You know…it’s funny how songs are written. They can be inspired by the craziest things, such as your pride and joy. And boy, do we have to get something off of our chests. It’s time that we talk about Stevie Ray Vaugh and one of his most well-known songs.
Most people think that “Pride and Joy” was inspired by his girlfriend and their budding relationship. Well, that’s not entirely true.
Let us fill you in on the rumor that’s been going around the offices here at Sherman Pole Buildings. It may change your perspective on the song as well as about your favorite barn builders.
It All Started with a Tour in Minnesota
It’s fairly common for a number of artists to schedule tours in Minnesota. Then, people from Northwest Wisconsin and elsewhere around the area come to watch the concerts. As a result, a number of big names are near us at any given time. For decades, the venues near us have attracted blues artists, rockers, country artists, and more. We’ve been fortunate to attend some great concerts and hear live music.
Well, in the 1980s, we really got treated to some incredible artists. Some were up and coming and others were already big names.
Eric Clapton and a few others were coming to concert in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their opening acts ended up being quite famous. That included none other than Stevie Ray Vaughn.
The rumor around our office is that when Vaughn was in town, he visited with some friends. We don’t know all of whom he visited, but we can certainly guess.
Stevie Ray Vaughn Encounters A Sherman Pole Building
Well, we heard through the grapevine that Stevie Ray Vaughn had gone over to one of our client’s homes for a jam session.
Of course, we’re not at liberty to give away the names of any of our clients. However, the singer of Pride and Joy went over there to hang out for a weekend while he was in town for a tour.
That client had just gotten a pole barn built from us. It was a beauty, too. With dual garage doors, it offered the room that he needed for his vehicles. Plus, in the back, he had created plenty of room for a studio.
He was excited to know that we could div off the steel building to accommodate the various spaces he wanted.
The studio was impressive. There was a platform for drums, room for various instruments, and more. We’ve had the pleasure of sitting in on more than one occasion to hear the magic that has been created.
Our client has loved the pole barn and has constantly told us about his friends and how they’ve made mention of the space that he has.
It wasn’t long after Vaughn’s visit during his tour that we began hearing this new song of his. This must have been 1983…
The Song That’s Music to Our Ears
We first heard the lyrics when we were driving through Northwest Wisconsin. Soon, we had friends in Texas saying that they heard the song. They, too, wanted to know if we were the inspiration. It was an incredible song featured on the “Texas Flood” album that he recorded with Double Trouble, his backup band.
Of course, as soon as we heard the song, we reached out to our client who had told us of Vaughn’s visit.
Our client has said that he remembers the light being on in Vaughn’s room when he went to bed. It may be that the musician was so moved by the building that he wanted to write down all of his emotions.
“She’s my sweet little thing…” Well, this sounds like he’s quite taken with the pole barn, don’t you think? He’s claiming ownership of it. Maybe he was thinking of having his own built in Texas.
Our Pole Barns Can Easily Last A Lifetime
“Stick with her until the end of time…” Our pole barns are known to be quite durable. They can easily last a lifetime, so this singer may have decided that getting a Sherman pole barn is worth the investment.
Every time we hear this song, it puts a smile on our faces. It’s not every day that our buildings are serenaded by a Blues Hall of Fame inductee. Although hearing some of the songs on the radio, we’re fairly confident that there are a few other musicians who have written about their experiences with us over the years, too.
It’s easy to see why people would want to sing about the buildings, though. They’re amazing, they offer a significant amount of protection, and they’re fully customizable. Lyrics would come naturally as someone decides they want to sing about their favorite building. Walking into one of these steel buildings for the first time can be an emotional experience. Some of us have wept with pride while others have busted out a chorus line or two.
Hey, It’s Possible
The rumors about “Pride and Joy” have been going around our office for decades. We’re not saying it’s true…but we’re not saying it’s not true.
The reality is that we’ve been around since 1976. With such a strong history throughout Minnesota, we’ve had clients across all industries take interest in our expert craftsmanship. We never know who gains inspiration from our buildings. People see them in residential and commercial settings. And many get so excited by the customizations inside that they break out into song. We can’t help that.
We love that a famous musician sang about our pole barns. Well, he probably did. It could be a coincidence, but that wouldn’t be much fun, would it? No, he most certainly was singing about us. Probably…maybe…we’re hoping that’s the case.
Either way, you can check us out and get your own inspirational pole barn in Minnesota, Northwestern Wisconsin or Texas. And once you get it to your specifications, you might find that you’ll want to start calling it your pride and joy, too. We won’t tell if you won’t.
Pride and Joy Lyrics
Artist: Stevie Ray Vaughan
Well you’ve heard about love givin’ sight to the blind
My baby’s lovin’ cause the sun to shine
She’s my sweet little thing, she’s my pride and joy
She’s my sweet little baby, I’m her little lover boyYeah I love my baby, my heart and soul
Love like ours won’t never grow old
She’s my sweet little thing, she’s my pride and joy
She’s my sweet little baby, I’m her little lover boyYeah I love my baby, she’s long and lean
You mess with her, you’ll see a man gettin’ mean
She’s my sweet little thing, she’s my pride and joy
She’s my sweet little baby, I’m her little lover boyWell I love my baby like the finest wine
Stick with her until the end of time
She’s my sweet little thing, she’s my pride and joy
She’s my sweet little baby, I’m her little lover boyYeah I love my baby, my heart and soul
Love like ours will never grow old
She’s my sweet little thing, she’s my pride and joy
She’s my sweet little baby, I’m her little lover boy
