The Stand is a song written by Mike Peters. Eddie MacDonald and Dave Sharp for The Alarm which first appeared as the third The Alarm 7″ single release on 11th April 1983 on IRS records. Outside the UK, the song was released as part of a five-track EP, entitled The Alarm. The EP was released to coincide with the Alarm’s first tour of the U.S. in June 1983. The single peaked at no.86 in the UK singles chart on 7th May 1983.
Stephen King wrote a novel called “The Stand” and in the beginning book he writes an author’s note and he says that all the places he visited to compile the information and the research for his book and all the characters that he met that he wanted to characterize in the book, that he totally distorted them all to fit his novel. So, I’d read his novel and put quite a bit of it in the song. I totally distorted his novel to fit my song – Mike Peters, 1984, Backstage Pass, 91X
The Stand is probably my favourite Alarm song so far because it was the first real time we’d succeeded in making the sort of record that you could put on and feel better as the result. To me, that is what making music is all about – Dave Sharp, Strength Tour Program, 1985
UK Official Singles Chart positions
23rd April 1983 – Enters at number 98
30th April 1983 – Climbs to number 87
7th May 1982 – Climbs to number 86
Leaves the Top 100 official UK singles
1983 Ramport Studios, Battersea, London recording details
Running length 3:38
Written by :Macdonald / Peters / Sharp
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Sharp – Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Backing Vocals
Recorded 3rd February 1983 at Ramport Studios, Battersea, London SW8, England
Produced and engineered by Mick Glossop
Alternative studio / session / podcast recordings
1995 Fort Apache, Boston, Massachusetts acoustic recording
2000 Alarm Box set remastering 1983 Good Earth Studios, London recording
2017 Parr Studios Liverpool, Vans Warped Tour recording
November 1995. Mike Peters – Fort Apache Acoustic acoustic recording
Running length : 3:17
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Recorded at Fort Apache, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Produced by Michael Peters
Recorded by Dan McLoughlin
Appears on the album Acoustic Works 1981-1986 released on 28th October 1997
2000 – The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 Collection Box Set : Eponymous [1981-1983] [Remastered]
Running length : 3:39
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Sharp – Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Backing Vocals
Remastered from the 1984 original 7″ single recording by Mike Peters
Remastering Engineered by Gary Butler @ RTS Liverpool in 2000
2000 – The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 Collection Box Set : Eponymous [1981-1983] [Remastered]
Running length : 4:41
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Dave Sharp – Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Backing Vocals
Remastered from the 1984 full length recording by Mike Peters
Remastering Engineered by Gary Butler @ RTS Liverpool in 2000
(v) 10th June 2017. The Alarm – Vans Warped Tour Medley [1982-2017]
Running length 1:48
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Lead Vocals, Electo-Acoustic Guitar. Harmonica
James Stevenson – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Steve “Smiley” Barnard – Drums, Backing Vocals
J.J. Haggar – Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Lucas Labrow – Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Andy Labrow – Backing Vocals, Handclaps
Produced by Mike Peters
Engineered and mixed by Tony Draper
Album appearances and discography of studio/session/multi-media broadcast version releases
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated 
28th October 1997 : Mike Peters – Acoustic Works 1981-1986
Released on CD by The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C004
1995 Fort Apache Recording 
2000 – The Alarm – Eponymous [1981-1983] – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C010. (CD) (Part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C018)
2000 – The Alarm – Eponymous [1981-1983]– Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C010. (CD) (Part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C018 (Long version)
(v) 25th February 2021 : The Alarm – Vans Warped Tour Medley [1982-2017]
Released on CD by The Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C127
2017 Parr Studios Liverpool, Vans Warped Tour recording
Single appearances and discography of releases
UK Releases 
(v) 11th April 1983 : 7″ vinyl single. The Alarm – The Stand
Track listing :
Side A : The Stand
Side B : Third Light (live)
Released by I.R.S. Records, catalog number PFP 1014
1983 Ramport Studios, Battersea, London recording details
(v) 11th April 1983 : 12″ vinyl single. The Alarm – The Stand
Track listing :
Side A : The Stand
Side B : For Freedom (live), Reason 41 (live)
Released by I.R.S. Records, catalog number PFSX 1014
1983 Ramport Studios, Battersea, London recording details
Holland Release
(v) 1983 : 7″ vinyl single. The Alarm – The Stand
Side A : The Stand
Side B : Third Light (live)
Released by Illegal Records, catalogue number ILSA 3697
1983 Ramport Studios, Battersea, London recording details
USA Release
(v) 1983 : 7″ vinyl single. The Alarm – The Stand
Track listing :
Side A : The Stand
Side B : Reason 41 (live)
Released by Illegal Records, catalogue number IR 9922,
1983 Ramport Studios, Battersea, London recording details
Officially Released Live Recordings – Audio
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
27th September 1983. Recorded live at Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Running length 3:24
Released on CD in 1999 as The Alarm Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour – on King Biscuit records in the UK – catalogue number KBFHCD028, USA – catalogue number 70710-88049-2, Spain – catalogue number CELCD 027
Released on CD in 2002 as The Alarm Blaze of Glory – on Disky in Europe – catalogue number SI 794172
Released on DVD-Audio in 2003 as The Alarm From The Front Row ….. Live! – on Silverline in the USA – catalogue number 288157-9
14th February 1984. Recorded live at Hammersmith Palais, London W6, England
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Running length 5:37
Released on CD in 2002 as The Alarm Record Collectors Club Vol II – Hammersmith 1984
27th April 1988. Recorded live at The Chance Theater, Poughkeepsie, New York, USA
Running length 10:27 – The Stand (medley incl. Stairway To Heaven – Pinball Wizard – My Generation)
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Released on CD in 2003 as The Alarm The Sound & The Fury Live 1981 to 1991. Shakedown records, catalogue number SHAKEBX112Z (UK, Export)
Released on CD in 2014 as The Alarm When The Storm Broke. Secret records, catalogue number SECDD098 (UK)
4th December 2000. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
5th December 2000. Recorded at University, Newcastle, England
Running Length 4:22
7th December 2000. Recorded at The Cockpit, Leeds, England
Running Length 4:16
8th December 2000. Recorded at Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, England
9th December 2000. Recorded at The Lomax, Liverpool, England
Running Length 3:31
13th December 2000. Recorded at Rock City, Nottingham, England.
15th December 2000. Recorded at Shepherds Bush Empire, London W12, England
Running Length 4:49
16th December 2000. Recorded at University, Cardiff, Wales Running Length 4:28
17th December 2000. Recorded at University, Manchester, England
Band line up for December shows were : Mike Peters, James Stevenson, Richard Llewellyn, Steve Grantley.
The UK December dates were part of the tour to promote The Alarm 2000 collection and were billed as The Alarm MM
6th February 2001. Recorded at Logo, Hamburg, Germany
10th February 2001. Recorded at Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, Germany
Running Length 4:52
12th April 2001. Recorded at T.T. The Bear’s Place, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
13th April 2001. Recorded at The Vanderbilt, Plainview, New York, USA
13th April 2001. Recorded at Cotton Club, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
(Band Line up : tbc for the Feb and April dates)
1st February 2003. Recorded at The Garage, Glasgow, Scotland
Running Length 4:15
Band line up ; TBC
23rd August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 3:10 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 4 – The New Wave Songs Are Rising
24th August 2003. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running Length 4:34 Mike Peters and Bruce Watson acoustic
Released in 2003 on Alarmstock Volume 8 – Rock And Roll International
3rd November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory, New York, USA
5th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
10th November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA
Running Length 3:40
12th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
17th November 2003. Recorded at The Knitting Factory (East), New York, USA
Running Length 3:43
19th November 2003. Recorded at The Middle East, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
20th November 2003. Recorded at Elbo Room, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Running Length 4:05
(Band Line up : tbc for the November dates)
Officially Released Live Recordings – Video / DVD
Radio Sessions, TV Appearances, Podcasts and online Multi-media
Lyrics – 1983 original single recording
Oh, I have been out searching with the black book in my hand
And I’ve looked between the lines that lie on the pages that I tread
I met the walking dude, religious, in his worn-down cowboy boots
He walked liked no man on earth
I swear he had no name (had no name)
I swear he had no name
Come on down & meet your maker
Come on down & make the stand
Come on down, come on down,
Come on down & make the stand.
As I crawled beneath the searchlights
Looking through the floorboards of this life
I met Doctor Strangeloves cousin
He bore the marks of time
Hey! Trashcan where you going boy
Your eyes are feet apart
Is that the end you’re carrying
Shall I play the funeral march (play the march)
Play the funeral march
Come on down & meet your maker
Come on down & make the stand
Come on down, come on down,
Come on down & we’ll make the stand.
Come on down & meet your maker
Come on down & make the stand
Come on down, come on down,
Come on down, we’ll make the stand.
When I looked out the window
On the hardship that had struck
I saw the seven phials open
The plague claimed man and son
Four men at a grave in silence
With hats bowed down in grace
A simple wooden cross
It had no epitaph engraved (it had no)
It had no epitaph engraved.
Come on down & meet your maker
Come on down & make the stand
Come on down, come on down,
Come on and make the stand
Come on down & meet your maker
Come on down & make the stand
Come on down, come on down,
Come on down, & we’ll make the stand
Lyrics – 1995 Acoustic Works recording
Come on down and meet you maker
Come on down and make the stand
Oh, I have been out searching with this black book in my hand
And I’ve looked between the lines that lie on the pages that I tread
I met the walking dude, religious, in his worn-out cowboy boots
He walked liked no man on earth
I swear he had no name
I swear he had no name
Come on down and meet your maker
Come on down and make the stand
Come on down, come on down,
Come on down and we’ll make the stand
As I crawled beneath the searchlights
Looking through the floorboards of this life
I met Doctor Strangeloves cousin
He bore the marks of time
Hey! Trashcan where you going boy
Your eyes are feet apart
Is that the end you’re carrying
Shall I play the funeral march
Play the funeral march
Come on down and meet your maker
Come on down and make the stand
Come on down, come on down,
Come on down and we’ll make the stand.
When I looked out the window
On the hardship that had struck
I saw the seven phials open
The plague claimed man and son
Four men at a grave in silence
Got their hats bowed down in grace
A simple wooden cross
It had no epitaph engraved
It had no epitaph engraved
Come on down and meet your maker
Come on down and make the stand
Come on down, come on down
Come on down and we’ll make the stand
Come roll out the red carpet
Come bugle the sound of horns
For the hero is returning
You gotta welcome him to his home
Don’t say I didn’t warn you
These prophecies are coming true
I can hear the cavalry thundering
Riding over the hill
Riding over the hill
Come on down and meet your maker
Come on down and make the stand
Come on down, come on down
Come on
Come on down and meet your maker
Come on down and make the stand
Come on down
Come on down
Come on down
We’ll make the stand
Alternative lyrics ~ 2017 Parr Street, Liverpool Vans Warped Tour Medley
Come on down and meet your maker
Come on down and make the stand
Ah one two three
Oh, I have been out searching with the black book in my hand
And I’ve looked between the lines that lie on the pages that I tread
I met the walking dude, religious, in his worn-down cowboy boots
He walked liked no man on earth
I swear he had no name (had no name)
I swear he had no name
Come on down and meet your maker
Come on down and make the stand
Come on down, come on down
(Come on down, come on down)
Come on down and make the stand.
As I crawled beneath the searchlights
Looking through the floorboards of this life
I met Doctor Strangeloves cousin
He bore the marks of time
Hey! Trashcan where you going boy
Your eyes are feet apart
Is that the end you’re carrying
Shall I play the funeral march (play the march)
Play the funeral march
Come on down and meet your maker
Come on down and make the stand
Come on down, come on down
(Come on, come on)
(Come on down, come on down)
Come on down and make the stand.
(Come on , come on)
Come on down and make the stand
(Written by Macdonald / Peters / Sharp)
(Page updated 18/10/2026)