Jazz Fusion

This jazzy song is a cautionary tale about the side of the Sixties involved with drugs —  and LSD, in particular. The song was released as single in 1969 as the B-Side to “Laughing.” It was also on their the album Canned Wheat by The Guess Who. It went to #21 on the Canadian Singles Chart, #15 on the U.S> Adult Contemporary Chart, and #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Randy Bachman, who was lead guitarist of the group, wrote the song. Inspiration came from the phrase “she was easily undone” in Bob Dylan’s “Ballad in Plain D” and from witnessing a girl at party go into a coma after taking LSD. Such were the times.

The Guess Who formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, beginning in 1958. They have a long history, as there were a number of configurations, names, and members. By 1968, they dropped the question mark at the end of The Guess Who. For this track, group members were Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, Jim Kale, and Garry Peterson. The Guess Who had other hits with “No Time,” “American Woman, “These Eyes,” and “Share the Land.”

Here are the lyrics to “Undun” by The Guess Who:

“She’s come undone
She didn’t know what she was headed for
And when I found what she was headed for
It was too late

She’s come undone
She found a mountain that was far too high
And when she found out she couldn’t fly
It was too late

It’s too late
She’s gone too far
She’s lost the sun

She’s come undone
She wanted truth, but all she got was lies
Came the time to realize
And it was too late

She’s come undone
She didn’t know what she was headed for
And when I found what she was headed for
Mama, it was too late

It’s too late
She’s gone too far
She’s lost the sun
She’s come undone
No-na-na, no-na-na, no-na-na

Too many mountains and not enough stairs to climb
Too many churches and not enough truth
Too many people and not enough eyes to see
Too many lives to lead and not enough time

It’s too late
She’s gone too far
She’s lost the sun
She’s come undone

Doe-doe-doe-doe-doe, doe, un-doe-doe-doe, un-doe-doe-doe”
Doe doe-doe-doe-doe, un-doe-doe-doe, doe-doe-doe
Doe doe-doe-doe, doe, doe-doe-doe, doe, doe

It’s too late
She’s gone too far
She’s lost the sun

She’s come undone
She didn’t know what she was headed for
And when I found what she was headed for
It was too late

She’s come undone
She found a mountain that was far too high
And when she found out she couldn’t fly
Mama, it was too late

It’s too late
She’s gone too far
She’s lost the sun
She’s come undone

No, no-no-no-no-no, no
Doe, doe, doe-doe”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Undun” by The Guess Who.