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Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.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)
As Tear's Go By
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sit and watch the children play
Smiling faces I can see
But not for me
I sit and watch
As tears go by
My riches can't buy everything
All I hear is the sound
Of rain falling on the ground
I sit and watch
As tears go by
It is the evening of the day
I sit and watch the children play
Doing things I used to do
They think are new
I sit and watch
As tears go by
The Rolling Stones’ “As Tears Go By” is an introspective ballad about longing, loss, and mortality. The lyrics describe the passing of time and the inevitable changes that come with mature adulthood. The singer observes smiling faces of playful children but feels disconnected from their world, reflecting on the fact that his wealth cannot buy him everything he wants. He remembers the joy of youth and the activities he used to engage in but now feels left behind as the world moves on.
The song conveys a sense of isolation and melancholy, and the repeated chorus, “I sit and watch as tears go by,” highlights a deep-seated sadness that has no immediate remedy. The singer seems to have come to terms with his detachment and is left to sit with his memories and regrets. The simple melody and languid tempo match the mood of the lyrics, creating an atmosphere of resignation and acceptance.
Overall, the song speaks to the transient nature of life and the quiet desperation of watching the world change around you. It is a poignant meditation on the passage of time and the importance of cherishing youthful experiences while they last.
Line by Line Meaning
It is the evening of the day
The time of day is evening
I sit and watch the children play
I observe the children playing
Smiling faces I can see
I am able to witness happy expressions
But not for me
I do not experience the same happiness
I sit and watch
I remain seated while observing
As tears go by
I cry
My riches can't buy everything
I am wealthy but not all desires can be bought with money
I want to hear the children sing
I desire to hear the children's singing voices
All I hear is the sound
I am only able to hear
Of rain falling on the ground
The sound of raindrops hitting the earth
I sit and watch
I remain seated while observing
As tears go by
I cry
It is the evening of the day
The time of day is evening
I sit and watch the children play
I observe the children playing
Doing things I used to do
Performing activities I once did
They think are new
The children believe the activities are novel
I sit and watch
I remain seated while observing
As tears go by
I cry
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andrew Loog Oldham, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@henrylee4948
Yes,I still love this song even though I am already 70. May God bless us with more healthy years to come.
@talitafavarotata
As Tears Go By is one of the most beautiful songs by the Rolling Stones ❤
@gustavogorocica2580
yes i love this song
@FredPickett
Amen.
@johngore7744
Keith wrote most of it.
@kshelaanofelaas1967
Right Up There With They're RUBY TUESDAY!
@fredpendergrass6960
@kshelaanofelaas1967
'Goodbye Ruby Tuesday'
@maximpopov8651
Rest in Heaven Charlie Watts, my deepest condolences to the Stones. He was the best.
@missellendiane
RIP Charlie Watts
@rosangelarodrigues4633
No no