Stephen Stills was born in Dallas, Texas on January 3, 1945 to a military family. Moving around as a child, he developed an interest in blues and folk music. He was also influenced by Latin music after spending his teenage years in Costa Rica and the Panama Canal Zone, where he graduated from high school.
Stills dropped out of the University of Florida to pursue a music career in the early 1960s. He played in a series of unsuccessful bands including the Continentals, which featured future The Eagles guitarist Don Felder. Stills eventually ended up in a nine-member vocal harmony group, the house act at the famous Cafe Au Go Go in NYC, called the Au Go Go Singers (Rick Geiger, Roy Michaels, Michael Scott, Jean Gurney, Kathy King, Nels Gustafson, Bob Harmelink, Richie Furay & Stills) where and when he met Richie Furay. This group also did some touring in the Catskills, and in the South, released one album in 1964, then broke up in 1965. Afterwards, Stills, along with four other former members of the Au Go Go Singers: Geiger, Michaels, Gurney & Scott, formed The Company, a folk/rock group. Immediately prior to performing in the Au Go Go Singers, Stills could be seen singing solo in Gerde's Folk City, a well-known coffee house in Greenwich Village. The Company embarked on a 6-week tour of Canada where Stills met a young guitarist named Neil Young. On the VH1 CSNY Legends special, Stills would say that at that time, Young was doing what he always wanted to do, "play folk music in a rock band." The Company broke up in New York within four months, opening up the way for Geiger to join a light opera company in Los Angeles; Michaels to link up with Jimi Hendrix, Gurney to go on to college while doing TV commercials, and Scott to tour with a retro-Highwaymen. Stills did session work and went to various auditions (including an unsuccessful one for The Monkees). In 1966 he convinced a reluctant former Au Go Go Singers, Richie Furay, then living in Massachusetts, to move with him to California.
Solo years
In the wake of CSNY's success, all four members recorded solo albums. In 1970, Stills released his self-titled debut, which featured guests Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, "Mama" Cass Elliot, and Ringo Starr (credited only as "Richie") as well as contributions from various members of the CSNY band. It provided Stills with the hit single "Love The One You're With" as well as the concert favorite "Black Queen." Stills followed this with Stephen Stills 2, which featured "Change Partners." Nash saw this song as a metaphor for the many relationships in CSNY, while Stills viewed the band as something much less bland and repetitive.
The next year, Stills teamed up with ex-Byrd Chris Hillman and several CSNY sidemen to form the band Manassas. During a Manassas tour in France, Stills met and married French singer-songwriter Veronique Sanson. Then he switched to Columbia Records, where he recorded two albums: Stills in 1975 and the punningly titled Illegal Stills in 1976. The former record found Stills in an uncharacteristically joyful mood; his marriage was going great, his son Chris had just been born, and he was happy living in Colorado. "To Mama From Christopher and the Old Man" was an exceptionally optimistic view of his new family.
In 1976, Stills attempted a reunion with Neil Young. At one point, Long May You Run was slated to be a CSNY record, but when Crosby and Nash left to fufill recording and touring obligations, according to both David and Graham the other pair wiped their vocals from the recordings, as Stills and Young decided to go on without their erstwhile partners as The Stills-Young Band. However, Young would leave midway through the resulting tour due to an apparent throat infection. Stills was contractually bound to finish the tour, which he did, but upon returning home, his wife announced she wanted a divorce and wished to move back to France. Stills reunited with Crosby and Nash shortly afterwards, thanks to the efforts of Nash's future wife Susan, who got Nash to forgive Stills for wiping the Crosby and Nash vocals from Long May You Run. This led to the semi-permanent CSN reunion of 1977, which has persisted even though all three have released solo records since then.
In 1997, Stills became the first person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice in the same night for his work with CSN and the Buffalo Springfield.
2005 saw Stills release 'Man Alive'; his first solo offering in 14 years. Although not troubling the chart compilers, the record was critically well received and is regarded by many fans as his best since the mid seventies.
Stills was the inspiring influence for Ray LaMontagne who, after hearing one of his songs, decided to quit his job and focus on music.
aNYway
Stephen Stills Lyrics
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Sing your rock and roll
Sing your blues
But I'm all right, you know I pay my dues
I got 'em comin' to me
You got 'em comin' to you
I'm gonna try again
Gonna try again anyway, yes I'm
Gonna try again anyway, yes I will
But I know you
You gonna be so cool
Ain't gonna try no sweet talkin'
I ain't no fool
But I know you love me girl
Just like I love you
Got my feet on the ground
I know what I got to do
I'm gonna try again
Don't matter if I win or lose
Gonna try again anyway, yes I will
Gonna try again anyway, yes I will
Do you know where you're goin'?
Honey where have you been?
Do you see this games they're playin'?
Do you really believe you can win?
I'm gonna try again
Don't matter if I win or lose
Gonna try again anyway, yes I will
Gonna try again anyway, yes I will
The song "Anyway" by Stephen Stills captures the essence of perseverance and determination even in the face of adversity. The song starts with a conversation between the singer and the girl, in which he encourages her to sing her rock and roll and blues. The singer then acknowledges that he has had his share of struggles but is all right and pays his dues. He also recognizes that the girl has her own challenges to face.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I'm gonna try again anyway, yes I will," emphasizing the importance of not giving up and continuing to strive for success no matter the outcome. The second verse reminds the girl of the importance of being herself and not falling for any "sweet talkin'." Despite this, he knows that she loves him, and he loves her too. The final verse is a question about the direction of one's life and the challenges one faces, but the singer reassures himself that he will continue to try again.
Overall, "Anyway" is a song of resilience and determination to succeed no matter the odds. It acknowledges the obstacles and challenges that people face in life but encourages them to keep trying and pursuing their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey girl, how's by you
Casual greeting to the girl with an inquiry about her well-being.
Sing your rock and roll
Encouragement to the girl to pursue her passion for rock and roll music.
Sing your blues
Further encouragement to the girl to express herself through music, regardless of the genre she prefers.
But I'm all right, you know I pay my dues
Assurance that the artist is doing well and has worked hard for his success.
I got 'em comin' to me
The artist expects to receive the fruits of his labor.
You got 'em comin' to you
The girl is also expected to be rewarded for her hard work and dedication.
I'm gonna try again
The singer is determined to make another attempt.
Don't matter if I win or lose
The outcome is not the most important factor; the artist is willing to take the risk regardless of the consequences.
Gonna try again anyway, yes I'm
Reiteration of the artist's determination to take action, regardless of the potential outcome.
But I know you
The artist understands the girl's personality, demeanor, and tendencies well.
You gonna be so cool
The singer holds the girl in high regard and respects her behavior and attitudes.
Ain't gonna try no sweet talkin'
The artist will not resort to flattery or manipulation in order to achieve his goals.
I ain't no fool
The singer is intelligent, astute, and will not be taken advantage of.
But I know you love me girl
The singer has a deep sense of mutual affection with the girl.
Just like I love you
The girl's feelings are reciprocated by the singer.
Got my feet on the ground
The artist is realistic and pragmatic.
I know what I got to do
The artist has a clear understanding of his goals and objectives.
Do you know where you're goin'?
A rhetorical question regarding the girl's direction in life and goals.
Honey where have you been?
A rhetorical question regarding the girl's past experiences and life journey.
Do you see this games they're playin'?
An inquiry into the girl's awareness of the challenges and obstacles she may face.
Do you really believe you can win?
A rhetorical question regarding the girl's confidence in her ability to overcome these challenges.
Gonna try again anyway, yes I will
The artist reaffirms his intent to try again, despite the potential for failure.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Stephen A Stills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind