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The Rolling Stones - Factory Girl

The Rolling Stones - Factory Girl Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Beggars Banquet
Released: 1968

Factory Girl Lyrics

Waiting for a girl who's got curlers in her hair
Waiting for a girl she has no money anywhere
We get buses everywhere
Waiting for a Factory Girl

Waiting for a girl and her knees are much too fat
Waiting for a girl who wears scarves instead of hats
Her zipper's broken down the back
Waiting for a factory girl

Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl we get drunk on Friday night
She's a sight for sore eyes
Waiting for a factory girl

Waiting for a girl and she's got stains all down her dress
Waiting for a girl and my feet are getting wet
She ain't come out yet
Waiting for a factory girl

Writer/s: JAGGER, MICK / RICHARDS, KEITH
Publisher: Abkco Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Factory Girl

This song is a great example of Mick Jagger taking on a persona, which he often did in his lyrics. Here, he sings from the perspective of a guy who is waiting for his girlfriend - a destitute, disheveled sort - to get out of work at the factory. It's quite a contrast to Jagger's reality: a glamorous Rock star who often dated models.

Dave Mason, who did some session work for Jimi Hendrix and was a member of the band Traffic, played the mandolin on this song.

Ric Grech was brought in to play fiddle on this track. Grech was a violinist and bass player who was a member of the band Family in the '60s and went on to play in Blind Faith with Eric Clapton. He also played on Gram Parsons' solo albums in the '70s, and he appears on Ron Wood and Ronnie Lane's 1976 Mahoney's Last Stand project.

Drummer Charlie Watts: "On Factory Girl, I was doing something you shouldn't do, which is playing the tabla with sticks instead of trying to get that sound using your hand, which Indian tabla players do, though it's an extremely difficult technique and painful if you're not trained."

Guitarist Keith Richards: "To me 'Factory Girl' felt something like Molly Malone, an Irish jig; one of those ancient Celtic things that emerge from time to time, or an Appalachian song. In those days I would just come up and play something, sitting around the room. I still do that today."

The Rolling Stones - Prodigal Son

The Rolling Stones - Prodigal Son Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Beggars Banquet
Released: 1968

Prodigal Son Lyrics

Well a poor boy took his father's bread and started down the road
Started down the road
Took all he had and started down the road
Going out in this world, where God only knows
And that'll be the way to get along

Well poor boy spent all he had, famine come in the land
Famine come in the land
Spent all he had and famine come in the land
Said, "I believe I'll go and hire me to some man"
And that'll be the way I'll get along

Well, man said, "I'll give you a job for to feed my swine
For to feed my swine
I'll give you a job for to feed my swine"
Boy stood there and hung his head and cried
Cause that is no way to get along

Said, "I believe I'll ride, believe I'll go back home
Believe I'll go back home
Believe I'll ride, believe I'll go back home
Or down the road as far as I can go"
And that'll be the way to get along

Well, father said, "See my son coming home to me
Coming home to me"
Father ran and fell down on his knees
Said, "Sing and praise, Lord have mercy on me"
Mercy

Oh poor boy stood there, hung his head and cried
Hung his head and cried
Poor boy stood and hung his head and cried
Said, "Father will you look on me as a child?"
Yeah

Well father said, "Eldest son, kill the fatted calf,
Call the family round
Kill that calf and call the family round
My son was lost but now he is found
Cause that's the way for us to get along"
Hey

Writer/s: REV. ROBERT WILKINS
Publisher: WYNWOOD MUSIC CO. INC.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Prodigal Son Song Chart

This song was written by Robert Wilkins, a reverend who recorded Delta Blues in the 1920s and 1930s. Keith Richards enjoyed Blues music and discovered the work of Wilkins in the '60s, which is how The Stones came across this song. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

The Prodigal Son is a story told in the Bible about a father who has two sons. The younger son asks for his inheritance early, and goes off to spend the money on hedonistic pursuits. After wasting all the money, he comes home repentant, and the father welcomes him with a feast in his honor. This doesn't go over well with the older son, who feels that he should be rewarded for good behavior, but the father stresses the value of forgiveness.

Robert Wilkins' original version was titled "That's No Way To Get Along." The Stones gave their version the title "Prodigal Son."

In 1928 Wilkins wrote another song called "Rollin' Stone."

This is the only cover song on Beggar's Banquet. The Rolling Stones wanted to be a Blues band when they started out, but they became more Pop-oriented soon after they formed.

The Rolling Stones - Parachute Woman

The Rolling Stones - Parachute Woman Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Beggars Banquet
Released: 1968

Parachute Woman Lyrics

Parachute Woman, land on me tonight
Parachute woman, land on me tonight
I'll break big in New Orleans
And I'll overspill in Caroline

Parachute woman, join me for a ride
Parachute woman, join me for a ride
I'll make my blow in Dallas
And get hot again in half the time

Parachute woman, will you blow me out?
Parachute woman, will you blow me out?
Well, my heavy throbbers itchin'
Just to lay a solitary rhythm down

Writer/s: JAGGER, MICK / RICHARDS, KEITH
Publisher: Abkco Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Parachute Woman Song Chart

The Stones recorded a track of the music into an old mono cassette recorder to get a distinctive sound on this.

Performed in a Blues style, this song is loaded with sexual metaphors.

Mick Jagger played the harmonica on this track.

The Rolling Stones performed this on Rock and Roll Circus, a British TV special The Stones taped in 1968 but never aired. A series of musical acts and circus performances, it was released on video in 1995.

The Beggars Banquet album cover was designed to look like an invitation, with the letters RSVP at the bottom. This is not what The Stones had in mind. They wanted to use a photo of a graffiti-covered bathroom, but Decca Records wouldn't allow it. This resulted in a stalemate that held up the album's release until the band finally relented. Check out the covers in Song Images. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

The Rolling Stones - No Expectations

The Rolling Stones - No Expectations Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Beggars Banquet
Released: 1968

No Expectations Lyrics

Take me to the station
And put me on a train
I've got No Expectations
To pass through here again

Once I was a rich man and
Now I am so poor
But never in my sweet short life
Have I felt like this before

You heart is like a diamond
You throw your pearls at swine
And as I watch you leaving me
You pack my peace of mind

Our love was like the water
That splashes on a stone
Our love is like our music
Its here, and then its gone

So take me to the airport
And put me on a plane
I've got no expectations
To pass through here again

Writer/s: JAGGER, MICK / RICHARDS, KEITH
Publisher: Abkco Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

No Expectations Song Chart

When Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones died in 1969, this song took on new meaning, as lyrics like "Our love is like our music, it's here and then it's gone" made it a fitting elegy. Mick Jagger explained: "That's Brian (Jones) playing steel guitar. We were sitting around in a circle on the floor, singing and playing, recording with open mikes. That was the last time I remember Brian really being totally involved in something that was really worth doing. He was there with everyone else. It's funny how you remember - but that was the last moment I remember him doing that, because he had just lost interest in everything." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

The Stones performed this on Rock and Roll Circus, a British TV special The Stones taped in 1968, but never aired. Brian Jones played this with a passion he was clearly losing as drugs took over his life. Rock and Roll Circus was released on video in 1995.

Nicky Hopkins, who also played with The Who and The Beatles, played piano on this.

Lenny Kravitz opened several shows for The Rolling Stones in 1994, and was invited onstage to jam with them at a Cleveland show. Kravitz helped out Mick Jagger in 2001, co-writing, performing on, and producing his song "God Gave Me Everything." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 2)

This song was featured in the 1978 ant-war film Coming Home, with Jane Fonda and John Voight. (thanks, Michael - LA, CA)

The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man

The Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Beggars Banquet
Released: 1968

Street Fighting Man Lyrics

Everywhere I hear the sound of marching, charging feet, boy
'Cause summer's here and the time is right for fighting in the street, boy
Well what can a poor boy do
Except to sing for a rock 'n' roll band
'Cause in sleepy London town
There's just no place for a Street Fighting Man
No

Hey! Think the time is right for a palace revolution
'Cause where I live the game to play is compromise solution
Well, then what can a poor boy do
Except to sing for a rock 'n' roll band
'Cause in sleepy London town
There's just no place for a street fighting man
No

Hey! Said my name is called disturbance
I'll shout and scream, I'll kill the king, I'll rail at all his servants
Well, what can a poor boy do
Except to sing for a rock 'n' roll band
'Cause in sleepy London town
There's just no place for a street fighting man
No

Writer/s: RICHARDS, KEITH / JAGGER, MICK
Publisher: Abkco Music, Inc.
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Street Fighting Man Song Chart

This song deals with civil unrest in Europe and America in 1968. There were student riots in London and Paris, and Vietnam protests in America. The specific event that led Mick Jagger to write the lyrics was a demonstration at Grosvenor Square in London on March 17, 1968. Jagger (along with Vanessa Redgrave), joined an estimated 25,000 protesters in condemning the Vietnam War.

The demonstrators marched to the American embassy, where the protest turned violent. Mounted police charged the crowd, which responded by throwing rocks and smoke bombs. About 200 people were taken to the hospital and another 246 arrested. Jagger didn't make it to the embassy: before the protest turned violent, he abandoned it, returning to his home in nearby Cheyne Walk. Jagger realized that his celebrity was a hindrance to the protest, as his presence distracted from the cause.

This was the first Stones song to make a powerful political statement, although with an air of resignation. Jagger opens the song declaring "that the time is right for fighting in the street," but goes on to sing, "But what can a poor boy do, 'cept sing in a rock and roll band."

This sense of hopelessness in the face of atrocity may be why the Rolling Stones became apolitical, focusing their efforts on songs about relationships and rock n' roll. In the process, they became very rich and beloved by members of all political persuasion.

In the US, this was released as a single on August 31, 1968, just a few days after the Democratic National Convention, which took place August 26-29. The convention was marred by violence, as Chicago police clashed with protesters. When the song was released, every radio station in Chicago (and most in the rest of the country), refused to play it for fear that it would incite more violence. There was no official ban in America or Chicago, but stations knew it was in their best interest to shun the song, which accounts for its meager chart position of #48.

Mick Jagger later said: "The radio stations that banned the song told me that 'Street Fighting Man' was subversive. Of course it's subversive, we said. It's stupid to think you can start a revolution with a record. I wish you could!"

The original title of this song was "Did Everybody Pay Their Dues?" It had completely different lyrics and therefore altogether a different and rather strange meaning: Jagger sings about an Indian chief and his family. The music however was basically the same (slightly alternative mixes exist) - but the lead guitar over the chorus was omitted on the final mix of "Street Fighting Man." Fairly listenable versions have appeared on various bootlegs. (thanks, Christopher - Vienna, Austria)

Keith Richards created a distinctive guitar sound on this track using a technique he also used on "Jumpin' Jack Flash," where his acoustic guitar was overdubbed several times. Says Richards: "Street Fighting Man was all acoustics. There's no electric guitar parts in it. Even the high-end lead part was through a cassette player with no limiter. Just distortion. Just two acoustics, played right into the mike, and hit very hard. There's a sitar in the back, too. That would give the effect of the high notes on the guitar. And Charlie was playing his little 1930s drummer's practice kit. It was all sort of built into a little attaché case, so some drummer who was going to his gig on the train could open it up - with two little things about the size of small tambourines without the bells on them, and the skin was stretched over that. And he set up this little cymbal, and this little hi-hat would unfold. Charlie sat right in front of the microphone with it. I mean, this drum sound is massive. When you're recording, the size of things has got nothing to do with it. It's how you record them. Everything there was totally acoustic. The only electric instrument on there is the bass guitar, which I overdubbed afterwards. What I was after with all of those - Street Fighting Man, Jumping Jack Flash - was to get the drive and dryness of an acoustic guitar but still distort it. They were all attempts at that."

Dave Mason did session work on this track. He played the shelani, an Indian reed instrument. Mason went on to form the group Traffic, and has played guitar on albums by Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Fleetwood Mac.

Mick Jagger said of this song: "It was a very strange time in France. But not only in France but also in America, because of the Vietnam War and these endless disruptions.... I wrote a lot of the melody and all the words, and Keith and I sat around and made this wonderful track, with Dave Mason playing the shelani on it live. It's a kind of Indian reed instrument a bit like a primitive clarinet. It comes in at the end of the tune. It has a very wailing, strange sound." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

In the US, the single was originally released with a picture on the sleeve of police beating protesters in Los Angeles. The music was different on this version, with different vocals and more piano. This single was quickly pulled by the record company and is now a rare collectors item.

The Stones released this the same month The Beatles came out with "Revolution," which was their first blatantly political song.

A number of sources claim that this song was inspired by the radicalism of a young student leader Tariq Ali, who was active in revolutionary socialist politics in Britain in the late '60s. In an interview with the April 19, 2007 edition of the Galway Advertiser, Ali, who is now a writer and filmmaker, confirmed this. "Yes, its true. Jagger was/is an artist. He writes and sings what he wants."

In the UK, this wasn't released as a single until July, 1971.

Rod Stewart covered this on his 1973 album Sing It Again Rod. Rage Against The Machine covered this on their 2000 album Renegades. (thanks, rudi - melbourne, Australia)

Mick Jagger said in 1995: "I'm not sure if it really has any resonance for the present day. I don't really like it that much. I thought it was a very good thing at the time. There was all this violence going on. I mean, they almost toppled the government in France; De Gaulle went into this complete funk, as he had in the past, and he went and sort of locked himself in his house in the country. And so the government was almost inactive. And the French riot police were amazing. Yeah, it was a direct inspiration, because by contrast, London was very quiet." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)