Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs.
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
This weeks prompt gives me the chance to pick one of my favourite groups again, The Hollies. I bet I’m not alone in choosing this song either!
“Stop Stop Stop” is notable for being one of the few recordings by the group that feature Tony Hicks playing the banjo, and was the only song with that instrument to be performed live by the group. Actually, for the original recording, the banjo was tuned to the standard guitar tuning and a delay was introduced which made it sound like a balalaika. Only later did Tony learn to play the traditionally tuned banjo.
Here, Graham Nash explains how the song came about:
I can empathise totally, having encountered an alluring Turkish belly dancer in my youth – and that’s all the details you’re going to get folks!
Here it is. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Stop, Stop, Stop
See the girl with cymbals on her fingers
Entering through the door
Ruby glistening from her navel
Shimmering around the floor
Bells on feet go, ting a ling a linging
Going through my head
Sweat is falling just-a-like-a tear drops
Running from her head
Now she dancing, going through the movements
Swaying to and fro
Body moving, bringing back a memory
Thoughts of long ago
Blood is rushing, temperature is rising
Sweating from my brow
Like a snake, her body fascinates me
I can’t look away now
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I’ll have to leave
Now, she’s moving all around the tables
Luring all in sight
But I know that she cannot see me
Hidden by the light
Closer, closer, she is getting nearer
Soon she’ll be in reach
As I enter into a spotlight
She stands lost for speech
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I’ll have to leave
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I’ll have to leave
Now I hold her, people are staring
Don’t know what to think
And we struggle knocking over tables
Spilling all the drinks
Can’t they understand that I want her?
Happens every week
Heavy hand upon my collar
Throws me in the street
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Give me time to breathe
Stop, stop, stop all the dancing
Or I’ll have to leave, leave
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alan Clarke / Graham Nash / Tony Hicks
Stop, Stop, Stop lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Don’t remember this single, but what an awesome interview! Thanks for the share. 🙂
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Wow Peter… Here I am having a 4-way pub-night chat…. And we have a little Quiz,, and this was one of the questions… who had the hit “Stop Stop Stop”…yep Ivor jumped in with the right answer …. 😀😎
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What an interesting post – thank you, and obviously I enjoyed the sounds from my youth!
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Good one Peter. I always loved the Hollies too 🙂
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I still remember seeing my first belly dancer when she came over to me and grabbed my hands because she wanted me to dance with her. I was so embarrassed and I had to tell her to stop torturing me.
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Jim, you know you grabbed her and had her do a lap dance!
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I didn’t know this song and loved the first video – I love learning how songs come into being. This was fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing!
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I did two songs today, and this was the second. Obviously I’d say it was a good pick.
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Awesome, Peter. Great song choice 🙂
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P.S. Just watched the first video. So good. I couldn’t find a live version with Graham in it.
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I think this has Graham in!
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I know! You had better luck than me.
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Nice clear video and sound. What a great song.
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That was fascinating. I also had not known that Graham Nash began in The Hollies. I never followed the migration of various musicians from group to group, and I am enjoying learning these years later about it.
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Excellent song choice, Peter! 🙂 Love The Hollies! 🙂
And I enjoyed the vid/interview.
(((HUGS))) 🙂
PS… Are you sure, for sure, we won’t be hearing anything more about your encounter with an alluring Turkish belly dancer?!?! 😉 Maybe a limerick?!?! Please!!! 🙂
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I think not!
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HA!!! 😀
Just had to tease you about it. 🙂
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Thanks, Peter! That’s a very sweet story behind that! And I love this song. Great vid. Don’t think I’d seen that. Also….could You please tell me to get a shirt like they’re wearing? Those ROCK! Cheers and Happy Sunday! 😄💕🌀
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I love The Hollies, there are a great band. It was interesting to learn about the song!
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Thank you for the like Peter.
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Thank you Peter for your comment. 🙂
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