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Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.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)
32/20 Blues
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none
And if she gets unruly, thinks she don't wan' do
If she gets unruly and thinks she don't wan' do
Take my 32-20, now, and cut her half in two
She got a .38 special but I believe it's most too light
I got a 32-20, got to make the caps alright
If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none
I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gonna shoot my gatling gun
I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gotta shoot my gatling gun
You made me love you, now your man have come
Ah-oh, baby, where you stayed last night?
Ah-ah, baby, where you stayed last night?
You got your hair all tangled and you ain't talking right
Her .38 special, boys, it do very well
Her .38 special, boys, it do very well
I got a 32-20 now, and it's a-burning
If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
If I send for my baby, man, and she don't come
All the doctors in Wisconsin sure can't help her none
Hey, hey, baby, where you stayed last night?
Hey, hey, baby, where you stayed last night?
You didn't come home until the sun was shining bright
Ah-oh boy, I just can't take my rest
Ah-oh boy, I just can't take my rest
With this 32-20 laying up and down my breast
"32-20 Blues" is a blues song by the Rolling Stones that was originally written and recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936. The lyrics describe the frustrations of the singer in trying to get his woman to come back to him. The opening line of the song, "If I send for my baby, and she don't come," sets the tone for the rest of the song, which features the singer using violent imagery and references to firearms to express his frustration.
The song's title refers to the .32-20 Winchester rifle cartridge, which was commonly used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The singer asserts that his 32-20 is more powerful and effective than his woman's .38 special. He threatens to use his gun to "cut her half in two" if she gets "unruly." The song ends with the singer declaring that he can't rest with his 32-20 "laying up and down my breast."
The song's lyrics have been interpreted in various ways, with some seeing it as a straightforward expression of domestic violence and others seeing it as a metaphor for the challenges of relationships in general. The Rolling Stones' version of "32-20 Blues" features a driving rhythm and Keith Richards' signature guitar work.
Line by Line Meaning
If I send for my baby, and she don't come
Despite my efforts to summon my beloved, she has failed to respond.
All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none
Even the most skilled medical professionals in the area would be unable to cure her ailment.
If she gets unruly, thinks she don't wan' do
In the event that my loved one becomes uncooperative and refuses to comply.
Take my 32-20, now, and cut her half in two
I will resort to violence and use my firearm to intimidate her into submission.
She got a .38 special but I believe it's most too light
My lover possesses a weapon as well, but I consider it to be inadequate for our situation.
I got a 32-20, got to make the caps alright
I am preparing my own firearm for use and must ensure that it is in optimal condition.
I'm gonna shoot my pistol, gonna shoot my gatling gun
I am prepared to use deadly force and unleash a barrage of bullets on my intended target.
You made me love you, now your man have come
My infatuation with you has led me to this confrontation with your current partner.
Ah-oh, baby, where you stayed last night?
I am suspicious of your recent activities and want to know where you have been.
You got your hair all tangled and you ain't talking right
Your disheveled appearance and incoherence only fuel my doubts and mistrust.
Her .38 special, boys, it do very well
Despite my reservations, my lover's weapon is still quite effective.
I got a 32-20 now, and it's a-burning
My desire to use my firearm is growing and intensifying, urging me to take action.
All the doctors in Wisconsin sure can't help her none
Even if we were to seek medical assistance from another area, her condition remains beyond cure.
Hey, hey, baby, where you stayed last night?
My suspicions and distrust linger, prompting me to question your whereabouts once again.
You didn't come home until the sun was shining bright
Your absence was unnaturally prolonged and raises further questions about your fidelity.
Ah-oh boy, I just can't take my rest
The stress of this situation is taking a toll on my mental and emotional state, preventing me from finding peace.
With this 32-20 laying up and down my breast
The weight of my firearm serves as a constant reminder of the violent confrontation that may soon occur.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: ROBERT JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Exile Stones
I believe this recording is from the 1978 Dallas Rehearsals.