Tumbling Dice
Rolling Stones Lyrics


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Wo Yeah! (Wo, wo)
Women think I'm tasty, but they're always tryin' to waste me
And make me burn the candle right down,
But baby, baby, I don't need no jewels in my crown.
Cause all you women is low down gamblers,
Cheatin' like I don't know how,
But baby, baby, there's fever in the funk house now.
This low down bitchin' got my poor feet a itchin',
Don't you know you know the duece is still wild.
Baby, I can't stay, you got to roll me
And call me the tumblin' dice.
Always in a hurry, I never stop to worry,
Don't you see the time flashin' by.
Honey, got no money,
I'm all sixes and sevens and nines.
Say now baby, I'm the rank outsider,
You can be my partner in crime.
But baby, I can't stay,
You got to roll me and call me the tumblin',
Roll me and call me the tumblin' dice.
Oh, my, my, my, I'm the lone crap shooter,
Playin' the field ev'ry night.
But baby, I can't stay,
You got to roll me and call me the tumblin' dice, (Call me the tumblin')
Got to roll me (yayes), Got to roll me, Got to roll me (Oh yeah)
Got to roll me
Got to roll me (yeah)
Got to roll me (Keep on rolling)
Got to roll me (Keep on rolling)
Got to roll me (Keep on rolling)
Got to roll me
My baby, call me the tumblin' dice, yeah
Got to roll me
Baby sweet as sugar (Got to roll me)
Yeah, my, my, my yeah (Got to roll me)
I went down baby, oh




Got to roll me (hit me)
Baby I'm down

Overall Meaning

The Rolling Stones' 1972 classic "Tumbling Dice" talks about the ups and downs of a womanizer's life. The singer loves the attention he receives from women, but he knows they will never be satisfied with having just him. They are always trying to "waste" him, or make him spend all his money and burn the candle at both ends. He doesn't need any "jewels in [his] crown" to be happy, he just wants the women to satisfy his needs. The singer knows that all the women are "low down gamblers" who cheat him, but there's a "fever" in him that's always drawn to these women. The singer is restless and always in a hurry, he never stops to worry about the consequences of his actions.


The second verse talks about his financial situation, where he has "no money" and is "all sixes and sevens and nines." He doesn't care about his financial situation as long as he can keep living his life the way he wants. He's a "rank outsider" who lives his life on the edge, and he wants someone to partner with him in this life of crime. However, he knows he can't stay with anyone and says, "you got to roll me and call me the tumblin' dice." He knows he's like a dice, rolling from one woman to another, with no plans of stopping anytime soon.


Overall, "Tumbling Dice" is a song about a man living a chaotic and restless life, always on the move, always rolling to the next adventure, and never settling down. The song speaks to that part of us that wants more from life, regardless of the consequences or the risks.


Line by Line Meaning

Wo Yeah! (Wo, wo)
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm.


Women think I'm tasty, but they're always tryin' to waste me
Women find me attractive, but they often try to use and manipulate me.


And make me burn the candle right down,
They exhaust me and use up all my energy and resources.


But baby, baby, I don't need no jewels in my crown.
I don't care about materialistic things or fame; I just want to live a simple life.


Cause all you women is low down gamblers,
Women are like gamblers, always taking risks and trying to come out on top.


Cheatin' like I don't know how,
They cheat and trick me, thinking I'm unaware of their tactics.


But baby, baby, there's fever in the funk house now.
Despite this, there's an exciting and energetic atmosphere now.


This low down bitchin' got my poor feet a itchin',
All this complaining is making me restless and uneasy.


Don't you know you know the duece is still wild.
You should know that the situation is still unpredictable and uncertain.


Baby, I can't stay, you got to roll me
I can't stick around, you need to keep me moving and going forward.


And call me the tumblin' dice.
Refer to me as the unpredictable and risky person that I am.


Always in a hurry, I never stop to worry,
I'm always moving quickly and focused on the next thing, I don't dwell on worries or regrets.


Don't you see the time flashin' by.
Time is flying by, and I need to keep moving to make the most of it.


Honey, got no money,
I don't have much money or wealth.


I'm all sixes and sevens and nines.
I'm in a state of confusion and disarray; nothing seems to make sense.


Say now baby, I'm the rank outsider,
I'm not part of the mainstream or popular crowd.


You can be my partner in crime.
You can join me and help me in my risky and adventuresome lifestyle.


But baby, I can't stay,
I can't stick around for long.


Got to roll me and call me the tumblin',
You need to keep me moving and refer to me as the unpredictable person that I am.


Oh, my, my, my, I'm the lone crap shooter,
I'm the one taking all the risks and gambling on the future.


Playin' the field ev'ry night.
I'm living a promiscuous and adventurous lifestyle, meeting new people all the time.


Got to roll me
I need to keep moving.


Baby sweet as sugar (Got to roll me)
You're as sweet as sugar, but I still need to keep moving.


Yeah, my, my, my yeah (Got to roll me)
Yes, I need to keep moving.


I went down baby, oh
I suffered a setback or failure.


Got to roll me (hit me)
I need to be pushed or motivated to keep moving forward.


Baby I'm down
I'm feeling sad or depressed.




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , EMI Music Publishing, SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@tommyc5606

One of the greatest opening riffs in rock history

@JDNJTX

No one opened a song like the Rolling Stones. They are the GOATS of the opening riff in my opinion.

@yourinnervoiceyourinnervoi8552

Another one!

@petermills542

One of the greatest SONGS in Rock history !! 😂❤️🎉

@gabrielablatakova6144

True!

@graciasjaco9895

Uno de los mejores guitarristas del rock and roll .. claro que si , de las mejores intros de la historia del rock!

@anthonyjohnson9403

Simply the best Stones song ever in my opinion. The lyrics are Hall of Fame and the music is one of a kind. Somehow it has a country feel, which, as a black man, I normally can't stomach. But here, not only can I stomach it. I crave it. Jagger. I'm all sixes and sevens and nines. And those background singers; got to roll me. This song is an all time cut

@user-yg6nm1cw1x

When the Stones were on, they were pretty tight ✌🏼♥️

@megadave1197

As a black man I can’t stand why not?

@brentwoodbergmann8842

If it was country I would know. My dentist used to play twangy country music out of a horrible little transistor radio when I was young kid. I had a lot of dental work done. Country music caused me pain for 35 plus years. Tumblin Dice has a healing effect.

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