Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Dancing with Mr. D" is a brooding rocker in line with much of the Stones' funk inspired recordings from the Goats Head Soup era. The song opens with a riff by Richards prominently repeated throughout the song. Jagger's lyrics allude to dalliance with Death.
The song would best serve as an introduction to the Stones' studio-based sound of the mid-1970s after the sprawling epic Exile on Main St. Recording began at Dynamic Sound Studios in Kingston, Jamaica and would continue at Village Recorders in Los Angeles and Island Recording Studios in London. Billy Preston, who had contributed on a few songs with the Stones in the past, would become a heavy collaborator over the next few albums and here performs clavinet. Nicky Hopkins highlights with pianos throughout while Rebop Kwaku Baah and Pascal perform percussion. Mick Taylor performs electric slide guitar as well as bass while Charlie Watts performs drums.
"Dancing with Mr. D" has been performed by the Stones only on their 1973 tour of Europe. It served as the B-side to album mate "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)".
Dancing With Mister D
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The air smells sweet, the air smells sick
He never smiles, his mouth merely twists
The breath in my lungs feels clinging and thick
But I know his name, he's called Mr. D
And one of these days he's going to set you free
Human skulls is hanging right around his neck
The palms of my hands is clammy and wet
Lord, I was dancing, dancing, dancing so free
And dancing, dancing, dancing so free
And dancing, Lord, keep your hand off me
And dancing with Mr. D., with Mr. D., with Mr. D
And will it be poison put in my glass?
And will it be slow or will it be fast?
The bite of a snake, the sting of a spider
A drink of Belladonna on a Toussaint night
Hiding in a corner in New York City
Looking down a forty-four in West Virginia
I was dancing, dancing, dancing so free
And dancing, dancing, dancing so free
And dancing, Lord, keep your hand off me
And dancing with Mr. D., with Mr. D., with Mr. D, with Mr. D., with Mr. D
Dancing, dancing
Dancing, dancing
Dancing, dancing
Dancing, dancing
I was dancing, dancing, dancing so free
And dancing, dancing, dancing so free
And dancing, Lord, keep your hand off me
And dancing with Mr. D. (with Mr. D.)
One night I was dancing with a lady in black
Wearing black silk gloves and a black silk hat
She looked at me longing with black velvet eyes
She gazed at me strange all cunning and wise
I saw the flesh just fall off her bones
The eyes in her skull was burning like coals
Lord, have mercy, fire and brimstone
I was dancing with mistress D
Lord, I was dancing, dancing, dancing so free
I was dancing, dancing, dancing so free, oh
Dancing, dancing, dancing so free
Dancing, dancing
With dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Dance, dance, dance, dance
The Rolling Stones' song "Dancing With Mister D" is a haunting masterpiece that sings about the inevitable dance with death, embodied by "Mister D." It begins with the singer describing a graveyard where they meet "Mister D" and how the air smells both sweet and sickly. The singer seems to be aware of the true nature of Mister D, who is known to set you free but does so in death. The chilling imagery of human skulls hanging around Mister D's neck creates a sinister atmosphere, while the singer's clammy hands speak of their fear and revulsion. The chorus serves as a poignant reminder that no matter how much one tries to escape, death eventually catches up with everyone.
The second verse continues with the singer contemplating how they will die. Whether it will be a poison in their glass or a bite from a snake or a spider, death is always lingering around. The mention of Toussaint night and Belladonna (a poisonous plant) emphasizes the theme of death and the occult. The singer is depicted as hiding in a corner, looking at a gun in West Virginia, seeking solace from the looming fear of death. However, they find themselves dancing once again with Mister D, unable to escape their fate.
In the final verse, the singer dances with "Mistress D," who symbolizes a female version of Mister D. The lady in black dressed in silk gloves and hat looked at the singer with black velvet eyes, and her gaze was cunning and wise, hinting at her supernatural powers. The singer witnessed the flesh falling off her bones and her burning eyes until she turned to fire and brimstone. The repetition of "dance" in the chorus evokes a sense of relentlessness, as if the dance with death continues eternally. Ultimately, the song imparts a message to embrace life and live without fear, for death comes to all in the end.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, down in the graveyard where we have our tryst
The singer meets with Mr. D in a graveyard.
The air smells sweet, the air smells sick
The atmosphere is both alluring and unsettling.
He never smiles, his mouth merely twists
Mr. D's expression is always twisted and sinister.
The breath in my lungs feels clinging and thick
The air feels suffocating and oppressive.
But I know his name, he's called Mr. D
The artist knows the identity of the sinister figure as Mr. D.
And one of these days he's going to set you free
Mr. D will eventually release or free the singer.
Human skulls is hanging right around his neck
Mr. D wears human skulls as a necklace.
The palms of my hands are clammy and wet
The artist is anxious and nervous in Mr. D's presence.
Lord, I was dancing, dancing, dancing so free
The artist feels liberated and free while dancing.
And dancing, Lord, keep your hand off me
The artist doesn't want to be controlled or influenced by anything or anyone else.
And dancing with Mr. D., with Mr. D., with Mr. D
The singer is dancing with Mr. D in spite of their ominous presence.
And will it be poison put in my glass?
The artist wonders if Mr. D plans to harm them with poison.
And will it be slow or will it be fast?
The singer wonders about the method of their hypothetical poisoning.
The bite of a snake, the sting of a spider
The singer considers the possibility of different types of deadly bites.
A drink of Belladonna on a Toussaint night
The singer imagines being poisoned with Belladonna, a poisonous plant, during Toussaint, a Haitian holiday known for its dark and mystical traditions.
Hiding in a corner in New York City
The artist imagines hiding from Mr. D in a city like New York.
Looking down a forty-four in West Virginia
The artist imagines holding a firearm to defend themselves from Mr. D in an area like West Virginia.
One night I was dancing with a lady in black
The singer dances with a woman dressed in black.
Wearing black silk gloves and a black silk hat
The woman is wearing elegant black accessories.
She looked at me longing with black velvet eyes
The artist feels a deep longing and desire from the woman's seductive gaze.
She gazed at me strange all cunning and wise
The woman's gaze is calculated and intelligent.
I saw the flesh just fall off her bones
The woman's appearance suddenly deteriorates, indicating her true nature as a sinister figure.
The eyes in her skull was burning like coals
The woman's eyes burn with a fierce and frightening intensity.
Lord, have mercy, fire and brimstone
The artist pleads for mercy and describes a hellish scene.
With dance, dance, dance, dance
The singer repeats the act of dancing, emphasizing its importance and liberation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fuchsiaswing8545
In no order:
Aftermath [UK and US]
Between the Buttons [UK and US]
Beggars Banquet
Let it Bleed
Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out
Sticky Fingers
Exile on Main St.
Some Girls
Those are all better albums than Goats Head, and one could argue Out of Our Heads, and Their Satanic Majesties Request is better. If not, it's barely within the top 10 of The Stones’ stunning oeuvre.
@bevo1776
The greatest mistake the Stones ever made was not doing WHATEVER IT TOOK, to keep Mick Taylor in the band.
For starters, they could have PAID him. He was given no credits on SEVERAL albums---in other words, no residuals. (perhaps the reason you don't see him smiling very much)
I don't know about you, but I like getting paid for my work.
In addition, his mates should have helped him with drug addiction and got him the help he needed to stay with the band. They did not...
With all due respect to Keith Richards---on Mick Taylor's WORSE DAY, Keef couldn't hold a candle to him.
Make no mistake, Keith Richards is
a very good guitarist.
Mick Taylor is a GREAT guitarist. A guitar genius.
Right up there with Hendrix, Clapton, and Santana.
No doubt about it. The five albums he produced with the Stones from '69-'74 are all classics.
The band was never the same after 1974.
@TheRollingStones
@annmariedequarto9473
Boy! Is that Hot Sexy Jump suit in ``GOLD ``
@tommagerl8090
Forever
@GordonKadatz
<3.
@CatherineAMontgomery
This was PERFECT for the rainy day in L.A. I was dancing dancing dancing so free....xo
@sunflowerhappy8021
Love to Listen to Goats Head Soup Album!!!
Gold is Groovy!! Great!! Mick Taylor's Fem Hat-Wow!!
In 70s we played Stones loudly-Bowie & Others. Fun then...!
Guys in makeup are OK. Reminds me of the time (70s) I went out with 2 Hippie Male Friends to a City Music Club, and the Guys were wearing same makeup, Young...but Happy..with Music...Music...Music.!! Ha Ha!
@NilsamNY
Goats Head Soup is vastly underrated. It has some of the most powerful and experimental songs the Stones have done. It's definitely their most keyboard-driven album with amazing piano keyboard and organ playing from Billy Preston, Ian Stewart and Nicky Hopkins. I think Mick Taylor is at his best - his solos soar throughout.
@cabalofdemons
The Stones were untouchable from 1968-1974. The six albums the group released in this span are straight rocking classics.
@amidtheruins02
Add 1967 onto that mix and you gotta real point (Between the buttons, Satanic majesties)
@alvarosantiago4285
@Amid"Aftermath".