It is very similar to an Appalachian folk tune, especially due to its minimal arrangement, featuring Mick Jagger on vocals, Keith Richards on acoustic guitar, Rocky Dijon on conga drums, Ric Grech of Family on fiddle/violin, Dave Mason of Traffic on Mellotron using the mandolin sound, and Charlie Watts on tabla.[1].
On his performance, Charlie Watts said in 2003, "On 'Factory Girl', I was doing something you shouldn't do, which is playing the tabla with sticks instead of trying to get that sound using your hand, which Indian tabla players do, though it's an extremely difficult technique and painful if you're not trained."
Richards said of the song in 2003, "To me 'Factory Girl' felt something like 'Molly Malone', an Irish jig; one of those ancient Celtic things that emerge from time to time, or an Appalachian song. In those days I would just come up and play something, sitting around the room. I still do that today. If Mick gets interested I'll carry on working on it; if he doesn't look interested, I'll drop it, leave it and say, 'I'll work on it and maybe introduce it later.'"
Factory Girl
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for a girl she has no money anywhere
We get buses everywhere
Waiting for a factory girl
Waiting for a girl and her knees are much too fat
Waiting for a girl who wears scarves instead of hats
Her zipper's broken down the back
Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Waiting for a girl, we get drunk on Friday night
She's a sight for sore eyes
Waiting for a factory girl
Waiting for a girl and she's got stains all down her dress
Waiting for a girl and my feet are getting wet
She ain't come out yet
Waiting for a factory girl
The Rolling Stones's song Factory Girl has been interpreted in different ways by different people. The song is generally understood to be about a man waiting for a woman, possibly a factory worker, that he has fallen in love with. The lyrics describe the man's anticipation and excitement as he waits for the woman to arrive. The opening lines introduce the girl as someone with curlers in her hair and no money to her name. The man describes how they use buses to travel to different places.
The second set of lyrics talk about physical features of the girl, noting that her knees are much too fat and that she wears scarves instead of hats. These details suggest that the girl may not be conventionally attractive or fashionable, but the man is still eagerly waiting for her. The line about the zipper being broken down the back possibly implies a sense of vulnerability that the man finds endearing.
In the last set of lyrics, the man describes how the girl sometimes gets him into fights and that they get drunk together on Friday nights. He describes her as a sight for sore eyes, indicating that despite any flaws, he admires and desires her. The last line repeats the earlier sentiment that he is still waiting for her.
Overall, the song seems to be about the power of attraction and love despite any societal norms, financial status or physical appearances. The man is willing to wait for this woman because of her inner quality that he finds attractive.
Line by Line Meaning
Waiting for a girl who's got curlers in her hair
Anticipating the arrival of a girl who doesn't have the time nor resources to make herself presentable
Waiting for a girl she has no money anywhere
Expecting a girl who doesn't have any wealth or means of supporting herself
We get buses everywhere
Traveling by means of public transportation wherever we need to go
Waiting for a factory girl
Looking forward to meeting a girl who works in a factory, possibly due to economic circumstances
Waiting for a girl and her knees are much too fat
Eagerly expecting the arrival of a girl who may not conform to traditional beauty standards due to her larger size
Waiting for a girl who wears scarves instead of hats
Anticipating the arrival of a girl who prefers unconventional, quirky fashion choices
Her zipper's broken down the back
Noticing that an element of her outfit is broken, indicating a lack of resources or attention to detail
Waiting for a girl and she gets me into fights
Eagerly anticipating the company of a girl who may cause trouble or provoke conflict
Waiting for a girl, we get drunk on Friday night
Looking forward to spending Friday nights with a girl and engaging in drinking and possibly partying
She's a sight for sore eyes
Referring to the girl as a visually stunning, attractive person
Waiting for a girl and she's got stains all down her dress
Expecting a girl who may not be able to keep her clothing clean, possibly as a result of working in a factory or in poverty
Waiting for a girl and my feet are getting wet
Waiting in undesirable conditions, possibly outside in the rain or mud
She ain't come out yet
Not yet seeing the arrival of the girl being anticipated
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Big Sky
Tony C. There are photos of Brian playing harp at the sessions.
Mick was certainly proficient but not enough to play ropey sounding country harp that sounds great as can be heard on Dear Doctor and Prodigal Son. Also if Mick was playing harp on those 2 songs it would most likely have been mixed higher rather than in the background so as to be decorative.
It is documented in One Plus One that Brian plays acoustic on Sympathy and sings the woo, woos. Although his mic was turned down his guitar can just be heard during the first verse and was also picked up louder by the film crews cameras.
See (The Brian Jones Resource) YouTube page for the film crews recording.
That leaves Jigsaw Puzzle and Stray Cat Blues which clearly have mellotron which nobody else but Brian would be playing and Street Fighting Man where his sitar can be heard.
Parachute Woman may be Brian at the end and it may be Mick. There is no definitive answer. I personally think it sounds more like Brian but I may be wrong,
Brian does not play on Factory Girl as it is documented that Ric Grech of Family plays the fiddle and Dave Mason of Traffic is playing the mandolin.
Salt Of The Earth features Keith playing all the guitars.
The only doubtful track then is Parachute Woman.
It is much more difficult than The Beatles when it comes to The Stones to say definitively who played what as logs were not kept by Decca or Olympic Studios unlike EMI who seemed to be meticulous. So all we have to go on is the printed word with peoples recollections or we have to piece it together from all available sources.
I am in no way saying I am 100% correct about the harp players but the evidence points me to think that Brian played harp on Doctor Doctor, Prodigal Son and possibly the end of Parachute Woman.
You of course have your own opinion.
Linda Dee
This was the album that made me start loving the Stones. Beggars Banquet is a masterpiece mix of blues and rock, and every cut is a joy to hear.
Jim Parker
My desert island Stones album. Their first with Jimmy Miller. And Nicky Hopkins if I remember correctly. Brian Jone's slide guitar on No Expectations was his last gasp with Keith and MIck.
Ftanftangfnarrr
Me too. And for its still their best.
Liam Anderson
Same
Rade Bjelobrk
I have LOVED this tune since the first time I heard it over 52 years ago! What a hidden gem for most folks to discover.
joseph giuffdrida
Yes this song is truly a real gem The first time I heard it I fell right in love with it In 1997 I seen the Stones at Giants Stadium and they played this song on the middle stage and it blew me away What a surprise that was
Clint Eastwood
Some people call this country filler, but not me! The guitar riff behind the melody is unmistakably awesome and really puts it above the filler status.And don't let me get started on the fiddle! One of my favorite Stones country excursions!
Tommi
Yeah, that was Brian Jones, always on the outskirts of the music with tastefully tasty mandolin or guitar among ouds, etc...the deep end takes us all eventually and remember, only the good die young...
Michael Craig
@Carol Collins It is not. Just one more person afraid to show their real name, cowards. You dont want to know any of them
Shane
Right 😙👌