Rooted in blues and early rock and roll, the Rolling Stones started out playing covers and were at the forefront of the British Invasion in 1964, becoming identified with the youthful and rebellious counterculture of the 1960s. They then found greater success with their own material, as "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965), "Get Off of My Cloud" (1965), and "Paint It Black" (1966) became international number-one hits. Aftermath (1966) – their first entirely original album – is considered by The Daily Telegraph to be the most important of their formative records. In 1967, they had the double-sided hit "Ruby Tuesday"/"Let's Spend the Night Together" and experimented with psychedelic rock on Their Satanic Majesties Request. They returned to their rhythm and blues roots with hit songs such as "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1968) and "Honky Tonk Women" (1969), and albums such as Beggars Banquet (1968), featuring "Sympathy for the Devil", and Let It Bleed (1969), featuring "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Gimme Shelter". Let It Bleed was the first of five consecutive number-one albums in the UK.
Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor. That year they were first introduced on stage as "The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World". Sticky Fingers (1971), which yielded "Brown Sugar" and included the first usage of their tongue and lips logo, was their first of eight consecutive number-one studio albums in the US. Exile on Main St. (1972), featuring "Tumbling Dice", and Goats Head Soup (1973), yielding the hit ballad "Angie", were also best sellers. Taylor was replaced by Ron Wood in 1974. The band continued to release successful albums, including their two largest sellers: Some Girls (1978), featuring "Miss You", and Tattoo You (1981), featuring "Start Me Up". Steel Wheels (1989) was widely considered a comeback album and was followed by Voodoo Lounge (1994), a worldwide number-one album. Both releases were promoted by large stadium and arena tours, as the Stones continued to be a huge concert attraction; by 2007 they had recorded the all-time highest-grossing concert tour three times, and as recently as 2021 they were the highest-earning live act of the year. From Wyman's departure in 1993 to Watts' death in 2021, the band continued as a four-piece core, with Darryl Jones playing bass on tour and on most studio recordings, while Steve Jordan became their touring drummer following Watts' death. Their 2016 album, Blue & Lonesome, became their twelfth UK number-one album.
The Rolling Stones' estimated record sales of 200 million make them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The band has won three Grammy Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. Billboard magazine and Rolling Stone have ranked the band as one of the greatest of all time.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones
Studio albums
The Rolling Stones / England's Newest Hit Makers (1964)
12 X 5 (1964)
The Rolling Stones No. 2 / The Rolling Stones, Now! (1965)
Out of Our Heads (1965)
December's Children (And Everybody's) (1965)
Aftermath (1966)
Between the Buttons (1967)
Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)
Beggars Banquet (1968)
Let It Bleed (1969)
Sticky Fingers (1971)
Exile on Main St. (1972)
Goats Head Soup (1973)
It's Only Rock 'n Roll (1974)
Black and Blue (1976)
Some Girls (1978)
Emotional Rescue (1980)
Tattoo You (1981)
Undercover (1983)
Dirty Work (1986)
Steel Wheels (1989)
Voodoo Lounge (1994)
Bridges to Babylon (1997)
A Bigger Bang (2005)
Blue & Lonesome (2016)
Hackney Diamonds (2023)
*Black Angel
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a pin up girl
Got a sweet black angel
Up upon my wall
Well, she ain't no singer
And she ain't no star
But she sure talk good
But the gal in danger
Yeah, de gal in chains
But she keep on pushin'
Would ya take her place?
She countin' up de minutes
Countin' up de days
She's a sweet black angel, whoa
Not a sweet black slave
Ten little niggers
Sittin' on de wall
Her brothers been a fallin'
Fallin' one by one
For a judge they murdered
And a judge they stole
Now de judge he gonna judge her
For all dat he's a worth
Well de gal in danger
De gal in chains
And she keep on pushin'
Would you do the same?
She countin' up de minutes
She countin' up de days
She's a sweet black angel
Not a gun toting teacher
Not a Red lovin' school mom
Ain't someone gonna free her
Free de sweet black slave
Free de sweet black slave
Free de sweet black slave
Free de sweet black slave
The Rolling Stones' Sweet Black Angel, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, is a politically charged song about Angela Davis, a young African American activist and communist, who was arrested in 1970 on charges of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder. Davis, a prominent member of the Black Panther Party and the Communist Party USA, became a symbol of the struggle for civil rights and political justice. The lyrics of Sweet Black Angel reflect the tension and outrage surrounding her arrest and the injustice of the legal system in America.
The song is a powerful ode to Davis, who is described as a "sweet black angel" and a "gal in danger." The chorus repeats lines that make her out to be a heroic figure, counting up the days she has been behind bars but still pushing forward in her quest for justice. The metaphor of the 10 little niggers sitting on the wall refers to the 1963 children's rhyme "Ten Little Indians" (now known as "Ten Little Soldiers"), which features a similar counting structure but with a much darker meaning. The reference to the judge who was murdered (as well as stole) is likely a reference to the killing of Judge Harold Haley in a 1970 attempt to free Davis's then-boyfriend, George Jackson.
Through its lyrics, Sweet Black Angel becomes a song of protest against the racist judicial system and a call to action for those fighting for civil rights and political justice. While Davis was ultimately acquitted of all charges, the song stands as a powerful reminder of the struggle for equality and the power of music to inspire change.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a sweet black angel
I have a beautiful black woman in my life who I adore.
Got a pin up girl
I have a poster of a beautiful woman hanging on my wall.
Up upon my wall
The poster is hanging on my wall.
Well, she ain't no singer
She may not be famous or have a famous voice, but she is beautiful and intriguing.
And she ain't no star
She may not be a celebrity, but she is still amazing.
But she sure talk good
She is articulate and communicates effectively.
And she move so fast
She is quick-witted and can think on her feet.
But the gal in danger
The black woman is in peril and at risk.
Yeah, de gal in chains
The black woman is being held captive or restrained.
But she keep on pushin'
Despite the danger she faces, she remains strong and eager to fight.
Would ya take her place?
If you were in her shoes, would you be just as brave and fight for your freedom?
She countin' up de minutes
She is aware of the time passing and hopes to be freed soon.
Countin' up de days
She is keeping track of how long she has been held captive, eager for her freedom.
She's a sweet black angel, whoa
The black woman is a precious and special being who deserves to be free.
Not a sweet black slave
She is not a possession to be owned or controlled by anyone.
Ten little niggers
A reference to the children's counting rhyme, but with an offensive word for black people.
Sittin' on de wall
The people in question are sitting on a wall or somehow trapped.
Her brothers been a fallin'
Her family members and friends have been hurt or killed by systemic racism and hate.
Fallin' one by one
The harm and violence against black individuals is continuous and devastating.
For a judge they murdered
Black people have been unjustly arrested and murdered by the police and legal system.
And a judge they stole
The system has been corrupt and unfair toward black individuals for far too long.
Now de judge he gonna judge her
The woman is about to face trial and could be sentenced unfairly due to systemic racism in the law.
For all dat he's a worth
The judge may be biased and prejudiced against black individuals, making him worthless as a judge.
Ain't someone gonna free her
Where is the justice and freedom for black individuals who have been oppressed and marginalized for far too long?
Free de sweet black slave
It's time to free black individuals from the systemic racism and oppression that they have suffered for centuries.
Free de sweet black slave
Freedom for black people must be a priority in society.
Free de sweet black slave
Only then will justice be served and systemic racism be eradicated.
Free de sweet black slave
It's time to end the institutionalized oppression and racism that black people have suffered in America.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Greg Halder
on 2000 Light Years From Home
Totally underrated track and album..