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		Stay With Me Hear It! (772k)

This is one of the first two songs written by HBI (the other being HBI). Both songs were originally written as instrumentals. Even though we had no lyrics for this song, we agreed from day-one that "Stay With Me" would be the title. It was about four years later when Mark finally wrote lyrics using "Stay With Me" as the title and theme for the song. If fact, the legend goes that Mark actually wrote the lyrics the night before HBI went into Hyland Studios to record the version that appears on the Graven Images CD. We started working on our own material in the Fall of 1987, which coincided with the start of our Sophomore year in college. Shortly after the beginning of the semester, it seemed like the entire student body left the campus for the extended "High Holy Days" holiday. It truly appeared that we were the only two (out of about 16,000) who stayed behind. With all the peace and quiet, we decided to record two songs we had been working on, "Stay With Me" and another instrumental that would later be named "HBI". One day, we may be so bold as to actually post the MP3s of these early recordings on the web. Yes, they do still exist. Our recording technology consisted of a microphone placed in the middle of the room to tape a live recording. At the time, John was still feeling the influence of his heavy metal guitar playing days in high school, but new influences--like early U2 and REM--were creeping in. (Imagine U2's "I Will Follow" blended with Poison's "Talk Dirty To Me") Mark, who had only acquired his first bass about two weeks before, was still plucking strings with his thumb.

I know that we've just met each other but it seems like a long time and I don't want you to have another I want you to be mine and I know it could be good I know it could be fine if you'd just stay with me and I know it should be good I know that you'd be mine if you'd just stay with me and I know what you're thinking ...it's all right by me... so please girl just take a chance for once in your life be free come with me and find romance see what your life can be come to me and take my hand tomorrow you will see that I will always be your man as long as you stay with me Lyrics by Mark Schaefer ©1992 by HBI and Red December Music