Recording on "Beast of Burden" began in October of 1977 and ended in December of that same year. Although written before entering the studio, many of the lyrics were improvised by Jagger to fit with the smooth running guitars of Richards and Wood. Note the rolling, fluid licks traded off by the two. Neither is really playing lead or rhythm; they both slip in and out, one playing high while the other is low. The song is another of the famed Some Girls songs which feature each member of the band playing their respective instruments without any outside performers; both Richards and Wood play acoustic and electric guitars, with Wood performing the solo.
Beast of Burden
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My back is broad but it's a-hurting
All I want for you to make love to me
I'll never be your beast of burden
I've walked for miles, my feet are hurting
All I want for you to make love to me
Am I hard enough?Am I rough enough?
Am I rich enough?
I'm not too blind to see
I'll never be your beast of burden
So let's go home and draw the curtains
Music on the radio
Come on baby make sweet love to me
Am I hard enough?
Am I rough enough?
Am I rich enough?
I'm not too blind to see
Oh, little sister
Pretty, pretty, pretty girls
Ooh, you're a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girl
Pretty, pretty, such a pretty, pretty, pretty girl
Come on, baby, please, please, please
I'll tell ya
You can put me out
On the street
Put me out
With no shoes on my feet
But put me out, put me out
All your sickness, I can suck it up
Throw it all at me
I can shrug it off
There's one thing, baby
I don't understand
You keep on telling me
I ain't your kind of man
Ain't I rough enough? Ooh, honey
Ain't I tough enough?
Ain't I rich enough? In love enough?
Ooh, please
I'll never be your beast of burden
I'll never be your beast of burden
Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be
I'll never be your beast of burden
I've walked for miles, my feet are hurting
All I want is you to make love to me
Yeah
I don't need no beast of burden
I need no fussing
I need no nursing
Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be
In the song "Beast of Burden," The Rolling Stones explore the concept of love and relationships, and how one person cannot be expected to be everything for their partner. The lyrics speak to the singer's desire to be loved and desired physically but also express their refusal to be a "beast of burden," a term previously used to describe the workhorses responsible for carrying heavy loads. The singer is declaring that they will not be the one to carry all the emotional and physical weight of the relationship alone. They ask their partner if they are "hard enough, rough enough, rich enough" to satisfy their desires, yet they never receive a response.
The chorus is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's assertion that they will not be a "beast of burden." The use of repetition also reinforces the point that no matter how much pressure is put on the individual, they will not break or become something they are not. The reference to "little sister" and "pretty girls" is a nod towards the objectification of women in rock music, but the singer still makes it clear that they will not let women or anyone else put them in a box or demand too much from them.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll never be your beast of burden
I refuse to be your emotional punching bag
My back is broad but it's a-hurting
I'm tired of carrying the weight of our relationship and it's causing me pain
All I want for you to make love to me
Physical affection is the only thing that still keeps me hanging on
I've walked for miles, my feet are hurting
I've gone through a lot of hardship for you and it's taken a toll on me
Am I hard enough?
Do I meet your expectations of being tough?
Am I rough enough?
Am I living up to your image of being rugged?
Am I rich enough?
Do I have enough wealth to satisfy you?
I'm not too blind to see
I'm aware of what you want and I'm trying to meet those expectations
So let's go home and draw the curtains
Let's have some privacy and intimacy
Music on the radio
Setting the mood for a romantic encounter
Come on baby make sweet love to me
Let's have physical intimacy to try to salvage our relationship
Oh, little sister
Referring to a female lover or partner
Pretty, pretty, pretty girls
Expressing desire for attractive women
Ooh, you're a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girl
Complimenting the physical beauty of a woman
Pretty, pretty, such a pretty, pretty, pretty girl
Reinforcing that the woman is attractive
You can put me out
You can abandon me
On the street
Leaving me homeless
With no shoes on my feet
Without any possessions or support
But put me out, put me out
If that's what you want, go ahead and do it
Put me out of misery, yeah
End my suffering caused by this relationship
All your sickness, I can suck it up
I'm willing to deal with all of your problems and shortcomings
Throw it all at me
I can handle whatever you are going through
I can shrug it off
I won't let your issues weigh me down
There's one thing, baby
There's something I don't understand
I don't understand
I don't comprehend
You keep on telling me
You repeatedly say it to me
I ain't your kind of man
I don't meet your expectations of what a man should be
Ain't I rough enough? Ooh, honey
I thought I was tough enough for you
Ain't I tough enough?
A repeat of the previous question with emphasis
Ain't I rich enough? In love enough?
Am I not wealthy or loving enough for you?
Ooh, please
An appeal for acceptance and validation
I don't need no beast of burden
I don't want to be someone's emotional punching bag
I need no fussing
I don't require constant attention or care
I need no nursing
I don't need to be nursed back to emotional health
Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be
I will never accept that role in this relationship
All I want is you to make love to me
Physical intimacy is the only remaining desire for me in this relationship
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@devinbrooks276
As a Marine, who came home and everyone expects me to do meaningless chores like mowing the lawn or helping them tend their property, this song is validating.
In the south, a man that doesnt do physical labor is seen as less and those intellectuals in leadership are seen as lazy, incompetent, not worth their wage.
I always tried to tell them after everything I went through I wont be "their beast of burden" im good looking , strong looking, but im hurting in soo many hidden ways.
I need my energy mostly for me and I give when I can and when it's actually needed. Grass always grows, plant clover and never mow again.
Stop making your problems my problems when you refuse true help and advice.
@TheTickingClocks
Undeniably the GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME!! ...The Rolling Stones!!
@kathybaumann8085
One of the BEST Rolling Stones songs! Micks voice has it! ❤
@lequipefourteen822
What ever mood you are on The Rolling Stones have multiples masterpieces
Blues, ballades, disco , rock , hard rock, gospel , funk, country ……..
They are the greatest band in the world
@robertcooney1938
Truly. They play every genre on Some Girls and still out punked the punks with "Respectable."
@johngore7744
@@robertcooney1938it’s true your New wave ‘ Shattered ‘ punk ‘Respectable ‘ country ‘Far away Eyes ‘ Soul ‘Beast of Burden ‘ Disco ‘Miss You’ Motown ‘ Just My Imagination (Temptations)’ cheers from Montreal
@johngore7744
And of course Keith ‘ Before They Make Me Run’
@robertcooney1938
@@johngore7744 yeahhh
@robertcooney1938
@@johngore7744 See, you know. Peace bro, from Philly.
@nicidevine6670
Thanks so very much for sharing this video
@bristleconepinus2378
They didn't get famous, rich and then quit. The Stones never quit on us, been with them since 1962 and am continuously amazed by their talent energy and staying power. They are the worlds greates rock and roll band, in an age when rock and roll seems to be on the back burner.