"We're a touring act, and we've been on the road pretty much non-stop over the last decade," explains Doughty, offering that the more recent creation of the band's own local recording studio and rehearsal clubhouse (within the warehouse district of Mission Valley just inland of Ocean Beach) certainly aided and influenced their last release Top of the World, and has inspired their latest sessions, which the band anticipates could stretch into a few different recording projects.
"Over the last 3 years we started our own studio and within the last 9 months, anticipating the window for new album sessions, the band has invested into innovations and equipment upgrades for the studio in a quest to capture and progress our signature sound forward. Having our own studio really enables us to make records at our own pace and to make the right records, hopefully (with a grin) at various stages of our career,” Doughty continues. “What's nice about having our own environment to record in and analyze the music is it really lets you keep an organic feel. For us, I feel like it's a step into the next level, as far as understanding the process of recording, understanding the process of songwriting. We took everything that we've learned over the years and really put it into this place and into our music.” The property also houses the creative loft space that has become the official offices of the band’s own label Stoopid Records, which issued the band’s second album in 1999 Acoustic Roots, and has continued to be their preferred method of distributing the band’s recorded material.
Another key ingredient to what makes Slightly Stoopid extraordinarily special is the inclusion of several musical guests, both live and in the studio. "It really keeps that 'family atmosphere' for us,” says Doughty. “I think it really shows in the music — we live for the spirit of collaboration and on Top of The World we had G. Love, Angelo Moore from Fishbone, Don Carlos, Barrington Levy, Ian Neville from Dumpstaphunk, Tory Ruffin from Morris Day and the Time and Fishbone, and singer/songwriter Angela Hunte. Angelo Moore to me is one of the greatest front-men to ever step foot on a stage. As a fan and out of respect, I try to do something with Angelo every time we have a record, really. If you listen to his lyrics, his vocal performance—I don't know who could keep up with Angelo on stage. Don Carlos from Black Uhuru is one of the legendary reggae singers of all time and we've had the pleasure of working with him the last few years. We've been friends with G. Love for over 15 years, and we've been able to work together quite a few different times in the studio. It seems like second nature. Whenever you're recording with G., it's almost like you're really just hanging out with your bro and you happen to hit record. We've done so many shows together and so many studio sessions, it becomes second nature.“
Leaving On A Jet Plane
Slightly Stoopid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm standing here outside the door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye.
But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn',
The Taxi's waitin', he's blown his horn.
Already I'm so lonesome I could die.
[Chorus]
Don't know if I'll be back again
Say won't you babe
I hate to go
There's so many times I've let you down,
So many times I've fooled around,
I tell you now they don't mean a thing.
Ev'ry song I sing I sing for you.
Ev'ry girl me lay I lay for you
When I come back I'll bring your wedding ring.
[Chorus]
So kiss me and smile for me,
Tell me that you'll wait for me,
Hold me like you never let me go.
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane,
Don't know when I'll be back again.
Oh babe, I hate to go.
The first stanza of the song 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' by Slightly Stoopid depicts a person who is ready to leave his/her lover behind, but doesn't want to leave a bad impression. The person is full of emotions and feels lonely already, though the journey hasn't even started. These feelings depict how tough it is to be away from loved ones and how hard it is to say goodbye. Furthermore, the person is considerate of the sleeping partner, doesn't want to wake up but has to say goodbye.
The Chorus highlights the lyrics' essence, which is, the person is leaving for a journey, and it's unclear if he/she will come back again. This highlights the uncertainties of life and makes the person reflect on the bond with the lover, which they might not see again. The person requests their lover to join them and that he/she hates the idea of leaving them behind.
In the second stanza, the person is reflecting on how they've made bad choices in the past and how they've let their partner down. Despite all that, the person assures the partner that the past is in the past and that he/she will only come back with a wedding ring to make things better.
In conclusion, the lyrics depict the emotions around leaving loved ones behind and the uncertainty of returning. The song has a lot of passion and will undoubtedly make anyone reflect on the essence of life and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go,
I have packed all my belongings and I am fully prepared for my journey.
I'm standing here outside the door
I am currently standing outside the door of my home, where I will soon leave from.
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye.
I feel bad about waking you up just to say goodbye before I leave.
But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn',
It is early in the morning, with the sun beginning to rise.
The Taxi's waitin', he's blown his horn.
The taxi driver is waiting for me and has honked the horn to indicate his presence.
Already I'm so lonesome I could die.
I am already feeling extremely lonely, to the point where it feels unbearable.
I am leaving on a jet plane
I am departing on an airplane.
Don't know if I'll be back again
I am unsure if I will ever return to this place.
Say won't you babe
I request of you, my beloved.
I hate to go
I feel upset about leaving.
There's so many times I've let you down,
I have disappointed you numerous times.
So many times I've fooled around,
I have engaged in various indiscretions.
I tell you now they don't mean a thing.
I assure you that those actions meant nothing to me.
Ev'ry song I sing I sing for you.
Every song I sing is dedicated to you.
Ev'ry girl me lay I lay for you
Any romantic encounter I have is for you.
When I come back I'll bring your wedding ring.
When I return, I will bring an engagement ring to propose to you.
So kiss me and smile for me,
Please kiss me and smile before I leave.
Tell me that you'll wait for me,
Assure me that you will wait for me to come back.
Hold me like you never let me go.
Embrace me like you never want to let me go.
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane,
Because I am departing on an airplane.
Don't know when I'll be back again.
I have no idea when I will return.
Oh babe, I hate to go.
I truly despise the idea of leaving you.
Lyrics © Phonographic Digital Limited (PDL), BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Denver
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Silious950
I listened to this on my way back home from Iraq. Slightly Stoopid mellowed me out in stressful times :) Thank you!
Cayden Brown
8 years later... thank you for ur service 🇺🇸
c m0808
Welcome home bro...S/F
LadyCobra22
very underrated and under-publicized group of artists here, this is probably what makes them so great
Mohamedally Vahanvaty
Excellent!! You have taken a slow sad song and given it a fantastic twist. I loved it. I'm sure that your version will become the one of the most popular ones. Thank you very much.
Phil Loria
best song they did last night live, it was awesome crowd was so into it. they were amazing
Mohamedally Vahanvaty
I really like this version by Slightly Stoopid. It does not matter to me if the song is an original or a cover or a take off on the original. My sole concern is what emotions the song arouses in me. This version of the song made me feel very good. I really enjoyed listening to it. It is a real pity that only 3333 pople have viewed it as yet.
Mason
I thought this was the original song not a cover. I was in rehab with the original guitarist before they were famous. This song slaps.
Brock Dubishar
Probably the best group live as of 2015 that I've seen. 420 bleazy all day can't wait to see you guys again Phoenix all day
KodeMan
jamming this a decade later in 2019