about
“Lies” may have been, arguably, our most popular original but there would be no doubt as to what was our most popular SONG. I still scratch my head today as to what made our version of this old Monkees song so universally lauded by high school kids. Jesus, the song was sixteen years old in 1982! Despite its many rhythmic changes (which JD, Danny and Larry caught very well), kids would continually yell for it at dances, and I was often told that we were famous locally for our version of “Stepping Stone”. We surf-punked the tune into a classic Palisades tune, replacing The Monkees cheesy mid-60’s sounds with an electrifying stripped down blend of punk rock, surf music, and ska.
What I think gave “Stepping Stone” its enduring appeal was the power that was always inherent in the song that was glossed over by original version’s vapid production. We simply put the power of the song to the fore. Especially because of the double time chorus and my Johnny Rotten influenced vocals, “Stepping Stone” almost sounds like hardcore punk in parts with JD closing the song with a big surf chord. In fact, the reason I had brought the song to the band (though they only heard the Monkees’ version) was because I had a bootleg LP version of the Sex Pistols doing “Stepping Stone” live. Though I wasn’t blown away by the Pistols version I was impressed by the potential power of the song and kept the idea in my memory for possible inclusion in a future band project. That band ended up being the Palisades.
At live shows I would often joke that “The Monkees are the Palisades favorite band”. In reality, none of us were Monkees fans and I actually thought the band was a wimpy third rate Beatles rip-off – which it was. The group was not devoid of talent however, and we plucked out this little gem for ourselves.
lyrics
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
You're trying to make your mark in society
You're using all the tricks that you used on me
You're reading all them high-fashion magazines
The clothes you're wearing, girl, they're causing public scenes
I said, I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone
When I first met you, girl, you didn't have no shoes
But, now you're walking around like you're front-page news
You've been awful careful 'bout the friends you choose
But, you won't find my name in your book of "who's-who?"
I said, I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
(No, girl, not me!)
I-I-I-I-I'm not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone
I'm not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
No, girl, I'm not your steppin' stone
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
Not your steppin' stone (step-step-steppin' stone)
credits
from
Almost Night,
released July 17, 2020
Tommy Boyce / Bobby Hart
license
all rights reserved
