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) â their first entirely original album â 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Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.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)
Citadel
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We have journeyed far from here
Armed with bibles make us swear
Candy and taffy, hope we both are well
Please come see me in the citadel
Flags are flying, dollar bills Round the heights of concrete hills
You can see the pinnacles
Candy and taffy, hope we both are well
Please come see me in the citadel
In the streets are many walls
Hear the peasants come and crawl
You can hear their lovers call
Candy and taffy, hope we both are well
Please come see me in the citadel
Screaming people fly so fast
In their shiny metal cars
Through the woods of steel and glass
Candy and taffy, hope we both are well
Please come see me in the citadel
The Rolling Stones' song Citadel was released in 1967 and is widely considered to be a commentary on fear-mongering, consumerism, and the Cold War. The opening lyrics "Men are armed shout who goes there, we have journeyed far from here" set the tone of the song as one of alarm and preparedness. The reference to being armed with bibles may suggest a justification for aggressive behavior or a symbol of a religious mission to conquer.
The lines "flags are flying, dollar bills, round the heights of concrete hills" paint a picture of a society consumed by materialism and capitalism, where success is measured in wealth and power. The image of candy and taffy can be interpreted as a metaphor for the sweet temptations or distractions of the modern world. The repeated plea for someone to "please come see me in the citadel" may represent a longing for refuge or solidarity in a bleak, hostile society.
The later verses of the song reference the people living in poverty or oppression, crawling in the streets and calling out for their lovers. The contrast between their struggle and the shiny, fast-moving luxury cars in the "woods of steel and glass" highlights the inequalities of the society. The overall message of Citadel seems to be one of warning against allowing greed, fear, and power to take over and the importance of seeking connection and compassion in a world that can be cold and oppressive.
Line by Line Meaning
Men are armed shout who goes there
Men are carrying weapons and asking who is approaching
We have journeyed far from here
We have traveled a long distance to reach this place
Armed with bibles make us swear
They are carrying bibles and making us swear
Candy and taffy, hope we both are well
Expressing a wish for good health through the use of candy and taffy as metaphors
Please come see me in the citadel
Inviting someone to come visit them at the citadel
Flags are flying, dollar bills
There are flags and currency flying in the air
Round the heights of concrete hills
Around the tops of tall buildings made of concrete
You can see the pinnacles
The highest points of the buildings can be seen
In the streets are many walls
The streets are lined with walls
Hear the peasants come and crawl
Hearing the common people struggling to get by
You can hear their lovers call
The sound of people calling out for their loved ones can be heard
Screaming people fly so fast
People are driving at high speeds and making a lot of noise
In their shiny metal cars
They are driving in new and shiny cars
Through the woods of steel and glass
Driving through areas with lots of modern buildings made of steel and glass
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rafaelbottom
This album deserves much more recognition - for me it remains their most underrated album.
@Themanwhocameback2
Just as it remains their worst album.
@marklawless8829
I agree bro, my fav album of the stones
@manny4552
Your right it's a great album
@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe
From who? Where on earth is all this recognizing coming from ?
@DougAhlf
This album was loaded with awesome tones. The Citadel, 2000 Man, She's a Rainbow.
@Vlad65WFPReviews
In Another land
@ericmiller3708
My favorite Rolling Stones song.
@thestones8022
it pounds rips and rolls, what a 4 min trip..
@desmondsandoz4937
One of my favorites as well ..... hope you both are well !.