Singer-songwriter Jack Schneider revitalizes Barbara Keith’s hidden gem “Stone’s Throw Away” with a dreamy, emotive cover that transforms feelings of longing, homesickness, and heartache into something eternal, tender, and profoundly human – a highlight from his upcoming album, ‘Streets of September.’
Listen: “Stone’s Throw Away” – Jack Schneider
We don’t always need to create the words ourselves for them to hold meaning – at times, the songs we did not pen resonate with us the most deeply.
This is the enchantment of Jack Schneider’s “Stone’s Throw Away”: A half-century-old deep cut is rejuvenated, serving as a testament to the lasting impact of exceptional songwriting and an impressive example of how reinterpretation can become an art form in its own right. While Schneider covers Barbara Keith, he fully embodies this performance: With a sweet voice and emotive guitar playing, he transforms “Stone’s Throw Away” into something profoundly personal – a mirror of yearning and sorrow, homesickness, and heartache. From the heartfelt ache in his vocals to the sun-soaked quality of his fingerpicking, every second of this song radiates warmth and age while feeling timeless and relatable. “Georgia never looked so good as it does in Tennessee,” he sings, and suddenly that line – specific in its locale – evolves into a universal reflection on distance, memory, and the places we carry with us.
Streets of September – Jack Schneider
My friends from the sidewalk
have all returned home
The hotel clock’s time
doesn’t align with mine
I’ve been taken by a blind man
who claimed he could see
Now he’s stumbled by the wayside
but he’s far ahead of me
Just a stone’s throw away
from my family ties
Pleading for mercy by the streetlight,
someone please rescue me
It’s a ghost town,
and I can’t reach the station
And Georgia never looked so good
as it does in Tennessee.
Atwood Magazine is thrilled to premiere “Stone’s Throw Away,” the second single from Jack Schneider’s upcoming third album, Streets of September, set for release on September 19, 2025. This rootsy, vibrant folk record, rich in introspection and reverence, was recorded live to tape with producer Matt Andrews (Gillian Welch, Old Crow Medicine Show) and showcases a blend of Schneider's original works and captivating reinterpretations. Following June’s lead single “How in the World” (a co-write with Vince Gill, for whom Schneider plays guitar on tour), “Stone’s Throw Away” captures the Georgia-raised, Nashville-based artist as he honors his roots while continuing to shape his present voice.
“Last year, I was fortunate to support Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris at a Country Music Hall of Fame benefit in New York called All for the Hall,” Schneider shares. “During my downtime on that trip, I had the added honor of record shopping with Maple Byrne, Emmy’s long-time road manager and guitar tech, who is also a music historian. At Generation Records in Greenwich Village, Maple picked a self-titled Barbara Keith album from the shelves. I hadn’t heard of her before, but I trust Maple’s recommendations completely and bought the record on his suggestion. Later that day, when I told Emmy about my find, she was excited to share: Apparently, Barbara Keith stopped making music right after her self-titled album and pursued a different career before emerging in the ’90s rock band The Stone Coyotes.”
“When I finally had a chance to listen, I fell in love with Barbara’s songwriting and artistic vision, and was amazed that such a unique artist has remained largely unknown despite her incredible work from back then. Growing up in Atlanta, one song particularly resonated with me: in ‘Stone’s Throw Away,’ Barbara sings, ‘Georgia never looked so good as it does in Tennessee.’ I created a demo of the song, and Matt Andrews, who produced my album, loved it – he too was unfamiliar with Barbara Keith and insisted on not hearing the original until after our version was finished. Both of us felt it was essential to respect the song as a distinctive entity so that both our rendition and Barbara’s could coexist; I wanted to breathe new life into the song and discover my own voice as an interpreter in the process. I’m thrilled with how our recording turned out and am especially eager to introduce more people to Barbara Keith’s music, helping it reach a broader audience, even if it comes a few decades late.”
Jack Schneider © Annie Loughead
Keith’s original version, released in 1972, features a driving, harmony-rich rock sound filled with energetic piano, sharp guitar riffs, and a near-psychedelic vibe reminiscent of CSNY’s Déjà Vu. Schneider reimagines this approach. His rendition conjures the warm nostalgia of American Beauty-era Grateful Dead and the heartfelt storytelling of The Band.
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Singer/songwriter Jack Schneider revitalizes Barbara Keith’s overlooked classic “Stone’s Throw Away,” offering a mesmerizing and emotionally resonant rendition that transforms themes of longing, homesickness, and heartache into something timeless, gentle, and profoundly relatable.