The first album, The Stone Poneys, was released on January 30, 1967. It failed to chart. The band's debut single, 'Sweet Summer Blue & Gold', also neglected to attract any national attention. Capitol kept the group active with steady live dates, building a gradual following on the club circuit.
The Stone Poneys are best known for a song on their second - and only charting - album, Evergreen Volume Two (released in June of 1967), that they did not write: Mike Nesmith's "Different Drum." Their version is similar to John Herald's vocal with the Greenbriar Boys. It hit the national trade magazines (Cash Box, Billboard, Record World) and stayed on the Top 100 charts into March. It peaked at #12 in Cash Box and reached #13 in Billboard. (It hit #1 in the Los Angeles market and #6 in Detroit.) Ronstadt was surprised when it became a major hit because she was dissatisfied with its arrangement(s).
Capitol chose the Country-tinged 'Up To My Neck In High Muddy Water' for the follow-up single to 'Different Drum'. It topped off at #93 in Billboard, without making the Cash Box or Record World listings. It was included on the Poneys' final disc.
Their third album was titled Linda Ronstadt - Stone Poneys & Friends - Volume Three (released in April of 1968), and only Linda's image was featured on the cover. It included another Nesmith-penned single, "Some of Shelly's Blues," which never charted. It also featured the Laura Nyro song, "Stoney End," which turned out to have been aptly named (although the song was not written for The Stone Poneys). By then, everyone who had heard "Different Drum" knew who Linda Ronstadt was, and she was off to a phenomenal solo career.
(Kenny Edwards died of cancer in 2010.)
Back Home
The Stone Poneys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
New beauty keeps springing from out of my past
These old things seem so good to me
And you most of all
And you most of all
The day that I left here this place seemed so wrong
Saw many just like it all summer long
It's here I belong
I was sure you'd be gone
It doesn't matter where I went
I don't regret the time I spent
The things I learnt just brought me back to you
Here I stand in your doorway and what will you do
The best I can hope for is that you'll want me too
I took the chance of losing you
And it's you that I found, and me
The Stone Poneys' song "Back Home" details the singer's return to their childhood home after being away for a while. The grass, buildings, and people that they once took for granted now seem more beautiful and valuable than ever before. Despite seeing many other places over the summer, the singer realizes that they never forgot about their loved one, who they were afraid would be gone when they returned. The singer took a risk by leaving and experiencing new things, but in the end, they found something even more precious - themselves and their beloved.
This song explores the theme of nostalgia and coming home, which are both universal experiences. The grass becoming greener is a metaphor for the singer gaining a new appreciation for their hometown and the people they left behind. The line "It's here I belong" suggests that the singer has found a sense of belonging and identity in their hometown, despite feeling restless and wanting to explore other parts of the world. The lyrics also express a fear that the singer's loved one may have moved on, which heightens the tension and stakes of their return.
One interesting fact about this song is that Linda Ronstadt was the lead singer of The Stone Poneys when it was released in 1967. This was one of the earliest examples of her incredible vocal range and versatility that would later make her a solo superstar. Additionally, "Back Home" was written by Kenny Edwards, who played guitar and bass in The Stone Poneys. Edwards went on to become a prolific songwriter and musician, working with artists such as Karla Bonoff and Warren Zevon. The song was also covered by The Bangles in 2011, demonstrating its continued relevance and popularity.
Line by Line Meaning
The grass it seems greener since I saw it last
The familiar things appear to have a renewed charm to me. I am letting go of the past to see the beauty in it now.
New beauty keeps springing from out of my past
As time goes by, I'm discovering the hidden beauty in things I didn't notice before. The charm and attraction of new things seem limited when compared to the beauty of what's already in my past.
These old things seem so good to me
Nostalgia has made me appreciate the older things more than I used to. Old memories, old friends, and everything old.
And you most of all
Most of all, nostalgia has led me to appreciate you and our past relationship, more than anything else.
The day that I left here this place seemed so wrong
When I left this place, it felt like something was off about it. It wasn't until I left that I realized how much I missed it.
Saw many just like it all summer long
Throughout the summer, I traveled to new places with similar qualities as this place. Yet, none of them had the same charm and attraction as my hometown.
I thought of you, not someone new
During my travels, the thought of you crossed my mind more often than it did the thought of someone new. I realized that I miss being with you more than I wanted to experience something new.
It's here I belong
This place feels like home to me, and it's where I belong. It's where I want to be.
I was sure you'd be gone
Despite my deep longing for you and my hometown, I was almost certain that you would have moved on from our relationship and the town by now.
It doesn't matter where I went
The places where I traveled didn't matter because what I learned on my journey only brought me back to you, which made it worth it.
I don't regret the time I spent
I have no regrets about any of it, the journey or the time spent away. The journey may have been long, but it led me back to you, which is what my heart desired.
The things I learnt just brought me back to you
Everything that I learned on the journey brought me back to you. I realized that you were the one person who made me the happiest and the one who I truly loved.
Here I stand in your doorway and what will you do
I'm standing at your front door, and I don't know which direction this will take us. I'm not sure if you still have feelings for me or not.
The best I can hope for is that you'll want me too
I hope that you still have feelings for me the same way I do for you. The future might not seem clear, but this is my deepest desire.
I took the chance of losing you
I took the risk of leaving and pursuing my dreams, leaving you behind. I was willing to take that chance to grow and develop as an individual.
And it's you that I found, and me
Through taking that risk, I discovered that I love and cherish you more than anything else. And that, ultimately, you complete me as a person.
Contributed by Landon M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andrew j wheeler jr
God this is tearfully beautiful love it so much and beautiful baby country girl miss Linda too bless you Sweetness😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.