The group was initiated by Jon Langford (also of the Waco Brothers and The Mekons) as a covers group, with a constantly shifting repertory and cast of backing members. The name was first used for Langford's 1995 album of Johnny Cash cover songs. In 1998, Langford enlisted the help of a number of prominent alt-country musicians (including Neko Case, Alejandro Escovedo, and Robbie Fulks) for a full-length tribute album to Bob Wills. Their second LP, The Executioner's Last Songs, was released in 2002 and is a collection of songs about death. Following this record's success, the group recorded two more albums of songs about death as benefits for the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty. These albums featured such guests as Steve Earle and Mark Eitzel. The group rarely performs live, though it occasionally does special performances in the Chicago area. In 2007 the group appeared as backing band on Chumbawamba member Danbert Nobacon's solo album The Library Book of the World, as well as playing live with Nobacon.
Stay A Little Longer
The Pine Valley Cosmonauts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause the[E] bridge' washed out at the bottom of the hill
[A]Big Creek's up, Little Creek's level,
[E]Plow my corn with a double shovel
[A]Stay all night, stay a little longer
[E]Dance all night, dance a little longer
[A]Pull off your coat, throw it in the corner
[E]Don't see why you can't stay a little longer.
v2
Sitting in the window, singing to my love
Slop bucket fell from the window up above
Mule and the grasshopper eatin ice cream
mule got sick, so they laid him on the green
v3
You ought to see my Blue Eyed Sally
She lives way down on Shinbone Alley
Number on the gate, the number on the door
The next house over is the grocery store.
Grab your partner, pat her on the head
If she don't like biscuits, feed her cornbread
Girls around Big Creek, 'bout half grown
Jump on a man like a dog on a bone
The Pine Valley Cosmonauts's song "Stay a Little Longer" has a country feel with a twist of humor, as it addresses different scenarios faced by people living in rural areas. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who wants to have a good time and doesn't want to go home yet. The lyrics highlight the challenges of living in rural America where natural elements can have a significant impact on both daily life and the celebration of life.
The first verse shows that the bridge has washed out near the mill, and Big Creek has gone up, and Little Creek is level. This means that the person cannot cross the creek or go home. The phrase "plow my corn with a double shovel" highlights the difficult working conditions in rural areas where manual labor is a must. The chorus encourages the person to stay a little longer, dance a little longer, and enjoy the night by pulling off their coat and throwing it in the corner.
The second verse talks about the person sitting in the window, singing to their love when a slop bucket falls on them from the window above. The strange combination of a mule and a grasshopper eating ice-cream and the mule getting sick emphasizes the humor in the song. The third verse talks about a woman named Sally living in Shinbone Alley, with a number on her gate and door. The phrase "the next house over is the grocery store" shows how close-knit rural communities can be.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't go home if you're going by the mill
If you plan to go home and the route goes by the mill, it won't be possible.
Cause the bridge' washed out at the bottom of the hill
The bridge at the bottom of the hill is ruined due to water overflow.
Big Creek's up, Little Creek's level,
While the water level in Little Creek is normal, the water level in Big Creek is rising.
Plow my corn with a double shovel
The farmer is using an agricultural tool to cultivate his cornfields for a healthy harvest.
Stay all night, stay a little longer
The artist is asking their partner to spend more time with them.
Dance all night, dance a little longer
The singer is asking to dance more with their partner throughout the night.
Pull off your coat, throw it in the corner
The singer is telling their partner to take off their coat and relax.
Don't see why you can't stay a little longer.
The artist is questioning why their partner can't spend more time with them.
Sitting in the window, singing to my love
The singer is sitting near the window and singing to their beloved.
Slop bucket fell from the window up above
A bucket of dirt or slop fell from the window above the artist's window.
Mule and the grasshopper eatin ice cream
The mule and the grasshopper are eating ice cream.
mule got sick, so they laid him on the green
The mule fell ill, so they laid him down on the grass.
You ought to see my Blue Eyed Sally
The singer is suggesting that everyone should see their beautiful Blue Eyed Sally.
She lives way down on Shinbone Alley
Blue Eyed Sally lives in Shinbone Alley, which is quite far from the singer's location.
Number on the gate, the number on the door
There is a number on both the gate and the door of her house.
The next house over is the grocery store.
The grocery store is located beside her house.
Grab your partner, pat her on the head
The artist invites everyone to hold their partner's hand and give them a gentle pat on the head.
If she don't like biscuits, feed her cornbread
If their partner doesn't like biscuits, they should try cornbread instead.
Girls around Big Creek, 'bout half grown
The young girls around Big Creek are becoming mature.
Jump on a man like a dog on a bone
The girls are chasing the men like dogs that are trying to catch a bone.
Lyrics © JOHNNY BOND PUBLICATIONS, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bob Wills, Tommy Duncan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind