This week over at Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams has given us the prompts, above/below/between, which must be somewhere in the song we choose. This time, out of thousands of songs and for whatever reason, I decided on Asleep at the Wheel’s Stay a Little Longer.
In 1969, Ray Benson (a nice Jewish boy from Philly) and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC. A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin’ Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of “A Ride With Bob”, recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters’ Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Lyrics
You ought to see my blue eyed Sally
She lives a way down on Shinbone Alley
The number on the gate, the number on the door
And the next house over is the grocery store
Stay all night, stay a little longer
Dance all night, dance a little longer
Pull off your coat throw it in the corner
Don’t see why you don’t stay a little longer
Can’t go home if you’re going by the mill
‘Cause the bridge washed out at the bottom of the hill
Big creek’s up, and the big creek’s level
Plow my corn with a double shovel
Stay all night, stay a little longer
Dance all night, dance a little longer
Pull off your coat throw it in the corner
Don’t see why you don’t stay a little longer
Sitting in the window, singing to my love
When slop bucket fell from the window up above
Mule and the grasshopper eating ice cream
Mule got sick and they laid him on the green
Stay all night, stay a little longer
Dance all night, dance a little longer
Pull off your coat throw it in the corner
Don’t see why you don’t stay a little longer
Grab your gal and pat her on the head
If she don’t like biscuits, feed her cornbread
The gals around big creek, about half grown
They jump on a man like a dog on a bone
Stay all night, stay a little longer
Dance all night, dance a little longer
Pull off your coat throw it in the corner
Don’t see why you don’t stay a little longer
Stay all night, stay a little longer
Dance all night, dance a little longer
Pull off your coat throw it in the corner
Don’t see why you don’t stay a little longer.
What a wonderful song and dream too. I never hardly get to sleep all night.
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Neither do I. My sleep schedule is a disaster!
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My sleep can be terrible too. Especially when negativity demon is having a effect. Regardless I force myself to get up at the same time each morning and keep the routine going.
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I hate it when that slop bucket falls from the window up above, especially if it lands on your head. This is a nice fiddling song, thanks for sharing it Susan.
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Thanks!
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Well that was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed that fiddle! ☺️
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Yes!!! Excellent choice. The song reminds me of my parents. Almost every Saturday night, they went out dancing. Us kids would often try and wait up for them but they usually “stayed a little longer”. I’m not sure how we ever made it to church in time on Sundays. LOL 🙂
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Glad I brought back a fun memory for you! 🙂
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haha! Been awhile since I’ve thought about this song. It’s sure a good one to get your feet tapping. 🙂
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Agreed! Don’t know what made me think of it…
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A fine choice Susan! These guys are fab in person.
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Thanks Ted! I’ve never seen them in concert. Would love to though!
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I got to meet Ray about 20 years ago at an “Asleep at the Wheel” concert in Tampa. I still have my long-sleeve Christmas shirt that I bought afterwards. This is such a great tune!
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Thanks, Lisa! I’d love to meet Ray. What luck you have!
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Yeah I’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of famous people. Right place at the right time.
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