The late director Herbert Ross’ 1995 drama Boys on the Side follows the stories of three women at a crossroads in their lives. To capture its storyline, the all-female vocaled soundtrack was filled in by Annie Lennox, Indigo Girls, Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, Joan Armatrading, The Pretenders, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, The Cranberries, Jonell Mosser, and even a song sung by one of the stars of the film, Whoopi Goldberg.
In the film, Crow contributed her song “Keep On Growing” to the soundtrack, and also penned the piano ballad, “Somebody Stand By Me” with her former guitarist and collaborator Todd Wolfe. Sung by Stevie Nicks, the lyrics follow a friend in need and knowing where they feel at home.
I stood at the door
And watched while you drove away
Driving my car
In the rain, in the dark
Well, every dog seems to have her day
I’ve been in this, alone so long
And I’m begining to wonder why I stand in one place
A different name
A different face
No ones gonna see me cry
I need someone to stand by me
Stand by me, just one time
I hope somebody stands by me
Stands by me, just one time
I don’t understand
It’s slipping through these hands
I think by now I know
Where to let go
All I know is here I am baby
Won’t you stand by me?
I’m not bending tonight
But, I’m twisted and turned
And broken down
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‘Trouble in Shangri-La‘
Years later, the two worked together again when Crow co-produced, played, and sang on Nick’s sixth solo album, Trouble in Shangri-La, from 2001.
“First, Sheryl’s brilliant, she’s an amazing songwriter, singer, and musician,” said Nicks. “But she’s also someone who gets it. She understands the life of a woman in rock’n’roll. There’s no room for playing games with her or saying, ‘You don’t understand what I’m going through.’ She understands, and that’s brought us closer than I can explain.”
She also said that singing with Crow reminded her of her time with former Fleetwood Mac bandmate and partner Lindsey Buckingham. “Singing with Sheryl is very much like singing with Lindsey,” Nicks told VH1 in 2001. “She’s a real great duet singer, and so we had a great jumping-off point from the beginning.”
Of her friendship and musical connection with Nicsk, Crow said: She represents such a huge chunk of my life that it’s almost unreal to be in the same room with her. Stevie’s just so real, so completely open as a person. And as an artist, she continues to work hard. Sometimes you meet your heroes, and you discover they’ve stopped growing or have gone past caring about what they do. Stevie’s still so vital. She’s still looking to try new things.”
Crow continued, “Stevie’s an incredible singer. She approaches music in a such a unique manner. It would be easy for her to just stick to the same old thing, but she’s clearly not content to do that.”
In 2024, Crow also appeared on Nicks’ single “The Lighthouse.”
Faith Hill’s Rendition
Faith Hill’s third album, Faith, from 1998, also features her rendition of “Somebody Stand By Me.” The album, which also features her hits “This Kiss” and “Let Me Let Go,” closes with Hill’s soulful country version of the song.
Danish singer Henning Stærk also recorded the song on his 1998 album Let a Man Stand Up.
Photo: Ron Wolfson/WireImage
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