Stand Up

The Song

(Chris Jonat)

Stand Up was written after the original demo sessions for the “Smart Kid” CD, but before recording started for the album itself.  Hence this hastily assembled demo.  We actually tried recording a live demo (with just Chris, Jason, and Gord Robert on drums) at a sound check in Flagstaff, Arizona, but it was pretty unusable. 

There were a few changes made to the song between the demo and the final version.  Lyrics were added to the bridge (which is just instrumental here), the final verse lyrics changed, and there are a few small lyric changes sprinkled throughout.  But the basic arrangement stayed the same.

After the release of “Smart Kid”, Nettwerk Records released Stand Up as a single and made a video which received significant airplay (most noticeably on CMT and VH1 Country, making us wonder if we were actually a new country band).

The Lyrics

(please note these are the lyrics on the demo; they are a little different than the lyrics on the final recording)

I remember when you first arrived
Medicated til barely alive
We all watched with wonder as color returned to your cheeks
Thinking of the words we’d say, should we ever get the chance to speak

Stand up, don’t be foolish
You’ve got one life to live, may as well live it now
Put you hand up, come on let’s do this
It’s just you and me, babe, and all the time we’re allowed

I remember when you first awoke
Eyes like steel, voice like velvet rope
You said you’d been dreaming of a man that looks like me
Who gave the most sincere advice without a trace of irony

Stand up, don’t be foolish
We’ve got one life to live, may as well live it now
Put you hands up, come on let’s do this
It’s just you and me, babe, and all the time we’re allowed

It’s December and of course you’re cold
Try to remember what made you so bold
Everybody comes round here, they are looking for a change
Happy are the ones who learn, it is not so odd to be strange

Stand up, don’t be foolish
We’ve got one life to live, may as well live it now
Put you hands up, come on let’s do this
It’s just you and me, babe, and all the time we’re allowed

Stand up, don’t be foolish
You’ve got one life to live, may as well start it now
Put you hands up, come on let’s do this
It’s just you and me, babe, and all the time God allows