"Brand New Key" is a pop song written by folk singer Melanie (Melanie Safka), which became a novelty hit in 1971-2. Taken from Melanie's album Gather Me the song (also known as "The Rollerskate Song") was her biggest hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in December 1971 and January 1972. It reached #1 in Canada and Australia, and #4 in the UK charts. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Song (disambiguation). ... Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk (born February 3, 1947 in Astoria, New York City) is an American singer-songwriter. ... Gather Me is a 1971 album released by Melanie and featuring the #1 song Brand New Key. The album also features the singles Some Day Ill Be A Farmer and the Top 40 hit Ring The Living Bell. The album was certified Gold and was arranged by Roger Kellaway. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Neighborhood Records (Neighborhood Music Pub. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk (born February 3, 1947 in Astoria, New York City) is an American singer-songwriter. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... // A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk (born February 3, 1947 in Astoria, New York City) is an American singer-songwriter. ... Novelty records are whole albums or singles that capitalize on something interesting (novel) or a current fad. ... Gather Me is a 1971 album released by Melanie and featuring the #1 song Brand New Key. The album also features the singles Some Day Ill Be A Farmer and the Top 40 hit Ring The Living Bell. The album was certified Gold and was arranged by Roger Kellaway. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... “British Hit Singles” redirects here. ...

Overview

The song is lighthearted in tone, sung from the viewpoint of a girl trying to attract the attention of a boy:

I got a brand new pair of roller skates

You got a brand new key

I think that we should get together and try them out you see

The rollerskates in question would have been quad skates which fitted over ordinary footwear and were tightened with a screw. The girl's skates are presumably adequate, as she is already skating, but not perfect, as she needs the key: Roller skates are devices worn on the feet to enable the wearer to glide along on wheels propelled by the legs. ... Inline roller skater on a slalom course Roller skating is travelling on smooth terrain with roller skates. ...

I roller skated to your door at daylight[...]

I'm okay alone, but you got something I need

Many listeners detected innuendo in the lyrics, with the key in its lock symbolizing sexual intercourse, or in phrases like "I go pretty far" and "I been all around the world". The phrase "new key" could be interpreted as "nookie", slang for sexual intercourse.^{[citation needed]} Melanie denied this interpretation during an interview on the BBC's Woman's Hour on 26 September 2007 (instead claiming it was inspired by a visit to a MacDonald's outlet following a lengthy fast). The song was banned by some radio stations.^[1] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Duration of sexual intercourse be merged into this article or section. ...

Combine Harvester

In 1976, "Combine Harvester (Brand New Key)" produced by Bob Barrett was released in the UK by West Country novelty act The Wurzels, reaching #1 for two weeks in June. New rustic-themed lyrics by Brendan O'Shaughnessy included "I got a brand new combine harvester An' I'll give you the key". The West Country is an informal term for the area of south-western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. ... The Wurzels perform at the University of Bath summer ball 2007. ... A LEXION Combine. ...

Cover versions

The cello-rock band Rasputina covered the song in their 1996 album, Thanks for the Ether.
The country singer Deana Carter covered the song on her 1998 album, Everything's Gonna Be Alright.
The punk rock band The Dollyrots covered the song on their 2007 album, Because I'm Awesome. Rasputina is a varying collection of cellists playing alternative rock. ... Thanks for the Ether is the debut album of Rasputina, released in 1996 with Columbia Records. ... Deana Kay Carter (born January 4, 1966 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA) is an American singer-songwriter who records country music. ... The Dollyrots are a punk rock band made up of two guys (Chris Black and Luis Cabezas) and one girl (Kelly Ogden). ... Because Im Awesome is the second studio album by punk rock band The Dollyrots. ...

Trivia

• Melanie's version of "Brand New Key" was featured in the 1997 film Boogie Nights.
• Pro-IRA music group the Irish Brigade recorded a song titled "Kinky Boots" that disparaged British forces in Northern Ireland. This song is sung to the tune of "Brand New Key," with lyrics such as "I drove my Saracen through your garden last night" replacing "I rollerskated to your door at daylight."

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Family Affair is a 1971 number-one hit single recorded by Sly & the Family Stone for the Epic Records label. ... Sly & the Family Stone was an American rock band from San Francisco, California. ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... This is a list of number-one hits in the United States by year from the Billboard Hot 100. ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... American Pie is an eight-and-a-half minute long classic rock song by singer-songwriter Don McLean, about the day the music died. Recorded in 1971 and released that year on the album of the same name, it was a number-one U.S. hit in 1972. ... For other people with similar names see Don MacLean. ... No Charge was a popular single by JJ Barrie. ... This is a list of the number one hits in the UK Singles Chart, from its inception in 1952 to the present. ... is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... You to me are Everything was a popular single by The Real Thing. ... The Real Thing is: A music album by Faith No More -- see The Real Thing (album); A play by Tom Stoppard. ...

References

1. ^ Brand New Key from the Super Seventie Rocksite.