LoVE: No. Fourteen

[silentseason]

"No. Fourteen"
From: LoVE, deluxe edition
-Running time: 1:42
-Recorded: January 26, 1966 Sunset Sound
-Written by: Arthur Lee
-Lead Vocal: Arthur Lee
-Lead guitar, potato harp: Johnny Echols
-Rhythm guitar: Bryan MacLean
-Bass: Kenny Forssi
-Drums: Alban 'Snoopy' Pfisterer
-This was originally issued as the B-side to the '7 and 7 Is' single in summer 1966.
-Did not make it onto the debut album.
-Original working titles were: "Virginia-Get Me Straight" and "New Song".
-Another debut album song whose genesis came from the band hanging out and jamming.
-Quotable: Johnny states this about early LoVe boosters Vito and co.:

"For a few months, in the summer of 65, Arthur and I lived upstairs at Vito's, with Bryan, and Karl Franzoni. So it was convenient for us to go downstairs to rehearse.

Vito was at the center of everything at the time, and knew all the "players." They would often come to his studio, where he would hold court. He introduced us to Professors Leary and Hoffman. We were all very curious about this new drug they were touting that would expose all the secrets of life. Through one of them, we met a gentleman named Owsley, and he, by way of David Crosby, hooked us up with our first trip. I'm still waiting for all the secrets of life to be revealed!"

-IMHO: This is perhaps the oddest song from the first album. Something almost like a sing-a-long. I think it's strangeness, along with (if you listen closely) Johnny playing the harp in the song, gives it a kind of goofy charm.
-Fun fact: Classic LoVE song that has more questions than answers: Where did the title come from? Who is Virginia? What were the red and blue pills from the doctor? As always, the best songs are the ones with open-ended interpretations, and this one is a prime example.

Lyrics:

Wake up in the morning
Don't know what to do
Wake up in the morning
Feeling kinda blue

Going down to Virginia
Going down there
That way
Going down to Virginia
Virginia gets me straight

Went to bed last night, babe
Couldn't sleep a wink
Went to bed last night, babe
Didn't sleep a wink

Going down to Virginia
Going down there
That way
Going down to Virginia
Virginia gets me straight

Going to see my doctor
To see what he can do
Gimme some of those capsules
Either red or blue

If they don't make it
If they go that way
Going down to Virginia
Virginia gets me straight