Driving in my car, smoking my cigar,
The only time I'm happy's when I play my guitar.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
Singing in my yacht, what a lot I got,
Happiness is something that just cannot be bought.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
I've been in and I'm out, I've been up and down,
I don't want to go until I've been all around.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
What's it all about, anyone in doubt,
I don't want to go until I've found it all out.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
The only time I'm happy's when I play my guitar.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
Happiness is something that just cannot be bought.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
I don't want to go until I've been all around.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
I don't want to go until I've found it all out.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
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The title, N.S.U. stands for non-specific urethritis, a sexually transmitted disease. The song was written by Jack Bruce, although I'm not sure why he called it that - it might be that he or Clapton or Baker had the illness so decided to write a song named after it.
@herbie29 Bruce said that he wouldn't name the specific member of the band afflicted with the condition, except that "he plays guitar." This was in the era when the graffito (singular of "graffiti") "Clapton is God" was seen around London and the 21-year-old Clapton, after his stints in The Yardbirds and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers had established as London's best current guitarist (though some might dispute this- Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page were very active in this period), and there were plenty of female groupies ready to hook up with him, and the young Clapton was all too happy to...
@herbie29 Bruce said that he wouldn't name the specific member of the band afflicted with the condition, except that "he plays guitar." This was in the era when the graffito (singular of "graffiti") "Clapton is God" was seen around London and the 21-year-old Clapton, after his stints in The Yardbirds and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers had established as London's best current guitarist (though some might dispute this- Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page were very active in this period), and there were plenty of female groupies ready to hook up with him, and the young Clapton was all too happy to enjoy their company, so to speak.
I've always heard, and have actually found sources on the webernet (one to be quoted below), that Eric had been suspected to have a VDat the time of the songs writing:
From http://www.angelfire.com/ca/oldtimers/freshcream.html :
2) N.S.U. was a song written by Jack and had been one of the numbers the band performed on stage from the outset. In fact, Jack had written the song for the band's very first rehearsal. N.S.U. is the acronym for non-specific urethritis, a form of venereal disease Eric is rumored to have been afflicted with at the time. The lads, apparently having a bit of fun, thought it would be a good title for the song.
Interestingly enough, there is also a myth that Eric chaged his name to "Clapton" from "Clapp."
This, however, has its basis in fact, as the couple he believed were his parents and was raised by had the last name of "Clapp." However, they were truthfully his grandmother and stepgrandfather. He was devastated when he discovered the truth at 9 years old.
Noene of which has to do with the song except that "Clapp" sounds like "Clap," a nickname for VD, and was the reason cited for his mythical name change.
NSU was a German Automobile manufacturer, which was bought out by Volkswagen in 1969. They designed an early rotary engine sportscar popular in the mid 60s. Hence that is the car referenced in the opening lyric. Also, I believe the correct lyric is “Sailing,” not “Singing,” in my yacht. It is heard more clearly on a live version of the song.
As Guido Fawkes mentioned, I always thought it was about the car manufacturer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSU_Ro_80\nThat would make sense considering the song\'s opening lyric is "Driving in my car."\nAs far as the "non-specific urethritis" reference, why would you name a song "NSU" even if a band member had the affliction? The song makes NO reference to the disease.
One of my favorite lines:
"The only time I'm happy's when I play my guitar."
I feel like this alot of times!
love the chessey lyrics
happiness is something that just cannot be bought
so damn catchy!
so, uh, "n.s.u." means what?
this song is about how money cant make you happy