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Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.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)
Let It Rock
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And spill it all over the stage
Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya
Would you think the boy is strange?
Ain't he strange?
If I could win ya, if I could sing ya
A love song so divine
If I broke down and cried?
If I cried?
I said I know it's only rock 'n' roll but I like it
I know it's only rock 'n' roll but I like it, like it, yes, I do
Oh, well, I like it, I like it, I like it
I said can't you see that this old boy has been a lonely?
If I could stick a knife in my heart
Suicide right on stage
Would it be enough for your teenage lust
Would it help to ease the pain?
Ease your brain?
If I could dig down deep in my heart
Feelings would flood on the page
Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya
Would ya think the boy's insane?
He's insane
I said I know it's only rock 'n' roll but I like it
I said I know it's only rock'n roll but I like it, like it, yes, I do
Oh, well, I like it, yeah, I like it, I like it
I said can't you see that this old boy has been a lonely?
And do ya think that you're the only girl around?
I bet you think that you're the only woman in town, ah, ooh yeah
I said I know it's only rock 'n' roll but I like it
I said I know it's only rock 'n' roll but I like it
I know it's only rock 'n' roll but I like it, yeah
I know it's only rock 'n' roll but I like it, like it, yes, I do
Oh, well, I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it
I like it, I like it, I like it (only rock 'n roll') but I like it
(It's only rock 'n' roll) but I like it (only rock 'n' roll) but I like it
(Only rock 'n' roll) but I like it (only rock 'n' roll) but I like it
(Only rock 'n' roll) but I like it (only rock 'n' roll) but I like it
(Only rock 'n' roll) but I like it (only rock 'n' roll) but I like it
(Only rock 'n' roll) but I like it (only rock 'n' roll) but I like it
(Only rock 'n' roll) but I like it, yeah, but I like it
Oh and I like it, ooh yeah I like it
The Rolling Stones' song "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" is an iconic expression of the band's commitment to the simple pleasures of their craft. The song speaks to the power of rock 'n' roll music as a means of expressing emotions that are difficult or impossible to articulate in words. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to do anything, including self-harm, to communicate the depth of his feelings to an unresponsive audience. The chorus reiterates that "it's only rock 'n' roll," but the singer likes it nonetheless.
The verses of “It's Only Rock ‘n’ Roll” express the singer’s desire to impress his audience and win their love, but also his recognition that rock 'n' roll is ultimately limited in its ability to bridge the divide between performer and audience. Despite this, the singer still finds joy in the act of creating and performing music, and in the connection that can occur between performer and listener even if it is fleeting.
The song speaks to a universal desire for connection and recognition, particularly among artists who pour their hearts into their work with the hope of making an impact on those who experience it. The catchy and upbeat rhythm of the song reinforces the idea that, even if the connection between performer and audience is tenuous, it is still worth pursuing.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could stick my pen in my heart
If I could express my deepest emotions through my creative outlet
And spill it all over the stage
And showcase my emotions to the world while performing
Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya
Would it be enough for you or would you ignore it?
Would you think the boy is strange?
Would you judge me for being vulnerable?
If I could win ya, if I could sing ya
If I could impress you and capture your attention with my music
A love song so divine
A song so beautiful and heartfelt
Would it be enough for your cheating heart
Could my song make you forget about your infidelity?
If I broke down and cried?
If I showed my emotions, would it make a difference to you?
I said I know it's only rock 'n' roll but I like it
I acknowledge that my music is simple, but I still enjoy it
Oh, well, I like it, I like it, I like it
I really enjoy making and performing music
I said can't you see that this old boy has been a lonely?
Don't you realize that I create music to cope with my loneliness?
If I could stick a knife in my heart
If I could really lay bare my emotions through my music
Suicide right on stage
Performing so passionately that it feels like an emotional release
Would it be enough for your teenage lust
Could my music help you forget about your desires?
Would it help to ease the pain?
Could my music be therapeutic for you?
If I could dig down deep in my heart
If I could truly express my emotions through my music
Feelings would flood on the page
My emotions would pour out onto the paper
Would it satisfy ya, would it slide on by ya
Would you finally pay attention or still ignore me?
Would ya think the boy's insane?
Would you label me as crazy for being so honest?
And do ya think that you're the only girl around?
Do you think you're the only one I write songs about?
I bet you think that you're the only woman in town, ah, ooh yeah
I'm sure you believe that every song I write is about you, but you're not the only one
I know it's only rock 'n' roll but I like it
I know my music may not be the most profound, but I still enjoy it
Oh and I like it, ooh yeah I like it
I really like it and enjoy creating and performing music
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sam Lewis
I think these guys will go down in history as one of the greatest, most unique, unbelieveably talented artists to appear in this era! Brilliant, and ever powerful.
Joeseph Sizian
One of the greatest???? There will be nobody ever as great.
Jan Buse
Brother! ❤
Joelle Benoit
@Dave Pett Saw them at Brussell 73 first show and yes they were at their peak, and yes I wish they could have stop before but it's their decision.
Dave Pett
@Joelle Benoit I’m tired of defending myself on this topic the stones were at their peak in the early 70’s a great band with longevity like no other and with the loss of Charlie they should retire but they won’t
Joelle Benoit
Chuck is for me a master without any doubt and incredible on stage, I was just saying wathever the opinions you can argue and stay polite.
Jeff Salerno
Greatest live rock n roll band ever.... hands down!
Ariel Escalante
The Rolling Stones + Chuck Berry = Pure Rock and Roll.
yrag J
Best way to judge a band is by their Chuck Berry covers…
John Gore
@Gregory Zahn it is a Berry tune