10 Greatest Ever Stone Roses Songs
6. Standing Here
“A B-side better than most band’s A-sides” is a bit of a cliché so apologies for having to invoke it here but Standing Here really does live up to that billing.
The single for She Bangs The Drums was a particularly rewarding purchase featuring not just Standing Here but another fan favourite Mersey Paradise.
Opening on a squall of electric guitar, the song quickly hits its swaggering groove. Squire’s guitar playing is a delight, fluid and playful.
“I’m standing here, I really don’t think you know that I’m in heaven when you smile.” Ian sings. Suddenly, things change gear for a delicate, wistful coda, where everything slows right down and the vocal becomes a sing-song lullaby, full of longing. “I could be safe forever, in your arms.”
What could be read as a straightforward love song is coloured by religious references. The protagonist on a hill is, “100 Miles from home,” like Jesus oh the cross, 100 miles from Galilee. The Roses had a peculiar penchant for mixing religion and romance in lyrics that were mysterious and evocative. Just don’t ask us to explain the line about parking a juggernaut in someone’s mouth.