Stand!

Epic issued it as a single in 1969, and it reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 14 on the soul singles chart. Its title and lyrics urge listeners to stand up for themselves, their communities and what they believe in. The official biography quotes the lines "You've been sitting much too long, there's a permanent crease in your right and wrong".

An early acetate got a warm but unenthusiastic response when Sly had it played in a San Francisco club. He went back and had the final section rerecorded as a fevered gospel-style break, using mostly studio musicians because most of the Family Stone were unavailable. The Guardian says the chorus soars and the moment a minute from the end where it explodes into a breakbeat is fabulous.

Rolling Stone ranked it 241st on its 2004 list of songs. The Jackson 5 covered it on their debut album and used it to open their first two tours. Phish played it live in Dublin on 13 June 1997.