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.)
Wings
The Stone Poneys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At sight of birth he leaves me by a door
And now I know he doesn't understand
And all I need is the warmth of his hand
And if he'd smile my loving blood would dance
One silent kiss leaves me in a trance
And now I know I cannot live alone
One day the questions die
On the wings of time I'll fly
And on that day my laughs and tears will rise
And fall as free as seabirds climb the skies
And I will love when love comes my way
And when it does there's nothing more to say
And now I know I don't need his hand
And now I know I don't have to understand
Some day the questions die
On the wings of chance I'll fly
The lyrics to The Stone Poney's song Wings explore the relationship dynamics between a father and daughter. The opening lines of the song suggest that the father figure has abandoned the singer at birth, leaving her at the mercy of the world. The singer notes that the father doesn't seem to understand her need for warmth and comfort, and she longs for his loving touch. The lyrics suggest a yearning for connection and understanding that is absent in the singer's relationship with her father.
The chorus of the song speaks to a sense of hope and possibility. The singer notes that eventually, all of her questions will die, and she will be able to fly on the wings of time or chance. The repetition of this refrain suggests a sense of determination and strength that the singer draws from her experiences.
Overall, the lyrics to Wings explore themes of love, abandonment, and the search for connection in a confusing and complicated world.
Line by Line Meaning
Although he's spoken many times before
Despite his frequent speaking, his actions speak louder than his words
At sight of birth he leaves me by a door
From the moment of my birth, I am abandoned and left to fend for myself
And now I know he doesn't understand
I realize that he is incapable of comprehending my feelings and needs
And all I need is the warmth of his hand
Despite his inability to truly understand me, I still crave his comfort and closeness
And if he'd smile my loving blood would dance
When he shows me affection, my heart fills with joy and my whole being responds
One silent kiss leaves me in a trance
His touch is so powerful that it can leave me completely mesmerized
And now I know I cannot live alone
I realize that I need others in my life to survive and thrive
And now I know my future is unknown
I am aware that the road ahead is uncertain and full of possibilities
One day the questions die
Eventually, all the uncertainties in life will be resolved
On the wings of time I'll fly
I will move forward in life, embracing the changes and opportunities that come my way
And on that day my laughs and tears will rise
When the answers finally come, my emotions will be unrestrained and free
And fall as free as seabirds climb the skies
My tears and laughter will be as boundless and natural as the flight of seabirds
And I will love when love comes my way
When love appears in my life, I will embrace it without hesitation
And when it does there's nothing more to say
Love speaks for itself and requires no further explanation or justification
And now I know I don't need his hand
I realize that I am capable of standing on my own and don't require his support
And now I know I don't have to understand
It's not necessary for me to comprehend everything in order to live a fulfilling life
Some day the questions die
Eventually, all the unknowns in life will be resolved
On the wings of chance I'll fly
Life is unpredictable and full of surprises, but I will embrace the journey with open arms
Contributed by Jason O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.