Don’t Wanna Be Gone [2026]
Don’t Wanna Be Gone is the first single from Kendall Street Company’s upcoming folk album entitled Yodeling Astroman. The album was mixed and co-produced by long-time band collaborator Scott Gordon (Ringo Starr, Alanis Morissette). Driven by acoustic guitars and bouncy vocals, “Don’t Wanna Be Gone” is simply an ode to wanting not to be gone. The lyrics started as an exploration of the complexities of life as a touring musician and expanded into the idea of “being gone” mentally or physically in many different contexts of life. It’s a song about wanting to stay in the present moment despite everything happening all the time. The song features punchy drums and bass, sparkly keys, and a hint of banjo twang. Sounds like Courtney Barnett, They Might Be Giants, and Paul Simon
CREDITS
Produced by Kendall Street Company with Louis Smith and Scott Gordon
Recorded and Mixed by Scott Gordon in Virginia Beach and Charlottesville, VA
Mastered by Raelynn Janicke at Infrasonic Sound in Nashville, TN
Art and Design by Joe Winograd
Louis Smith: Guitars, Vocals
Brian Roy: Bass
Ryan Wood: Drums, Percussion
Ben Laderberg: Guitars, Lead Guitar
Jake Vanaman: Keys
Austin Patterson: Mellotron
LYRICS
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
I wanna be in
Don't wanna be out
I wanna begin
I don't wanna shout
I wanna make love
I don't wanna pout
Don't wanna be gone
I wanna be up
Don't wanna be down
I wanna believe
I don’t wanna doubt
I wanna see how it all turns out
Don't wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
It's a complicated feeling
When something you love becomes something you hate
Or maybe just starts to feel like doing the dishes
Like damn this was cool
But now it's a thing I gotta do
And I suppose it’d be good to have clean linen
But if losing love is like a window in your heart, Paul Simon said
Don't wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
They say never curse the rain
Cause earth could end up dry as a bone
Like in mother fuckin’ Mad Max: Fury Road
Maybe I'll just get high
Escape the madness in my mind
Where'd I put the gravity bong
Don't wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be burned up in smoke
Don’t wanna have to find a new home
Don't want the brushfire wind to blow
And at the same damn time
I don't wanna get washed away in a cat 5
On the coastline or the mountainside
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
X2
I don’t wanna pass out
I don’t wanna lose out
Don’t wanna miss out
I don’t wanna zombify
I don’t wanna nullify
I don’t wanna crucify
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
Don’t wanna be gone
I wanna be in
Don't wanna be out
I wanna believe
I don’t wanna doubt
I wanna be here
I don't wanna be there
I wanna be here
Don’t wanna be gone