Most of the songs on my new album, New Dog Old Tricks, were written in the last two or three years, with two exceptions. One is “Let’s Go Steady,” which dates back to my college years in 1974.
I sat down with the idea of making fun of the doo-wop days of the 1950s, a time of innocence when holding hands and going steady were ostensibly as hot and heavy as teenage romance got. I was relatively pleased with the results.
A couple of years later I had a change of heart and decided a sweet and innocent song about young romance wasn’t necessarily something to make fun of, and I usually sing it “straight” these days.
“Let’s Go Steady” thus counts as one of the “Old Tricks” on this album, a song essentially unchanged for a half-century except that I sing it in the key of G these days because, in its original key of C, I just can’t hit those high notes anymore.
I conceived of New Dog, Old Tricks as having multiple instruments and harmonies and all that good stuff, but I eventually came to realize my oldest trick is sitting alone with my guitar playing my songs to a friend and/or family, so that’s what you’ve got here. Time enough with my next project to go a-multi-tracking.
Let’s Go Steady
I’m beginning to think that you’re something special.
I don’t know what my dreams are,
But I know they’re coming true.
I’m beginning to feel — now this is confidential —
I don’t know how it happened,
But I know I love you.
When I feel you coming near me,
Well, I just lose control,
And when I touch you — girl, when I kiss you —
I tingle right through my soul.
I’m beginning to feel that we should be going steady!
I don’t know how to ask you,
But I know that we’re ready.
Oh girl, let’s go steady.
Don’t you think that we’re ready?
I just want to go steady.
Pretty little mama, Let’s. Go. Steady.
© 1974, ℗ 2025 w.p. bluhm
