Back in the early '80's, I was the lead singer in a band called "The Features". We played quite a bit at a place called "The Electric Banana". One night, a DJ from WYEP had decided to attend and of course I chatted with him throughout the night. He was excited about the music we were doing, except he wasn't really excited about how our following reacted toward him. As I introduced him, everyone was cordial but as the night went on he seemed to think that he wasn't getting enough attention and respect from our people.
After the show, I gave him a ride home because it was on the way for me and he was quite upset about not being properly respected as a DJ of a local radio station. I began telling him that maybe that just being that is not enough and that if you want people to respect you, you've got to let them get to know you first and that it goes both ways and takes time. I had learned about that many times and found out that sincerety, actions and time are some of the ingredients that gain respect and not just accomplishments.
As we came upon an intersection, while driving, there was a set of traffic lights that had one light showing red if you wanted to go straight and one set of lights with a green arrow it you wanted to bear left. I asked him which way to go and he said to me "Follow The Arrow". I used that as the title for this song about respect and what it means.


Follow The Arrow (1981)
written by James Buckley

Follow The Arrow
Follow The Arrow
Follow The Arrow

So everybody laughed at you when you turned and walked away
Well the band played on and you were gone
Please listen to what I say

You’ve got to understand
That respect you can’t demand

I heard a teardrop hit the ground
I know that it was you
Believe me I can sympathize
Ya see I’ve been there too

I won’t tell you no lies
But the answer’s deep inside

You’ve got to follow the arrow
And you will know which way to go
And you will see, it had happened once to me
If you look in my direction

So if you see the arrow that is only meant for you
Just follow it where it may go, to see what you can do

I know what you expect, but you’ve got to earn respect

So you should follow the arrow
And you will know which way to go
And you will see, it happened once to me
You will see, it happened once to me
yeh, you will see, it happened once to me
If you look in my direction