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Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.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)
Highway Child
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't you see I'm a only one
Whoa when you call my name
Yeah I'm the lonely one
Yeah when you come along
We go for a drive
Yeah I'm a lonely boy
Yeah going by
Every time that you put me down
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway child
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway child
Whooo!
Well when you call my name
Who should you hypnotize
Yeah when you scratch my lights out
Yeah I feel it's all right
Yeah when you scratch me babe
Then you find me up peak
Yeah make me feel so good
Your plan would never look complete
Won't you come in and settle down
Can't you see I'm a hauling bound
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway bound
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway bound
Yeah get it!
Yeah!
Yeah baby when you call my name
You can see I'm the only one
Hey I'm in misery
Little mama I'm the lonely one
Yeah when you promise me
Yeah when you promise I
Yeah I'm in misery
I'm a highway child
If you promise to call my name
I can promise to settle down
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway child
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway child
The Rolling Stones's song "Highway Child" is a representation of the rock and roll lifestyle. The song is about a lonely boy who is looking for someone to call his name and is searching for a connection with someone. He is always on the road, going from one place to another, and is looking for someone to settle down with. He is a "highway child" who is constantly seeking adventure and excitement on the open road.
The lyrics show that the boy is seeking love and a connection with someone, but he is fearful of getting hurt. He is open to finding someone special but he does not want to get tied down just yet. The lyrics show how he wants to find someone to settle down with but struggles to find the right person.
The song's lyrics and sound capture the essence of early rock and roll. It is fast-paced, raw, and gritty. The dynamic guitar sounds, rhythmic beats, and the Mick Jagger's raw vocals make this track stand out.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you come on and call my name
Please reach out to me and acknowledge my existence.
Can't you see I'm a only one
I am a lonely person seeking companionship.
Whoa when you call my name
My spirits are lifted when you acknowledge me.
Yeah I'm the lonely one
I am a solitary person who desires connection.
Yeah when you come along
When you join me, we can do things together.
We go for a drive
Let's take a ride together on the open road.
Yeah I'm a lonely boy
I am feeling isolated and in need of companionship.
Yeah going by
As I travel on this highway, I am alone.
Every time I get to shell it down
Whenever I feel defeated or put down.
Every time that you put me down
Whenever you criticize me or diminish my worth.
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway child
I am a restless wanderer who is always searching for something meaningful.
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway child
I am a restless wanderer who is always searching for something meaningful.
Well when you call my name
When you reach out to me and acknowledge my existence.
Who should you hypnotize
You have a captivating quality that draws me in.
Yeah when you scratch my lights out
When you cause me pain and damage my spirit.
Yeah I feel it's all right
Despite the pain, I am willing to accept it because being with you still feels good.
Yeah when you scratch me babe
When you harm me emotionally or psychologically.
Then you find me up peak
After causing me pain, you unexpectedly lift me up.
Yeah make me feel so good
Despite the harm you cause, being with you still feels pleasurable.
Your plan would never look complete
Without me, your machinations would not be fulfilled or satisfying.
Won't you come in and settle down
Please come and build a life with me.
Can't you see I'm a hauling bound
I am on a journey and want you by my side for the ride.
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway bound
I am a nomad who is always looking for my next adventure.
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway bound
I am a nomad who is always looking for my next adventure.
Yeah baby when you call my name
When you acknowledge me, it makes me feel good.
You can see I'm the only one
I am feeling isolated and alone.
Hey I'm in misery
I am suffering and in pain.
Little mama I'm the lonely one
I am feeling isolated and in need of companionship.
Yeah when you promise me
When you commit to me and make promises.
Yeah when you promise I
When you promise me things that make me feel good.
Yeah I'm in misery
I am suffering and in pain.
I'm a highway child
I am an adventurer who is always seeking something new.
If you promise to call my name
If you vow to acknowledge me and never overlook me.
I can promise to settle down
I will commit to being with you and building a future together.
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway child
I am a restless wanderer who is always searching for something meaningful.
Can't you see by now, I'm a highway child
I am a restless wanderer who is always searching for something meaningful.
Contributed by Logan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Greg Halder
on 2000 Light Years From Home
Totally underrated track and album..