Song of the Day 3/31: Unicorn, “No Way Out of Here”

It seems Donald Trump has finally found a bed he couldn’t unshit. Since blundering into his war on Iran, his two chief weapons, bullying and whining, have failed to open the Strait of Hormuz, and according to the Wall Street Journal he’s considering employing his third chief weapon, running away and telling somebody else to clean up his mess and blaming them if they don’t. In other words, get used to inflation, inflation like you’ve never seen.

Unicorn was a British band that never caught on but left behind this song for several other artists to cover. The quartet toiled away in Britain for a decade before landing a record contract in the early days of pub rock. Though it’s generally remembered as a precursor to British punk, pub rock had its roots in Southern California country-rock; Unicorn cited Crosby, Stills & Nash as an inspiration.

“No Way Out of Here,” written by guitarist Ken Baker, appeared on the band’s second LP, “Blue Pine Trees.” The album, released in 1974, was recorded at David Gilmour’s home studio, after the Pink Floyd guitarist heard them playing at a record company publicist’s wedding and joined them onstage to jam on Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold.” “Their playing was spot-on, and the harmonies perfect,” Gilmour later recalled.

Though Unicorn toured as an opening act for several bands around then, they faded away as punk swept away the gentler sound of country rock. But Gilmour liked the song so much he covered it, under the title “There’s No Way Out of Here,” on his first solo album, released in 1978, giving it wider exposure. Many people thought he wrote it.

The tune was also covered by Iron and Wine and Ben Bridwell on their 2015 LP of covers, “Sing Into My Mouth.”