she still knows how to rock and roll.
“I Knew the Bride”
Written and Performed by Nick Lowe
Released August, 1985
All Together Now 
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