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Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.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)
Drift Away
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet I look for the light
Through the pourin' rain
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
And I'm feeling the strain
Ain't it a shame
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
And drift away
[repeat]
Beginning to think that I'm wasting time
I don't understand the things I do
The world outside looks so unkind
Now I'm counting on you
To carry me through
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away
[repeat]
And when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
And when I'm feeling blue
The guitar's coming through to soothe me
Thanks for the joy that you're given me
I want you to know I believe in your song
Your rhythm and rhyme and harmony
You've helped me along
Makin' me strong
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away
[repeat]
Na, na, now won't ya
Won't ya take, oh ha ..take me
The lyrics to The Rolling Stones's song "Drift Away" depict a person who is lost in confusion and seeking solace and relief through music. The opening lines suggest a feeling of being overwhelmed and struggling to find a way out of whatever situation they may be in. The mention of rain, often associated with a negative connotation, adds to this sense of struggle. Despite this, the person is looking for a light, indicating hope and a desire to find a resolution to their predicament.
The chorus of the song, "Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul, I want to get lost in your rock and roll and drift away," highlights the transformative power of music. The person is looking to escape their troubles and lose themselves in the music, finding comfort and healing in the sounds around them. The idea of drifting away suggests letting go of control and surrendering to the moment, a kind of catharsis that is often found through music.
The final lines of the song express gratitude toward the musicians who provided this escape through their music. The melody and rhythm of the song have helped the person become stronger and lifted their spirits. The lyrics of "Drift Away" ultimately express the universal and timeless relationship between music and the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Day after day I'm more confused
I feel more and more uncertain about my place in the world with each passing day
Yet I look for the light
Despite feeling lost, I remain hopeful and search for something that can guide me
Through the pourin' rain
Even in difficult times, I try to persevere and move forward
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
I don't like feeling defeated or unsuccessful in my endeavors
And I'm feeling the strain
The stress of my situation is taking a toll on me
Ain't it a shame
It's unfortunate that I have to deal with these struggles
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
Music has the power to uplift me and make me feel alive
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
I want to forget about my problems and lose myself in the music
And drift away
I want to escape and let the music carry me away
[repeat]
This feeling of release and freedom is something I want to experience over and over again
Beginning to think that I'm wasting time
I'm starting to doubt whether what I'm doing is meaningful or worthwhile
I don't understand the things I do
I'm confused by my own actions and motivations
The world outside looks so unkind
The world seems cold and unforgiving, making things even more difficult
Now I'm counting on you
I'm looking to others, perhaps even music, to help me through this tough time
To carry me through
I need someone or something to support me and help me overcome my struggles
And when my mind is free
When I'm relaxed and not thinking about my problems
You know a melody can move me
Music has the power to stir my emotions and make me feel deeply
And when I'm feeling blue
When I'm sad or depressed
The guitar's coming through to soothe me
The sound of a guitar can provide comfort and relief from my negative emotions
Thanks for the joy that you're given me
I'm grateful for the happiness and comfort that music has brought into my life
I want you to know I believe in your song
I have faith in the power of music to uplift and inspire
Your rhythm and rhyme and harmony
The different elements of music come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts
You've helped me along
Music has been a source of support and encouragement in my life
Makin' me strong
Music has helped me become more resilient and better able to face life's challenges
Na, na, now won't ya
A playful interjection used to express enthusiasm
Won't ya take, oh ha ..take me
I'm inviting music, or perhaps a specific artist or band, to take me away and help me forget my problems
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Greg Halder
on 2000 Light Years From Home
Totally underrated track and album..