A recent rediscovery of Sheryl Crow's music has made me appreciate it more than I think I ever did. This time last year I was besotted with the woman, but then throughout this year as I explored different artists such as Bjork and Tori Amos, she kind of faded into the background. However, I popped in her self-titled sophomore album a couple of weeks ago and was thrilled to rediscover that the freshness of her music has survived until this very day from way back in the mid-90's. That second album followed the multi-platinum "Tuesday Night Music Club," and contained some of Sheryl's most recognisable hit singles, such as "Home," "A Change Would Do You Good," "Everyday Is A Winding Road," and perhaps her most popular song (if you ignore "All I Wanna Do" for a second) ever, "If It Makes You Happy." These songs were all big hits, but there was a fifth song that was released from this album that very few people know about.

It is, of course, "Hard To Make A Stand." I always mistake this song with "Love Is A Good Thing," another song from the same album that resulted in the album's banning from all Wal-Mart stores because of a weapon reference. However, I only have to listen to the song and I remember t because it's so jaunty and catchy. The song opens with a guitar that seems like it needs tuning and a plodding drum beat. Sheryl then starts signing the first verse, "Old James Dean Monroe hands out flowers at the Shop-N-Go, hopes for money but all he gets is fear. And the wind blows up his coat, and this he scribbles on a perfume note, "If I'm not here, then you're not here." And he says, "Call me Miscreation, I'm a walking celebration."" I love the lyrics here in this first verse and how they subtly recall Marilyn Monroe - with the coat blowing up in the wind instead of the dress.

The chorus then kicks in and Sheryl sings, "And it's hard to make a stand." That's basically it for the chorus! She repeats it four time, of course, to draw it out. The second verse then starts, "My friend, o lawdy, went to take care of her own body, and she got shot down in the road. She looked up before she went, said, "This isn't really what I meant," and the Daily News said "Two With One Stone." And I say, "Hey there, Miscreation, bring a flower, time is wasting."" The chorus is then repeated before Sheryl sings "Yes it is!" and the beautiful guitars bursts out for a brief instrumental. She then brings it back down and sings, "We got loud guitars and big suspicions, Great big guns and small ambitions, and we still argue over who is God."

She then sings, "And I say, "Hey there, Miscreation, bring a flower, time is wasting." I say, "Hey there, Miscreation, we all need a revelation!"" The chorus is then repeated a few more times until the song finishes at just over three minutes. It's not a very long song, but is a happy little number with a very strong message underneath. I'm not sure if a video was made for this song, and if one was, I sure haven't seen it! Overall, this is a great song but doesn't quite meet the high standards that Sheryl effortlessly set herself with such classics such as "A Change" and "Everyday Is A Winding Road."