All The Way Down
The Rolling Stones Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, heard the diesel drumming all down the line
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)
And we keep the motor running, yeah
(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

Overall Meaning

The Rolling Stones song "All Down the Line" is a bluesy track that is full of energy and excitement. The lyrics are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The song starts off with the sound of a diesel engine drumming down the line, setting the tone for what is to come. The wires are humming, and the women are sighing while the children are crying. The singer is aware that trouble might come their way, but they keep the motor running and stay prepared.


The song seems to be about life on the road and the dangers that come with it. The people are singing, and the men are working as they move down the line. They open up the throttle and bust another bottle, looking for salvation and hoping to hear the whistle blowing for a thousand miles. The singer needs someone with a sanctified mind to help them out during this journey, and they ask their special someone to be their little baby for a while.


The lyrics in "All Down the Line" seem to be about resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. The imagery of the diesel engine and humming wires creates a sense of chaos that is quickly subdued by the singer's determination. The song is full of energy and excitement, and it highlights the band's ability to capture the intensity of rock and roll.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, heard the diesel drumming all down the line
I heard the sound of the train engine running all along the track


Oh, heard the wires a humming all down the line
I heard the sound of the electrical wires buzzing all along the track


Yeah, hear the women sighing all down the line
I hear the sound of women expressing sadness or desire all along the track


Oh, hear the children crying all down the line
I hear the sound of children expressing distress or discomfort all along the track


(All down the line) We'll be watching out for trouble, yeah
We'll be alert and cautious to prevent problems all along the track


(All down the line) And we keep the motor running, yeah
We keep the engine of the train running all along the track


(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
You can't make a decision, just be present when the signal sounds. There's a pure-hearted girl I hope will assist me now.


Yeah, all the people singing all down the line
I hear the sound of people singing all along the track


Mmmm, watch the men all working, working, yeah (All down the line)
I observe the men working hard all along the track


(All down the line) And we'll open up the throttle yeah (All down the line) Bust another bottle, yeah (All down the line)
We'll increase speed and celebrate with drinks all along the track


Need a shot of salvation, baby, once in a while Hear the whistle blowing, hear it for a thousand miles (All down the line)
I need relief sometimes. I can hear the sound of the signal for miles all along the track.


(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 plan to speed up and enjoy more drinks all along the track


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
You're unsure, just be present when the signal sounds. I need a pure-hearted person to aid me 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
Stay with me, my love, for some time. Please be my angel, my dear.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Mike Newman

I was twenty one naive 
Not cynical, I try to please 
Her wit, her speech, her repartee 
Impressed me almost instantly

She went all the way 
All the way down 
She went all the way, all the way

She showed me love a hundred ways 
How she pimped and how she paid 
All the daughters, all the sons 
All were welcome, all would come

We went all the way 
All the way down 
We went all the way, all the way

I was King, Mr. Cool 
Just a snobby little fool 
(Like kids are now.) 
I dreamed of reaching greater heights 
I raved about it every night 
Talk is cheap

She went all the way, all the way 
All the way down, yeah 
She went all the way 
All the way all the way 
All the way, all the way down

She's there when I close my eyes 
There when I close my eyes 
She's there when I close my eyes 
There when I close my eyes

How the years they rush on by 
Birthdays, kids and suicides 
Still I play the fool and strut 
Still you're a slut

Hey girl, she went all the way 
All the way, all the way 
All the way down 
She went all the way 
All the way, all the way 
All the way down 
She went all the way 
All the way, all the way 
All the way down

You give me back that time right now 
I can see it if I close my eyes 
Was every minute just a waste? 
Was every hour a foolish chase? 
I don't believe it

She went all the way 
All the way down 
She went all the way 
All the way down 
She went all the way 
All the way down 
She went all the way 
All the way all the way 
All the way down 
She went all the way 
All the way all the way 
All the way down



All comments from YouTube:

altstiff

One of the most underrated Stones songs.

Hernan

Los arreglos de guitarra de woody en la cancion y al final del tema son increíbles

Morcaiden

¡Sin duda! Undercover fue uno de los proyectos que resaltó el genio de Woody. Haría lo mismo con Keith en Dirty Work. Hay muchas maquetas en las que se pueden escuchar esos matices tan propios.

Rick Keogh

Best garage rock that they ever did.

Rolling Ormond

Underrated album.

peter mills

Rolling Ormond. I must say I agree with you, for once!! lol!! I played this album to death at the time. I was doing an Art degree in Wales (UK) & turned one or two of my new mates onto the Stones through playing it so much. One of them was always singing "Done up in lace, done up in Rubber!") It did'nt get many friendly reviews at the time and I don't like the 'syn drums' put all over 'Undercover of the Night' , 'Too Much Blood' , 'Feel on Baby' and it could have done with a decent ballad. Otherwise I think it's a good album in a strange decade.

Sam Parady

Undercover is underrated

Aladdin Sane

@Sam Parady Top 10 for me.

Ken Vail

Very underrated

Colette Lavoie

This song is hot stuff 🔥 can't get enough..

More Comments

More Versions