I
guess readers here remember I’m a Rolling Stones fan when it comes to rock
music. I decided to play the Rolling
Stones’ Some Girls album on my ipod,
a truly great album, but one of the album songs is “Beast of Burden.”
Wikipedia has an interesting background to the song.
Jagger says,
"Lyrically, this wasn't particularly heartfelt in a personal way. It's a
soul begging song, an attitude song. It was one of those where you get one
melodic lick, break it down and work it up; there are two parts here which are
basically the same." The song can be seen as allegorical, with Richards
saying in 2003, "When I returned to the fold after closing down the
laboratory [referring to his drug problems throughout the 1970s], I came back
into the studio with Mick... to say, 'Thanks, man, for shouldering the burden'
- that's why I wrote "Beast of Burden" for him, I realise in
retrospect."
Man,
if this isn’t perfection when it comes to rock and roll, I don’t know what
is. The bluesy melody, the wonderful
interweaving guitars, the lyrics of song of male insecurity, and Mick Jagger’s lamentation
filled vocals. Here’s what Wikipedia
says about the composition.
"Beast of
Burden" was recorded from October–December 1977. Although basic lyrics
were written before the Stones entered the studio, many of the lyrics on the
recording were improvised by Jagger to fit with the smooth running guitars of
Richards and Ronnie Wood. Characteristically, Richards and Wood trade off
rolling, fluid licks. Neither is really playing lead or rhythm guitar; they
both slip in and out, one playing high while the other is low. The song is
another famed Some Girls song that features each band member playing his
respective instrument without any outside performers; both Richards and Wood
play acoustic and electric guitars, with Wood performing the solo.
You
just cannot beat this.
Here
are the lyrics, with credit to Keno’s Rolling Stones Web Site.
BEAST
OF BURDEN
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
I'll never be your beast
of burden
My back is broad but it's
a hurting
All I want is for you to
make love to me
I'll never be your beast
of burden
I've walked for miles my
feet are hurting
All I want is for you to
make love to me
Am I hard enough
Am I rough enough
Am I rich enough
I'm not too blind to see
I'll never be your beast
of burden
So let's go home and draw
the curtains
Music on the radio
Come on baby make sweet
love to me
Am I hard enough
Am I rough enough
Am I rich enough
I'm not too blind to see
Oh little sister
Pretty, pretty, pretty,
pretty, girl
You're a pretty, pretty,
pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girl
Pretty, pretty
Such a pretty, pretty,
pretty girl
Come on baby please,
please, please
I'll tell ya
You can put me out
On the street
Put me out
With no shoes on my feet
But, put me out, put me
out
Put me out of misery
Yeah, all your sickness
I can suck it up
Throw it all at me
I can shrug it off
There's one thing baby
That I don't understand
You keep on telling me
I ain't your kind of man
Ain't I rough enough, ooh
baby
Ain't I tough enough
Ain't I rich enough, in
love enough
Ooh! Ooh! Please
I'll never be your beast
of burden
I'll never be your beast
of burden
Never, never, never,
never, never, never, never be
I don't need no beast of
burden
I need no fussing
I need no nursing
Never, never, never,
never, never, never, never be
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