Most Controversial Rollling Stones Songs
By Frank Hamedl on 18 April 2017
"I know, it's only Rock n' Roll, but I like it, like it, yes I do"
Yes, it might only be rock and roll, but unfortunately, not everyone loves it. Over the past 55 years, The Stones have created some controversy with some of their rebellious drug and sex filled actions, and some of their song lyrics. With lyrics causing songs to bet banned, censored, and outcry from groups, The Stones created dozens of songs that have cemented a special place in music history that will never be forgotten, and the definition of the bad boys of rock and roll. Enjoy this list of the best and most controversial Rolling Stones songs!
Please note: Use caution, as this page contains lyrics that may offend some readers.
Please note: Use caution, as this page contains lyrics that may offend some readers.
(All quotes are from Mick Jagger, unless noted)
"Start me up! ...
Cause you, you, you make a grown man cry;
You, you make a dead man cum"
10. Let's Spend the Night Together - Between the Buttons
Starting off this list, "Let's Spend the Night Together" is a classic Stones songs from 1967 and was one of the earliest Stones songs to get banned.
When appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, The Stones were asked not to play "Let's Spend the Night Together." But, since The Stones never listen to authority, they still did anyways after a compromise, but changing the melody to "let's spend some time together," and after came out dressed as Nazi's.
This act got The Stones banned from the show, and eventually the song was banned from the BBC, and they were prevented from playing it in China during the Bigger Bang tour. |
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This controversy makes sense, as the lyrics describe crude sexual interactions with a girl: "I'm going red and my tongue's getting tired, I'm off my head and my mouth's getting dry... I'll satisfy your every need, and now I know you will satisfy me." While the lyrics are crude, they were considered atrocious in the 60's public sphere. Nonetheless, fun rock and roll music style of "Let's Spend the Night Together" makes the lyrics almost ambiguous, and showcases what true love feels like.
" Let's spend the night together, now I need you more than ever;
You know I'm smiling baby"
9. Honky Tonk Women
Our next song, "Honky Tonk Women," was also banned in China when The Stones toured there in 2006, as well as from numerous radio stations. Starting with its famous cowbell line, "Honky Tonk Women" is easily one of the best and most iconic Stones songs, as it perfectly creates a country bar feel in Tennessee and Mississippi: "I met a gin soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis, She tired to take me upstairs for a ride... Cause I just can't seem to drink you off my mind."
The song is known ironically as originally being "Country Honk," a 1930's country style song, before becoming known as its distinctive version.
"Honky Tonk Women" is famous for its live visuals, especially during the 1980's when fake giant naked inflatable women starred on stage, as well as animated naked women in the 2000's and 2010's.
Without a doubt, "Honky Tonk Women" is the pure definition of blues rock n' roll.
"Honky Tonk Women" is famous for its live visuals, especially during the 1980's when fake giant naked inflatable women starred on stage, as well as animated naked women in the 2000's and 2010's.
Without a doubt, "Honky Tonk Women" is the pure definition of blues rock n' roll.
"The lady then she covered me with roses, She blew my nose and then she blew my mind.
It's the honky tonk women; Gimme, gimme, gimme the honky tonk blues."
8. Let it Bleed - Let it Bleed
The first Stones song to share the name of its album, "Let it Bleed" is a commonly overlooked track on the fabulous album. The song starts with a lazy country-blues feel with Bill Wyman's autoharp ghostly and mysteriously floating in the background, which helps overshadow the sexual lyrics depicted:
The song refers to the importance of always having someone to lean on for emotional support. While it's lyrics are pure and graphic, it uses sexual references to paint beautiful symbolism.
"Well, we all need someone we can lean on
And if you want it, you can lean on me...
Cause I was dreaming of a steel guitar engagement"
7. Little T&A - Tattoo You
Next on our list is the iconic Keith hard rocker "Little T&A" - a bad-ass song that perfectly represents Keith's essence and lifestyle.
The song, which has a Chuck Berry rockabilly feel, is simply about Keith's encounters as a rock star, however, could be viewed as degrading women and using them a sexual please. This can be understood with the lyrics "she's my little rock and roll, tits and ass with soul, baby... you got to shock and show them... Ah, the little bitch got soul." However, Keith is using his crude lyrics to describe a beautiful woman, who makes his "juice keep pumping."
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"Little T&A" is a superb example on Keith's view of authority: "If you're going to kick authority in the teeth, you might as well use two feet."
"She's my little rock and roll;
Tits and ass with soul, baby"
6. Sparks Will Fly - Voodoo Lounge
During the Voodoo Lounge era, The Stones entered a hard rock phase with some intense, crazy songs including, "Sparks Will Fly."
Upon initial listening, the songs simply seems like Mick reuniting with an old lover: "I had a good sniff around, along old hunting grounds, but I have never found a woman so hot, sparks will fly when I finally get myself back on you, baby." However, the lyrics are a lot more descriptive, and refer to reuniting for something darker: "You'd better grease up, I'm coming back.. You'd better shape up, you'd better get set.. I'm gonna step on the gas, I wanna get there real fast, I want to f**k your sweet a**." Clearly, sparks are flying from their physical actions, not from their chemistry.
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Its surprising The Stones produced a song like "Sparks Will Fly," however it proves even more how they are the bad boys of rock n' roll.
"I'm gonna step on the gas, I wanna get there real fast,
I wanna f**k your sweet a**
Sparks Will Fly, sharks will cry"
5. I Go Wild - Voodoo Lounge
Another highlight from Voodoo Lounge is the explosive hard rocker "I Go Wild." Like an unofficial squeal homage to Some Girls, "I Go Wild" discusses women in a negative image, as Mick has gotten screwed over by a seductive femme fatale woman.
Mick is in immense pain from this woman: "You whipped me, I'm hurting... Is this what I get? A poison kiss?" He eventually enters a hospital where he is "on life support, tubes in my nose, tubes in my arms, shot full of holes," and gets prescribed the ultimate antidote: "And the doctors says you'll be okay, and if you'd only stay away from: Femme fatales and dirty bitches, and daylight drabs and nighttime witches; And working girls and blue stockings, and dance hall babes and body poppers; And waitresses with broken noses, checkout girls striking poses; And politicians' garish wives, with alcoholic c**ts like knives."
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While these lyrics are offensive to women, it portrays their skill at lyric writing after many painful relationships, since at one point, everyone gets mistreated and killed with pain from a relationship.
"With alcoholic c**ts like knives...
I go wild, I go insane
I get sick - somebody stop this pain"
4. Under My Thumb - Aftermath
Next, when first released, the classic soft rocker "Under My Thumb" threw controversy from many radical feminist groups.
The song is believed to be about a misogynist who dominates women. He is in control, as she is under his thumb and is a "squirming dog," "A Siamese cat of a girl" who is "the sweetest pet in the world," because "The way she talks when she's spoken to, down to me, the change has come, she's under my thumb - take it easy babe."
However, in an interview, Mick refuted these claims: "It's a bit of a jokey number, really. It's not really an anti-feminist song any more than any of the others... It's in reply to a girl who was a very pushy woman." Regardless, its just good old rock n' roll. |
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Besides the lyric debate, the song gained more controversy in 1969 during the famous Altamont concert when a fan was stabbed to death by a Hells Angels member. While the song possibly degrades women, the next songs are far worse.
"She's Under My Thumb - Ain't it the truth babe?"
3. Some Girls - Some Girls
Finishing off this list are the some of the most controversial songs in rock history. The iconic "Some Girls" caused a lot of uproar from Civil Rights and Feminist Groups from the crude lyrics pertaining that 'some girls' give Mick money, cloths, jewelry, diamonds, heart attacks, children, etc.
The song perfectly analyzes and mocks different stereotypes and demographics of women: "French girls they want Cartier, Italian girls want cars, American girls want everything in the world you can possibly imagine! English girls they're so prissy... White girls they're pretty funny, sometimes they drive me mad, black girls just wanna get f**ked all night, but I just don't have that much jam. Chinese girls are so gentle, they're really such a tease... So give me all your money, give me all your gold, I'll buy ya house at Zumba beach and give you half of what I own." The song was designed to be a parody, and is in-fact pretty comedic.
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As the album shows, The Stones had years of frustration with relationships and divorces. While offensive, the song should not be taken seriously. Mick even once said in regards to the song: "If you can't take a joke, it's too f**king bad."
"Some Girls they're so pure, some girls so corrupt,
Some Girls give me children - I only made love to her once!
But give me half your money, give me half your car!
Give me half of everything."
2. Star Star - Goats Head Soup
Speaking of explicit lyrics, "Star Star" showcases The Stones having no filter, singing "f**k" approximately 57 times throughout the song.
The Chuck Berry influenced rocker was even originally titled "starf**ker" since it deals with groups who love to have sex with celebrates. It features obscene lyrics portraying to various sexual acts including: "Your tricks with fruit was kinda cute - I bet you keep your pu**y clean... If I ever get back to New York girl, I'm gonna make you scream all night... Ali McGraw got mad with you for givin' head to Steve McQueen... I'll make bets that you're gonna get John Wayne before he dies. "
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This song was obviously banned by the BBC and numerous other radio stations. However, it is most known for when played live in the 1970's giant a giant inflatable penis would appear on stage... The 70's in-fact were a wild time for The Stones.
"Your tricks with fruit was kinda cute -
I bet you keep your pu**y clean...
Cause you're a star fu**ker, star fu**ker..."
1. Brown Sugar - Sticky Fingers
Without a doubt of hesitation, the most controversial Rolling Stones song is easily the infamous "Brown Sugar."
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Recorded in December 1969, Mick wrote the lyrics for it in under an hour with inspiration from Freddy Cannon's "Tallahassee Lassie," which The Stones later covered perfectly during the Some Girls era. It features an intense Keith guitar line and a powerful Bobby Keys sax solo. Later, an outtake was recorded with the legendary Eric Clapton, and eventually the song was banned in China due its obscene content. In the song, Brown Sugar does not refer to heroin, which is also termed 'brown sugar' - it refers to something much worse. The setting is slaves shipped from Africa to New Orleans to be rapped by white masters: "Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields, sold in the market down in New Orleans; Scarred old slaver knows he's doing alright; hear him whip the women just around midnight... Drums beating, cold English blood runs hot, lady of the house wondering where it's gonna stop; House boy knows he;s doing alright, you should've heard him just around midnight... Now I bet your mama was a tent show queen, and all her boyfriends were sweet sixteen; I'm no schoolboy but I know what I like, you should've hear me just around midnight..."
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The content for the song is extremely serious, as raping slaves is a pretty dark topic. However, The Stones present it as a fun hard blues-rock song. It became an instant #1 hit single and landed on Rolling Stone magazine's '500 greatest songs of all time' and number 5 on their 'greatest guitar songs of all time.' Despite its subject matter and controversy, "Brown Sugar" is one of the best songs ever recorded and defines The Rolling Stones as "The Greatest Rock N' Roll Band in the World."
"Brown Sugar, how come you taste so good?
Brown Sugar, just like a young girl should."
Honorable mentions:
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"Oh no, not you again, f**king up my life"
"It must be love - it's a bitch"