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Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.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)
Rip This Joint
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make up your mind 'cause I gotta go
We're gonna raise hell at the Union Hall
Drive myself right over the wall
Rip this joint, gonna save your soul
Round and round and round we go
Roll this joint, gonna get down low
Whoa, yeah!
Mister President, Mister Immigration Man
Let me in, sweetie to your fair land
I'm Tampa bound and Memphis too
Short Fat Fanny is on the loose
Dig that sound on the radio
Then slip it right across into Buffalo
Dick and Pat in ole DC
Well they're gonna hold some shit for me
Ying yang, you're my thing
Oh, now, baby, won't you hear me sing
Flip Flop, fit to drop
Come on baby, won't you let it rock?
Oh yeah! Oh yeah!
From San Jose down to Santa Fe
Kiss me quick, baby, won'tcha make my day
New Orleans with the Dixie Dean
To Dallas, Texas with the Butter Queen
Rip this joint, gonna rip yours too
Some brand new steps and some weight to lose
Gonna roll this joint, gonna get down low
Round and round and round we'll go
Wham, Bham, Birmingham, Alabam' don't give a damn
Little Rock and I'm fit to top
Ah, let it rock
"Rip This Joint" is a high-octane track that was featured on the Rolling Stones' 1972 album Exile on Main Street. The lyrics paint a picture of a group of people looking to have some fun, ignoring the usual limitations and inhibitions that often hold people back. It begins with a conflict between Mama and Papa, who cannot agree about where to go and what to do. The singer then states that he is going to raise hell at the Union Hall, driving himself over the wall. He then repeats the refrain, "Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go, roll this joint, gonna get down low, start my starter, gonna stop the show."
The second verse is a little more disjointed, but the singer once again mentions his desire to travel, specifically to Tampa and Memphis. He then references a couple named Dick and Pat in Washington, DC, who will "hold some shit" for him. The chorus repeats again, followed by a bridge that proclaims, "Ying yang, you're my thing, oh, now baby, won't you hear me sing, flip flop, fit to drop, come on baby, won't you let it rock?" The final verse then declares the singer's willingness to travel from San Jose to Santa Fe and all the way to Dallas, Texas, without embarrassment or hesitation, singing, "Rip this joint, gonna rip yours too, some brand new steps and some weight to lose, gonna roll this joint, gonna get down low, round and round and round we'll go, wham, bham, Birmingham, Alabam', don't give a damn, Little Rock and I'm fit to top, ah, let it rock!"
The overall message of "Rip This Joint" is that life is short, and people should not pass up opportunities to have fun and enjoy themselves. The song encourages listeners to let loose, embrace their wild sides, and live in the moment. Whether it's traveling, dancing, or doing whatever they please, the message of the song is clear: take control of your life, and don't let anyone or anything hold you back.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama says yes, Papa says no
Parents have different opinions, I need to know if I am going or staying
Make up your mind 'cause I gotta go
I need to make my decision because I am in a hurry to leave
We're gonna raise hell at the Union Hall
We are going to have a wild time at the Union Hall
Drive myself right over the wall
I am going to push myself to the limit
Rip this joint, gonna save your soul
Let loose and enjoy yourself
Round and round and round we go
We will keep having fun and not stop
Roll this joint, gonna get down low
Keep on dancing and let yourself go
Start my starter, gonna stop the show (Yeah)
Start the party and let's have a great time
Mister President, Mister Immigration Man
Addressing political authorities
Let me in, sweetie to your fair land
Let me into the country
I'm Tampa bound and Memphis too
I'm traveling to Tampa and Memphis
Short Fat Fanny is on the loose
There's a girl named Short Fat Fanny who's wild and on the loose
Dig that sound on the radio
Enjoying the music on the radio
Then slip it right across into Buffalo
Listening to the radio while driving to Buffalo
Dick and Pat in ole DC
Referring to people named Dick and Pat in Washington DC
Well they're gonna hold some shit for me
They will keep some things for me in Washington DC
Ying yang, you're my thing
Addressing a person affectionately
Oh, now, baby, won't you hear me sing
Asking someone to listen to him
Flip Flop, fit to drop
Get ready to dance
Come on baby, won't you let it rock?
Asking someone to dance with him
From San Jose down to Santa Fe
Traveling from San Jose to Santa Fe
Kiss me quick, baby, won'tcha make my day
Asking for a kiss
New Orleans with the Dixie Dean
Going to New Orleans to hear the Dixie Dean play music
To Dallas, Texas with the Butter Queen
Traveling to Dallas, Texas to meet the Butter Queen
Rip this joint, gonna rip yours too
Let's have a great time together
Some brand new steps and some weight to lose
Getting into dancing shape
Gonna roll this joint, gonna get down low
Going to have a good time dancing
Round and round and round we'll go
Let's keep dancing and having fun
Wham, Bham, Birmingham, Alabam' don't give a damn
Having fun and not caring what anyone thinks
Little Rock and I'm fit to top
Going to Little Rock and ready to have a great time
Ah, let it rock
Let's keep the party going
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Greg Halder
on 2000 Light Years From Home
Totally underrated track and album..