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Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.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)
Hand Of Fate
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It pick me up and knock me down
I'm on the run, I'm prison bound
The hand of fate is heavy now
I killed a man, I'm highway bound
The wheel of fortune keeps turning round
Turning round, turning round
I should have known it was a one horse town
My sweet girl was once his wife
He had papers the judge had signed
The wind blew hard, it was stormy night
He shot me once, but I shot him twice
The hand of fate is on me now
It pick me up and it kicked me right down
Kicked me right down
Kicked me right down
I had to save her life
Yeah, I gunned him twice
Yeah, and I watched him die, watch out boy
Yeah, I watched him die
He was a barroom man, the violent kind
He had no love for that gal of mine
Then one day in a drinking bout
He swore he'd throw me right of town
The hand of fate is on me now
I shot that man I put him underground
I put him underground
Yes I did
I'm on the run, I hear the hounds
My luck is up, my chips are down
So goodbye baby, so long now
Wish me luck, I'm going to need it child
The hand of fate is on me now
Yeah it's too late
Too late baby, too late now
The hand of fate is on me now
The hand of fate is heavy now
It pick you up and knock you down
The Rolling Stones’ song “Hand of Fate” tells the story of a man who finds himself face to face with destiny after killing another man in self-defense. The Hand of Fate is a powerful presence in the song, personifying the forces of luck, death, and justice that govern human lives. The lyrics describe the singer’s isolation and desperation as he’s chased by the authorities and facing his own mortality. He’s haunted by his past and knows he can’t escape the consequences of his actions. The line “I’m on the run, I’m prison bound” highlights this feeling of impending doom.
The singer’s violent past and gritty present are vividly portrayed in the lyrics. The line “I killed a man, I’m highway bound” shows how his reckless behavior has led him down a path of no return. The mention of his girlfriend, who was once another man’s wife, adds to the guilt and danger that surrounds the singer. However, in the end, he still can’t resist the lure of fate: “The hand of fate is heavy now, It pick you up and knock you down.”
Overall, “Hand of Fate” is a powerful portrayal of the human struggle against fate, justice, and morality. It’s a song that explores the dark and dangerous side of life, and the consequences of our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
The hand of fate is on me now
I am experiencing the power and influence of fate in my life.
It pick me up and knock me down
Fate's influence can be both positive and negative, as it can lift me up or bring me down.
I'm on the run, I'm prison bound
Due to my choices and actions, I am now a fugitive and may end up in prison.
The hand of fate is heavy now
The power of fate is especially strong and overwhelming for me at this moment.
I killed a man, I'm highway bound
I committed a crime and am now fleeing from the law on the highway.
The wheel of fortune keeps turning round
Luck and chance can be both fleeting and cyclical, as they constantly alternate and change.
I should have known it was a one horse town
I made a mistake in coming to this small and isolated town where my actions would be easily noticed and punished.
My sweet girl was once his wife
The woman I love was previously married to the man I killed.
He had papers the judge had signed
The former husband had official legal documents to support his rights and ownership over the woman I love.
The wind blew hard, it was stormy night
The circumstances and mood at the time were dark and intense, adding to the drama of the situation.
He shot me once, but I shot him twice
There was a violent confrontation between the former husband and me, during which I emerged as the shooter and killer.
Kicked me right down
The consequences of fate and my choices were harsh and brutal towards me.
I had to save her life
My actions were motivated by my desire to protect and save the woman I love.
Yeah, I gunned him twice
I used a gun to kill the former husband who was threatening my life and relationship with the woman I love.
He was a barroom man, the violent kind
The former husband had a reputation for being violent and aggressive in the local bar scene.
He had no love for that gal of mine
The former husband did not truly care for the woman I love, but rather saw her as his property and possession.
Then one day in a drinking bout
The confrontation between the former husband and me occurred during a drunken night at the local bar.
He swore he'd throw me right of town
The former husband threatened to harm and expel me from the town.
I put him underground
I killed the former husband and buried him in the ground, disposing of his body to hide the evidence and escape the consequences of my actions.
I'm on the run, I hear the hounds
I am currently being hunted down by the law or other pursuers, who are closing in on me.
My luck is up, my chips are down
My fortunes have worsened and my options for escaping justice have dwindled.
So goodbye baby, so long now
I must now leave behind the woman I love and flee, as I can no longer stay or be with her.
Wish me luck, I'm going to need it child
I am hoping for a stroke of luck or mercy to aid me in my escape and survival, as my circumstances are dire.
Yeah it's too late
It is now too late for me to avoid the consequences of my actions, and I must now face the music.
The hand of fate is on me now
The power and influence of fate is still at work in my life, and will continue to shape my future.
The hand of fate is heavy now
The consequences and weight of my choices and actions have become even more severe and inescapable, as fate catches up to me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICK JAGGER, KEITH RICHARDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Belfastyin
One of my all time fave guitar solos. Underrated song
Connie Craig
why is this so underrated? I'll never understand. one of the best stones songs don't care what year it's from
Dan
Yes,listen to the guitar solo,divine
Thomas Minarchick Jr.
Probably because it’s on one of their worst albums of the 70’s. They were treading water from Goat’s Head Soup forward. They made it and corporatized rock n roll for stadiums filled with nostalgia
thomas antoniak
It’s so good
Alice Sexton
Reggae was the flavor of the month and they went for it.
Bean Toes
One of my top 5 Stones songs
Herioter
One of Charlie's greatest hits. The hi-hat work, the subtle fills. Sublime.
OutnBacker
Love the tone of those old Gretsch drums he used. Good pop on that snare, Charlie was among my top 5.
Terry Mantle
I've been a Stones fan all my life. Funny how some of this early catalog stuff has a higher meaning to me now. This is an incredible song