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Stick Around

We recorded this take of “Stick Around” live toward the very end of the sessions. We’d been toiling over a full band version of the song that was a blustery Pink Floydian mess and Earle suggested we try just sitting in a circle and playing it. I think Colin and John were a little bummed that this would mean no drums or lead guitars but they were newer to the group and even they had to admit that this take had the magic to it.

Deb’s harmony vocals really match my intensity and give the song a feeling of wounded solidarity. Walt’s bass playing is a whole band all to itself and Clay displays admirable restraint which is, ironically for such a showman, one of his greatest strengths. Earle Mankey’s production here is now so evident to me. The idea to break it down to an acoustic song. The way he positioned us around the microphone. I think it was Walt or Deb’s idea to do it by candlelight, but we didn’t have those vocal pads worked out before and that had to be Earle’s touch.

I’ve often wondered if I’ve lived up to the promise this song makes. Not long after recording it I took the band on the road, then moved us to Olympia. Anyone who bought the CD or cassette at the time must find this song deeply ironic now, but here I am 30 years later, keeping faith with these songs and the musicians who I had the great honor of having in my band for a little while.

All in all. I like this record a lot more than I thought I did.

Lyrics

STICK AROUND

Well you speak to me
as if I were
a spiritual amateur
I’m so glad I’m not a pro
Well it must be so very hard to hear
screaming into your own ear
the things that you already know

Well I’m sorry I didn’t mean to offend
but I’d rather offend than make pretend
that the words that you are saying
have no effect on me
for I am honor bound to

Stick around
I will stick around
I’ll stick around

Well the people sure love to talk about
selling out
Some of us never get a chance
Well I love to sing and I love to play
but I just can’t give the shit away
and I do not know how to dance

Well am I living in a tent?
And did I ask you to pay my rent?
Well you can sit and worry
about the cost of what was lost
What about the sound of what was found?

I will stick around
around around
and I will stick around
around around

Oh you say the world’s not waiting for
another blue’s band
Oh, what’s it waiting for?
I think that it’s waiting for a push
I think it’s waiting for a nudge
but the world, well
the world won’t budge
’til somebody tells it what it’s waiting for

Well maybe I spoke a little too loud
when my head was in the clouds
So you can keep your office
on the 27th floor
I’m much closer to the ground

And I will stick around….

 

Credits

Written by Andras Jones
Engineered & Produced by Earle Mankey

Andras Jones – Vocals & Acoustic Guitar
Clay Goldstein – Harmonica & Vocals
R. Walt Vincent – Bass
John Nason – Guitar
& Deb Pasternak – Vocals

Purchase

$1.50