Best Rolling Stones Songs
When You're Down and Out
By Frank Hamedl on 7 February 2017
"Music is an incredible power. It can do things and change people's minds,
change people's hearts, and they way they live" - Keith Richards
Life is just like a roller coaster -- there are many ups and downs. Everyone reaches a point in their life when their down and out, whether it is suffering from depression, anxiety, lost a best friend or someone you love, carrying immense pain, recently lost a loved one, or unsure about the future. Everyone has had a rough season in their life when it feels they reached rock bottom or defeated. When it feels like no one is there to help us through our darkest time, there is always one thing that will be there to comfort and heal us: the music of The Rolling Stones.
We tend to listen to songs based on our mood and feelings, and this list provides you with the top Rolling Stones songs to connect with you and help lift you up through the troubles you are facing. Enjoy this list and music, and always remember to not give up and make the best out of your current season in life. There is always hope and a future.
We tend to listen to songs based on our mood and feelings, and this list provides you with the top Rolling Stones songs to connect with you and help lift you up through the troubles you are facing. Enjoy this list and music, and always remember to not give up and make the best out of your current season in life. There is always hope and a future.
(All quotes are from Mick Jagger, unless noted)
"Sometimes you feel like trouble, sometimes you feel down.
But let this music relax your mind"
10. Soul Survivor - Exile on Main St.
"Soul Survivor" is the closing song on the 18 track epic Exile on Main St., which music critic Bill Janovitz calls "Exile is exactly what rock & roll should sound like" and "The single greatest rock & roll record of all time." Being at the tail end of the album, "Soul Survivor" often gets overlooked, being a deep-cut song. The song embodies the feeling and tone of Exile, which is depression, rejection, dreaming, and alienation.
The soul style in which Mick sings makes the lyrics cryptic. However, after analyzing the lyrics, "Soul Survivor" makes you feel alone and exiled at sea: "When the waters rough, the sailing is tough... You got a cut-throat crew... You got me packing my bags, I'll stowaway at sea." It seems like once again, the exile is caused by a former mistress that is doing better than himself: "When you're flying your flags, all my confidence sags... I got the bell bottom blues, It's gonna be the death of me."
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However, the biggest takeaway from this soul-rocking song is the simple line: "I'm a soul survivor." The message that whatever you are facing, even if you think it will be the death of you, you can make it though: and you will in fact be a soul survivor.
"I'm gonna sink under you, oh, I got the bell bottom blues ...
I'll stowaway at sea, yeah... You're gonna be the death of me... I'm a Soul Survivor"
9. Sweet Virginia - Exile on Main St.
Another hidden gem on Exile, "Sweet Virginia," perfectly blends soul, country, and blues. The dynamic of the song changes throughout, but listeners are drawn in immediately from the acoustic guitar and Mick's mystifying harmonica solo. The feeling perpetuated is the band hanging around a campfire, improving a country tune. Eventually, others begin to play, and Bobby Key's sax sneaks up like a snake into an energetic solo, before the chorus takes over into a soulful finale -- where you can hear the band clapping and having a grand old time recording this song.
While "Sweet Virginia" does have drug references, the opening lyrics paint a different picture of loneliness, trying to get through a tough time with no one to help: "Wadin' through the waste, stormy winter, and there's not a friend to help you through." However, the chorus sings numerously "come on down, honey child, you got it in ya, you got to scrape that sh*t right off your shoes." This line is easy to look over, and is quite comical, but it has a larger meaning.
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Scrapping the stuff right off your shoes refers to getting rid of the stuff that's not necessary, or if it is dragging your life down. Whether it is small junk, or on a larger scale, like a bad friend, a man or woman, place, thought, habit, state of mind, etc., get rid of it! Always remember, "you got it in ya!" You can do it!
"Wadin' through the waste, stormy winter, and there's not a friend to help you through...
Come on down, honey child, you got it in ya, you got to scrape that sh*t right off your shoes"
8. Streets of Love - A Bigger Bang
Released in 2005, just after The Stones celebrated their 40th anniversary, "Streets Of Love" never got the traction this power ballad deserved.
The main line "I walked the Streets of Love, and they're drenched with tears" fits perfects with their maturity, as they experienced many forms of love over the years, the pain associated with it from different women, and found the true meaning of love.
From Mick's first verse of the song, especially "I must admit, you broke my heart" he sings a dark purple mood and can feel his heart bleeding. He's even having a hard time processing the pain while observing others: "While lovers laugh and music plays, I stumble by and hide my pain." |
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Everyone experiences love in their life, and eventually, loosing that love and the pain associated with it. While we all have walked down the streets of love, the it is just one street on our life road, with many more streets and loves just ahead. Love is always worth the pain we might face.
"I must admit, you broke my heart. The awful truth is awful sad...
And I walked the Street of Love, and they're drenched with tears."
7. Moonlight Mile - Sticky Fingers
From the first strum of Mick's acoustic guitar, "Moonlight Mile" perfectly concludes Sticky Fingers and begins to set the tone and atmosphere for their next album Exile on Main St. While The Stones lived the essential fun rock and roll lifestyle, "Moonlight Mile" paints a black and white picture of loneliness on the road, as it seems the road of touring started to begin to take a toll on Mick.
The lyrics are somewhat mysterious, especially with the compelling line "the sound of strangers sending nothing to my mind," referring to the different interactions with strangers while on the road. Also commonly depicted is the depression of travel, including "I'm sleeping under strange strange skies," "My dreams is fading down the railway line" and "Don't the nights pass slow."
Throughout the song, "Moonlight Mile" commonly uses the phrase "road," which is refers not just travel on the road, but where you are on your road in life. |
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When listening, you can almost feel like you are on the road with Mick. The song is gracefully reordered, acting as one giant crescendo from the first beat until 4:02-4:20 where Mick declares "Yeah, I'm coming home! Cause I'm just about a moonlight mile on down the road, down the road!" After follows a gentle decrescendo into a rhythmic harmony finale that almost stops your breath and heart for a moment, while wrapping an elegant bow on Sticky Fingers.
Everyone has experienced a time when they feel the pain of loneliness when they are far from home -- whether it is your first time away in college, on a long business trip, or far away from someone you love and can't be with them. While on the journey through that season of your life, it may seem like you don't know what road in life you are going down, but once you return home (physically/emotionally/metaphorically), the reward is priceless.
Everyone has experienced a time when they feel the pain of loneliness when they are far from home -- whether it is your first time away in college, on a long business trip, or far away from someone you love and can't be with them. While on the journey through that season of your life, it may seem like you don't know what road in life you are going down, but once you return home (physically/emotionally/metaphorically), the reward is priceless.
"Don't the nights pass slow? The sound of strangers sending nothing to my mind.
Just another mad mad day on the road. I am just living to be lying by your side.
But I'm just about a Moonlight Mile on down the road."
6. Coming Down Again - Goats Head Soup
"Coming Down Again" might be Keith's finest vocal achievement in his career. Most of Keith's songs are hard rock and roll blues epics, but "Coming Down Again" is a lot slower and extremely melancholy. While some of the lyrics are purely sexual and crude, including "Being hungry ain't no crime," and the title can be referenced to Keith's hardcore drug abuse, the song has a much larger, emotional meaning.
The lyrics "Share your thoughts, there's nothing you can hide; She was dying to survive" showcases Keith loving a woman who seemed to lost everything, and begs for the answer to: "Where are all my friends?" This perfectly foreshadows when we feel like we lost everyone, all we search for is someone to comfort us.
"Coming Down Again" musically creates a mood distinct from most of their songs. With Keith taking lead vocals, Mick perfectly magnificently adds vocal harmony whispering "Skyfall down again," while Keith uses a wah-wah pedal that floats in the background shadow. |
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While we all come down again emotionally, and when it seems there's no one around, there will eventually be someone to lift us back up.
"Coming Down Again. Where are all my friends? ...
All my time's been spent, coming down again" - Keith Richards
5. Winter - Goats Head Soup
"Winter" is one of the most dominant soul songs post Exile on Main St. The lyrics surprisingly paint a clear story of love expressed through seasons: "A lotta love is all burned out out; It sure been a hard, hard winter; My feet been dragging cross the ground; And I hope it's gonna be a long, hot summer; And a lotta love will be burnin' bright... Sometimes I think about ya baby; Sometimes I cry about ya, Lord... Baby sometimes I wanna keep you warm, sometimes I wanna wrap my coat around ya." Mick has had a rough winter season after he can't be with his love for the winter time. He just wants to wrap his coat around and comfort her, but unfortunately, she's gone. Forwardly, he ultimately hopes for a summer full of love.
Through his forceful vocal performance, Mick truly portrays this soul feel by even sniffing like he has a cold, or holding back from weeping due to his pain (at 00:53, 1:49, 4:51). Accompanied by the sting arrangement and Mick Taylor's guitar licks, The Stones conceived a winter atmosphere that feels like you are in a gracious snow storm. "Winter" proves Mick is one of the best soul singers in the industry.
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Mick even features religious references, as he and he soulfully cries out "Lord" numerous times, and at 2:21 when he sobs "I've been burning my bell, book, and candle" -- noting Christian excommunication and going into exile.
Even though "Winter" describes getting though a tough winter, it is also an allusion to feelings represented during different seasons, as well as metaphorical seasons and trials in life. "Winter" reminds us even if we are in a dark and rough season, there is always hope that our next season will be bright and full of love.
Even though "Winter" describes getting though a tough winter, it is also an allusion to feelings represented during different seasons, as well as metaphorical seasons and trials in life. "Winter" reminds us even if we are in a dark and rough season, there is always hope that our next season will be bright and full of love.
"It sure been a hard, hard Winter, Lord; My feet been dragging cross the ground
... Oh, sometimes I cry about ya... Lord, I'm crying"
4. Out of Tears - Voodoo Lounge
"Out of Tears" is one of the best Stones songs post Some Girls, and one of their best ballads. Like previous songs, a somber mood is formed.
In "Out of Tears," Mick is suffering from another emotional breakup: "I can't feel, feel a thing; I can't shout, I can't scream; Breathe it out, breathe it in; All this love, from within." It appears he is totally shattered with immense trauma: "I won't drink, I won't eat, I can't hear, I won't speak; Let it out, let it in, all this pain, from within." He can survive through drifting and dreaming, but can't open his heart to anyone else because he feels like just a shadow.
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The lyrics are extremely depressing, gloomy, and heartbreaking, being lead by masterful Chuck Leavell's heart-stopping piano line, especially at 3:25. The title indicates that Mick is crushed, but is so emotionally hurt he can't physically cry, even though he wants to.
"Out of Tears" teaches us we must heal, even though how hard it might be. It can feel like death, but it will makes us stronger in our future.
"Out of Tears" teaches us we must heal, even though how hard it might be. It can feel like death, but it will makes us stronger in our future.
"All this pain from within, I just can't pour my heart out to another living thing;
I'm a whisper, I'm a shadow, but I'm standing up to sing:
I won't cry when you say goodbye, I'm Out of Tears"
3. As Tears Go By - December's Children (And Everybody's)
Being the first song ever wrote by The Glimmer Twins, "As Tears Go By" might be the band's most heartfelt and beautiful song.
Penned when Mick and Keith were just 20 years old, the song encompasses a surprisingly mature theme of getting old and looking back on life, while watching children grow old and loosing their innocence. "My riches can't buy everything; I want to hear the children sing; All I hear is the sound, of rain falling on the ground; I sit and watch as tears go by."
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As we all grow older by each day, sometimes we get caught up in life, and get caught off guard on how fast time goes by. Sometimes we just stop, see children growing up, and get reminded of the past when we were that young. We look back, and can't help but to smile and weep on all the good times and bad times from the past.
"It is the evening of the day, I sit and watch the children play;
Doing things I used to do, they think are new; I sit and watch, As Tears Go By."
2. Let it Loose - Exile on Main St.
Finishing this list are two of the best songs from Exile on Main St. -- and two of the best and underappreciated songs created by The Stones.
Being buried in the middle of Exile, "Let it Loose" is a sentimental gospel blues ballad that has a powerful religious church feel. It begins quietly by Keith's ghostly and mysterious guitar riff, followed by what is most likely Mick's best vocal achievement (particularly around 1:27, 1:55, 3:17, 4:33). By the climax of the song, you can hear the suffering in his voice, and can hear him letting go of the pain and breaking down.
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In the song, Mick seems like his is in a relationship that will undoubtedly end soon and crush his heart. However, it seems he does not want to loose her because he is lonely and always provides for him. Now, he is ready to turn off the relationship and experience all the pain associated with it: "Hide the switch and shut the light, let it all come down tonight."
While "Let it Loose" displays the emotional pain of a failed relationship and loneliness, it remains one of The Stones most alluring and soothing songs that can easily relax ones soul. (For a bootleg instrumental version, click here)
While "Let it Loose" displays the emotional pain of a failed relationship and loneliness, it remains one of The Stones most alluring and soothing songs that can easily relax ones soul. (For a bootleg instrumental version, click here)
"In the bar you're getting drunk, oh yeah yeah; Ain't in love, ain't in luck, oh no no no;
Keep those tears hid out of sight; Lord, Let it Loose, let it all come down"
1. Rocks Off - Exile on Main St.
"Rocks Off" is the pure definition of rock and roll and the essence of Exile on Main St. Being one of the most unique songs created by The Stones, "Rocks Off" musically creates the feeling that you're in a 4 minute and 32 second dream. Mick's vocals are buried in a murky environment full of multiple guitar, bass, drum, piano, saxophone, and trumpet lines, and occasionally a moving part will sneak up through the thick water. Listeners need numerous repeated listening's to hear all the different lines featured in the tract. Now after 45 years, new guitar riffs, piano, and saxophone lines are still even being discovered. Listen to the song a few times, especially at the glorious climax (3:35 - end), and each time focus on a different area: once on Mick's lyrics, then the guitar parts, piano and brass lines. (For a bootleg instrumental version, click here)
It is hard to decipher Mick's ambiguous and spooky lyrics, but when decoded, you can hear about the struggles and hardships of life. Mick here is facing extreme loneliness: "I hear you talk when I'm on the street; your mouth don't move, but I can't hear you speak... And I'm always hearing voices on the street, I want to shout but I can't hardly speak." It seems anxious as someone important to him will leave his life: "What's the matter with the boy? He don't come around no more, is he checking out for sure? Is he gonna close the door on me?"
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Pre-Exile, The Stones was noted for the fun rock and roll songs, but here, they reveal the darker side of life and struggles with depression. The lyrics deflect a heartfelt, bleeding, wounded Mick.
While the name rocks off refers to sexual pleasure, the true meaning is through the hard moments, sometimes we can only enjoy life through dreaming and sleeping. In life, we all struggle in the shadows on the streets. But in the mix of suffering, "Rocks Off," Exile on Main St., and the music of The Rolling Stones remind us of hope, to proper into our future, that we are not alone, and to always keep on rocking and rolling.
While the name rocks off refers to sexual pleasure, the true meaning is through the hard moments, sometimes we can only enjoy life through dreaming and sleeping. In life, we all struggle in the shadows on the streets. But in the mix of suffering, "Rocks Off," Exile on Main St., and the music of The Rolling Stones remind us of hope, to proper into our future, that we are not alone, and to always keep on rocking and rolling.
"The sunshine bores the daylights out of me; chasing shadows, moonlight mystery.
Headed for the overload, splattered on the dirty road;
Kick me like you kicked before, I can't even feel the pain no more.
But I only get my Rocks Off while I'm dreaming."
Honorable mentions
With hundreds of songs to choose from, there are many songs that deserve an honorable mention. If you liked the songs on this list, check out these awesome Stones songs as well:
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"Let there be hope, hope in your heart"
"Keep on rolling, keep on rolling..."
Written by Frank Hamedl. Last page update: 2/5/17