Fun facts about “Meet Me On The Way”

• It is the oldest SPR song still in rotation — Mick wrote it in 2002 at age 18
• The “whoa” melody was first whistled by Mick…after being struck by a bus as he walked through Harvard Square
• By far the most recorded of all SPR songs, the song has had no less than 8 full-fledged recordings and no less than 4 dramatically different ‘versions’
• At the urging of Johnny Malone, the band returned the song to its roots - recording a version for “This is rock.” that was very true to the initial ‘feel’
• The lyrics will written with former lead singer Bill O’Connell, who still introduces the band at some shows
• The name of the song comes from them coaching each other on harmonizing the bridge, Mick telling Bill to “Meet Me on the ‘way’ in ‘anyway’ “

What the band says about “Meet Me On the Way”

• MICK (author):  This song’s premise is inherently simple — it’s about holding your ground and trying to not to give into the short-term reward (and long-term disaster) that is post-breakup hookups. 

  It’s the oldest song I have that we still play…I think I changed it so many times over the years because I would grow intermittently bored with it and then fall in love with it all over again. The song was written on the worst day of my life. I had just been dumped, I was broke, I was tired and BOOM — I was hit by a bus. Totally my fault, not paying attention at all. The impact of my body flying across the pavement tore my legs and jeans to shreds. When I stood up, all I wanted to do was get the fuck out of there as quickly as possible. Everyone’s staring as I just try to play it cool and walk away, but I’m really upset. To hold myself together, I force myself to whistle…and out comes the “whoa-oh-oh” melody from the song. I was only 18. I rushed and home and scribbled it down so as not to forget it…clearly I haven’t.

• Johnny:

Music by: Mick Greenwood
Lyrics by: Mick Greenwood & Bill O’Connell

Hey baby,

It seems lately

That you’re
In a different state of mind
Maybe you’ve thought
That maybe I’ve got
One more chance this time
But I’ve changed and I’ve
Felt so strange that I
Won’t put the blame on my head
This time around
And now it seems clear
That you’ve stashed your fear
And underneath I feel alive too

Step out
To the light
Don’t want you back
For just one night
So baby, are you coming home?
Tonight?

I don’t need you
Like I used to
But I still want you
Anyway

Step out
To the light
Don’t want you back
For just one night
So baby, don’t leave me alone
And baby, please pick up that phone
Oh baby are you coming home?
Tonight?