N.S.U.

Album: Fresh Cream (1966)
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Songfacts®:

  • Written by Cream's bass player Jack Bruce, "N.S.U." was 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 an acronym for "Non-Specific Urethritis," a form of venereal disease Eric Clapton 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. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Saddlesocked - Sunnyvale, CA

Comments: 10

  • Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganDudes, no one's posted anything about the meaning of the lyrics! I get the feeling the person has a lot of money and possessions, but still isn't happy, and is pondering the meaning of life...
  • Eberhard from BerlinNSU was a German car indeed. The Name NSU stands for the location of the company NeckarSUlm. The company was famous for its motorbike and bicycle branch. The car branch was sold in 1928 to Fiat, not Volkswagen.
  • Lightfoot from Queensland AustraliaAll those years I was led to believe it stood for "National Soul Union"....
  • Brian from La Mesa, CaOMG, All songs are about sex and drugs to some of you guys. You know, people do think about other things, even '60s musicians. NSU is just a car, just as Webster said.
  • John from Brisbane, AustraliaBruce himself states, in a video, that the venereal disease was the source of the title, but he says it stood for "No Sex Until."
  • Rich from Portsmouth, NhWill always remind me of a walk on a sunny Sat. morning--a rebirth of a tired head!
  • Webster from Fresno, CaThat NSU coincidentally referred to a venereal disease was a nice bit of "bad boy" double intendre, but in no way illuminates the song's lyrics.
  • Webster from Fresno, CaThe first lines of the song say, "Drive in my car/Smoke my cigar..." NSU was a European (German) auto and motorcycle manufacturer, eventually purchased by Volkswagen and reformed as the manufacturer Audi. Clapton may have had an STD at the time, but the song was named after the sporty little classic car Bruce admired.
  • Barry from New York, NcI always thought the title stood for "Nevada State University"
  • Michael from Bradford, EnglandAn acronym is an abbreviation that can be read like a word - e.g. LASER (for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation).
    N.S.U. is an abbreviation - that's all.
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