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Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.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)
AllDownTheLine
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, heard the wires a humming all down the line
Yeah, hear the women sighing all down the line
Oh, hear the children crying all down the line
(All down the line)
We'll be watching out for trouble, yeah
(All down the line)
(All down the line)
Well, you can't say yes and you can't say no
Just be right there when the whistle blows
She's a sanctified girl with a sanctified mind to help me now
Yeah, all the people singing all down the line
Mmmm, watch the men all working, working, yeah
(All down the line)
(All down the line)
And we'll open up the throttle yeah
(All down the line)
Bust another bottle, yeah
(All down the line)
Need a shot of salvation, baby, once in a while
Hear the whistle blowing, hear it for a thousand miles
(All down the line)
We're gonna open up the throttle, yeah
(All down the line)
We're gonna bust bust bust another bottle, yeah
Well you can't say yes, and you can't say no
Just be right there when the whistle blows
I need a sanctified mind to help me out right now
Be my little baby for a while
Won't you be my little baby for a while?
Won't you be my little baby for a while?
Won't you be my little baby for a while?
Won't you be my angel oh my darling girl
"All Down the Line" by The Rolling Stones is a song about the joys of being on the road, traveling from town to town, and living the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. The lyrics depict the sounds and sights one would experience while traveling on a train, from the diesel engine drumming to the humming of the wires passing by. The women sighing and children crying could be interpreted as the fans and the excitement of the crowd waiting for the band to arrive in the next town. The song's chorus serves as a warning to watch out for trouble and keep the motor running, as well as an invitation to live in the moment and enjoy the ride.
The second verse emphasizes the working class lifestyle, as the men toil away while the band enjoys their rock star status. However, the song implies that they are all united by the sound of the train and the anticipation of reaching their destination. The call for a shot of salvation reveals the underlying tensions and stresses that come with life on the road, and the need for some relief.
Overall, "All Down the Line" is a celebration of living the rock 'n' roll lifestyle and all the experiences that come with it, whether good or bad. It emphasizes the importance of being in the moment, watching out for trouble, and living life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, heard the diesel drumming all down the line
I heard the sound of an approaching train, the diesel engine drumming a steady beat as it makes its way down the tracks.
Oh, heard the wires a humming all down the line
I heard the sound of the electrical wires above, the humming growing louder and more intense as the train approaches.
Yeah, hear the women sighing all down the line
The women nearby let out audible sighs as the train rolls on, perhaps due to the excitement of travel or the sadness of parting.
Oh, hear the children crying all down the line
Children cry as the train travels on, perhaps overwhelmed by the experience or upset by the separation it represents.
(All down the line)
We'll be watching out for trouble, yeah
Throughout the journey, we will remain vigilant and prepared for any danger or difficulty that may arise.
(All down the line)
And we keep the motor running, yeah
We will keep the train's engine running smoothly and steadily throughout the journey.
(All down the line)
Well, you can't say yes and you can't say no
Just be right there when the whistle blows
Uncertainty surrounds us, but we must be ready to take action when the train signal sounds.
She's a sanctified girl with a sanctified mind to help me now
I'm relying on my partner, who is pure and virtuous, to guide me through this uncertain time.
Yeah, all the people singing all down the line
The joy of travel is infectious, and people all along the train line join in song as the train passes.
Mmmm, watch the men all working, working, yeah
(All down the line)
We can see the workers who keep the train running smoothly, their tireless efforts supporting us as we journey on.
(All down the line)
And we'll open up the throttle yeah
(All down the line)
Bust another bottle, yeah
We will increase the train's speed and enjoy a celebratory drink along the way.
Need a shot of salvation, baby, once in a while
Hear the whistle blowing, hear it for a thousand miles
We may need some help along the way, but the sound of the train whistle carries for miles, a reminder of our steady progress.
(All down the line)
We're gonna open up the throttle, yeah
(All down the line)
We're gonna bust bust bust another bottle, yeah
We will continue to increase our speed and celebrate as we journey along the train line.
Well you can't say yes, and you can't say no
Just be right there when the whistle blows
I need a sanctified mind to help me out right now
We must remain flexible and ready to act, relying on the guidance of someone pure and virtuous to help us through.
Be my little baby for a while
Won't you be my little baby for a while?
Won't you be my little baby for a while?
Won't you be my little baby for a while?
Won't you be my angel oh my darling girl
As we journey on, I seek comfort and companionship from those around me, calling out to someone I love to come to me and be my 'little baby' or 'angel' for a time.
Lyrics © Abkco 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..