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Stay Away

Rating:
4.2 / 5

Words & Music: Sid Tepper Roy C. Bennett

Ten thousand miles even though I roam
I can hear the call of the hills of home
The canyons high and the valleys low
Echo "How can you stay away"

My dreams are there where the eagle flies
Where the mountain tops seem to touch the sky
The winding streams and the winds that blow
Ask me "How can you stay away"

Far too long have I stayed apart
From this land that I love and divide my heart
Now, now I know I must go
Where the hills say "Don't stay away"
Where the hills say "Don't stay away"

Recordingdate: 1968/01/16, first released on: single (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Stay Away:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(steel guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(harmonica)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Availability

Find available albums with Stay Away.

Deano1 wrote on February 21, 2010
One of my all time favorite Elvis songs, recorded for the movie "Stay Away Joe" and used over the opening credits. This song used the music from "Greensleaves" with new words by Tepper and Bennett and everything comes together perfectly (much like it did with "Love Me Tender" being based on "Aura Lee"). The song was released as the B-side of U.S. Male in 1968 and found some chart success as a flip side hitting #67. It was then buried until the re-issue of the budget LP "Almost In Love" in 1973. How can an awesome track like this be buried while "Old MacDonald" was given a place on an album (heck, after the LP "Double Trouble" was discontinued in 1971, Camden put it on another LP "Elvis Sings Hits From His Movies" in 1972!). I don't dislike OM as much as some do, but come on!
bastiaanvinke wrote on May 24, 2011
This song is in the opening of 'Stay away Joe' after hearing it together with the opening shots I expected a great movie. Man, was I wrong. That said, I still think it's a great song that deserves A lot more attention. Four stars.
Gorse wrote on December 25, 2012
There is a school of thought that King Henry V111 wrote Greensleeves, so as an Englishman I was delighted when Elvis recorded this song based on that tune. The released version was speeded up from the traditional tune but Elvis turns in a fine convincing performance, using his vibrato. There is an interesting alternate take 2 where he sings it at the original traditional tempo but this is not quite as convincing as the released master. -5 stars from me.
bajo wrote on June 21, 2015
Stay Away is a favorite of mine! I've always liked it since I first heard it on the single. And the later release with the longer fadeout is even better! Thinking of it, the late 60's movies actually had few, but much better songs in them like some of those from DT, ECEG and Clambake. And Elvis sounded more into singing them than he had in a long time. Stay Away is a song I never skip!
ElvisSacramento wrote on June 22, 2015
This is my favorite song that was recorded for the "Stay Away, Joe" movie. This song should definitely be much better known than it actually is because it's a true gem. It's by far one of Elvis' very best movie songs from the 1960's. I rate this song and Elvis' renditions of it 5 Stars. It's one of 41 songs that Elvis recorded that Roy C. Bennett and Sid Tepper wrote as a duo.
Jim Davidson wrote on December 12, 2015
The theme song to Stay Away Joe was fantastic. The movie's opening sequence suggested that this was going to be a fantastic movie. The movie Stay Away Joe ranks #100 in my list of Elvis movies (it's so bad, it does not deserve to be #31.
Cruiser621 wrote on November 08, 2017
1-star. Doesn't rate at all on my Elvis soundtracks. Boring.
JerryNodak wrote on March 21, 2019
I really like the song: 4 stars. I never had a problem sitting thru the movie back in the day. i was raised in a town near an Indian reservation. Many Native Americans were in the audience the nite I saw the film. Back then they weren't offended. Now days with political correctness running wild it seems like everyone is offended by something. Movie 3 stars.
Gorse wrote on March 22, 2019
One of my favourite Elvis movie songs where he uses that latin tinged vibrato. Appears on virtually every film compilation I create.
Steve V wrote on March 22, 2019
As movie tunes go, not a bad one at all but as 1968 singles go, not a good songs for that time. The sleeve had this song title on top so it was assumed the A side I guess. The B side was a return to the real Elvis IMO (3rd time in a row) and got a lot of spins in my local pool/juke joint. Should have been pushed a lot harder because Elvis movie songs by 1968 were DOA for DJs
Milky White Way wrote on August 03, 2020
Always had a huge soft spot for this track. Beautifully sung and beautifully arranged. Love both slow and fast versions. This and Going Home are are right up there amongst his finest movie songs imo. 4.95 stars
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