Pride And Joy

Album: Texas Flood (1983)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Vaughan wrote this for his new girlfriend when he was inspired by their relationship. It was released as Texas Flood's first single, and quickly put the then-unknown Texas guitar slinger on the national map. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    kevin - Sandy, UT
  • Stevie played this with Albert King on the album In Session, which was recorded live in 1983. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Evan - Boise, ID
  • When Stevie Ray Vaughan was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, his brother Jimmy Vaughan performed this song with Dolye Bramhall II, Gary Clark Jr., John Mayer and Double Trouble in honor of Stevie Ray.

Comments: 25

  • Jeff from DallasYou true fans do realize the music is "I'm Crying" from years before and over time he cleaned it up and wrote different lyrics?
  • Gabriel Michael from Van Werthow many rewards did stevie get for the song pride and joy
  • Linda Salerno from Smithville, TexasI am the girl Steve dated and wrote the song, Pride and Joy for back in 1978-9. You can read all about it on SRV Lost Stories fb site. Go way down to the first post and work your way up for easier understanding of our relationship.
  • 1/2 Pint from Wartrace Tn. Stevie Ray told me his self that he wrote this song for his guitar because no woman could ever be sweeter found into him then the Les Paul. I was never his girlfriend but I am a female and I was one of his best friends and I have proof to back that up the song was written about his guitar and not about a woman PERIOD. I just want to get that straight for my friend since he is not here to defend his self I will defend him to the end.
  • 1/2 Pint from Wartrace Tn. I'm sorry to inform some of you that you're very incorrect about the song pride and joy been written for Stevie Ray Vaghans new girlfriend. He and I were very close friends in Austin Texas in 1982 and 1983 I was at his house more than I was at my own I used to go listen to them play on six street at a place called six street live. He and I became very good friends and I heard this song before it ever released. The song is actually about his guitar, in fact the Less Paul guitar. Jimmy, i'm sure you know that I'm correct. My name is half pint.
  • Devin from San FranciscoThis song is similar to the song 'Pride and Joy' on the same album. However, 'Pride and Joy' has an upbeat, positive feeling to it and is about being in love, whereas 'I'm Cryin' has more of an edgy, tense feeling to it and tells of a relationship that's on the rocks. One story is that Stevie wrote 'Pride and Joy' for his girlfriend but when he played it for her she accused him of writing the song about another woman. After they engaged in a heated argument, Stevie went back to the studio and wrote I'm Cryin'. I read this online somewhere and don't know if there's any truth to this story.
  • Laura from Apple Valley, CaThis song was written for Lindi. It actually pissed her off that he changed the lyrics. I know this because she told me so.
  • Steve from Yakima, WaStevie was a member of A Cast of Thousands, Blackbird, Krackerjack, the Nightcrawlers and Paul Ray & the Cobras before he formed Triple Threat Revue with Lou Ann Barton and W.C. Clark.
  • Christine from Mcminnville, OrStevie began writing this song when he was with girlfriend, Lindi Bethel. He finished it later after marrying Lenny. He played it for her but she got mad because she felt he'd written it for another girl. He changed the lyrics to molify her, but eventually returned to the original version, and said he was glad he did.
  • Christine from Mcminnville, OrTo further add to the weirdness, Stevie died on the fourth anniversary of his father's death. Greatest guitarist to ever pick up an instrument! I'll miss Stevie until the day I die.
  • Carole from Cleveland, OhLenny was his wife and this song had nothing to do with her.
  • Randy from Mayberry, NcTriple Threat, was not, by any stretch, SRV's first band. He was in bands in the late 60's'/early 70s.

    "Pride and Joy" was supposedly written for a girl. And when that girl broke up with him he changed the lyrics to the ones in "I'm cryin'" Also on Texas Flood. Changed the guitar lick too, but the shuffle and solos are so very similar.
  • Jessie from Hillsboro, Kygood blues
  • Blake from Tahlequah, OkLike I said before one of the greatest men ever to pick up a guitar.as a matter of fact I dont think anyone can even come close to touching him.................except jimi hendrix!
  • Mindy from Hesperia, CaA true musician!!!!!!!!
  • Kalen from Winnipeg, CanadaOk. Heres the story of this song as said by Stevie. He wrote this song for a girl that he was dating in the 70's. Once she heard it, she didn't like it, and asked he re write the lyrics. Upon hearing the new version, she dumped him anyways. This made Stevie decide to use the original lyrics. HE DID NOT WRITE THIS SONG FOR LENNY!!!!!
  • Matt from Auburn, MiThis song is about his guitar named Lenny. He has said that he loved this guitar more than he lvoed his wife.
  • Victor from Kearny, NjW.C. Clark wrote this song for Stevie. Stevie was a fan of Mr. Clark, texan blues player(still touring). Stevie, W.C. Clark and Ms. Lou Ann Barton formed Triple Thread in 1978. This was Stevie first band.
  • Coronaboy from Monticello, IlOne of the best SRV songs ever! Live or studio... they both rock.
  • Paul from Chicago, IlOne of my favorite tunes, ever. Can't sit still when it's playing. Picks me up when I'm down. Thank you, Stevie. Damn, I'd give my right arm for a quarter of his talent. But then I wouldn't be able to pick!
  • Devon from Westerville, OhThis is a great song. I have one of his DVD's and the audience is booing him after almost every song. I can't believe that since Stevie is a sweet guitarist.
  • Anitra from Greenville, ScI heard that he wrote this song about his guitar.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScTo add to the weirdness, my sister, Ursula, was born Ausust 27, 1984, six years to the day before he died. This song is one of my favorites!! I love the guitar solos!
  • Brian from Winchester, Mait's weird. i was born the exact same day he died, August 27, 1990.
  • Sam from Provo, Utthis song shows stevie's writting talent. the solos are so good
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New Words

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New WordsSong Writing

Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."