"Standing Still" is a song by American singer-songwriter Jewel. Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, the song was included on her fourth studio album, This Way (2001). Jewel wrote the song sometime after the release of her previous album, Spirit, while she was taking a break from her music career. According to Jewel, the song is about stepping back to avoid stagnation from a busy career and wanting a change of scenery from fame. "Standing Still" was released on September 24, 2001, to positive reviews and commercial success. In the United States, it peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2002 and reached the top 10 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs and Adult Top 40 charts. Worldwide, the single reached the top 40 in Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. In New Zealand, it peaked at number seven and was the 40th-most-successful single of 2002. Background and release Jewel revealed the meaning behind "Standing Still" backstage at the 2001 My VH1 Music Awards: "It's about the irony of how much a person travels in my job, and how it can really cause your emotional life to stand still. Fame really tolerates a prolonged adolescence, and your fame and career can outgrow your ability to handle it. You can really spoiled, and I wanted to get away from [that] and make sure I wasn't standing still". She went on to explain that the song was inspired by her three-year hiatus from the music business following the release of Spirit, during which she found it difficult to stay impassioned about her fame. Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine summarized that the song "addresses simple desires ... with an underlying message about taking forward steps in life", as well as "stepping out and embracing life". Jewel recorded the song at three studios in Nashville, Tennessee: Ocean Way Nashville, Emerald Entertainment, and the Sound Kitchen. The song was released to American hot adult contemporary radio on September 24, 2001, and was serviced to contemporary hit radio the following day. In Australia, a CD single was released on October 22, 2001, while in the United Kingdom, a CD single was issued on March 11, 2002. Composition "Standing Still" is a folk-pop song. According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes, the song is written in the key of D major and has a moderately fast tempo of 124 beats per minute, in common