Credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Send It to Me" is largely the work of Jagger, with him saying at the time of its release, "I did it with Charlie [Watts] very early on... That was a good example of one, you know, we tried in all kinds of different ways, different times." The song is heavily influenced by reggae music, the Stones being very big fans ever since their introduction to it during the recording sessions for 1973's Goats Head Soup in Jamaica. Its influence is also felt on a number of earlier tracks like "Cherry Oh Baby" off Black and Blue and later Richards compositions. While the influence is evident, Bill Janovitz notes in his review of the song that also incorporates "...a great R&B guitar lick from Keith Richards... and then cut to a disco feel for the chorus." The song's lyrics deal with "...a lonely man looking for a mail-order bride," and a quite tongue-in-cheek in its approach to this subject, with Jagger invoking off-the-cuff rhymes and in an affected, drawn vocal performance;
“ Oh, I think I had enough of your religion/it's tough, it's a state of mind/I don't need it! Sending a letter, To my mother/I need some loving, Send it to me. ”
“ Yeah, and I'm begging you, Begging you, down on my knees/Baby please, please please/You, you, got to send it, send it, send it/Send it to me, Send her to me. ”
“ She could be Romanian, Could be Bulgarian, Could be Albanian, Could be Hungarian, Might be Ukrainian, Could be Australian, Could be the Alien, Send her to me. ”
Associate producer and chief engineer Chris Kimsey remarked on the song after the album's release, "I remember it being very, very long, about twelve minutes long. I had to chop it down to whatever it ended up being. I think, in the twelve-minute version, there were like 19 or 20 verses and we just picked the last verses out and chopped it all together."
Janovitz concludes of the song, "Taken for what it is and not what it is a harbinger of, however, 'Send It to Me' is a fun song — catchy, with numerous hooks, and also fun to sing along to. An oft-repeated criticism of the Stones from this period on notes that their records seem to be written as an excuse to go out and tour, as if they need one. It is a valid point, though; the records seem like afterthoughts, and songs such as "Send It to Me" seem to be written to be performed live". In fact the Rolling Stones have never performed "Send It to Me" live on any of their tours since its introduction, and the Stones didn't even tour in support of Emotional Rescue's release at all.
Recording began on "Send It to Me" in June 1979 at Pathé Marconi Studios in Paris, France and concluded later in the year at New York City's Electric Lady Studios. With Jagger on lead vocals, Ronnie Wood performs electric slide guitar, including the song's solo. Richards provides the song's rhythm guitar hooks. Watts and Bill Wyman perform the song's thumping drums and bass, respectively. Harmonica is performed by Sugar Blue, a contributor to songs from the Stones' previous album, Some Girls and their next, Tattoo You. Another notable contribution comes from reggae singer Max Romeo who provides the song's tacking percussion parts.
Send It to Me
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a state of mind I don't need it!
I'm sending a letter
To my mother
I need some loving
Send it to me
Unfaithful lover
I need some money
Send it to me
I need consoling
Your boy's feeling lonely
Describe her for me
Send it to me
Send it to me
Send it to me
Send it to me
Send it to me
If she can't travel
I can take the mule train
I can take the aeroplane
Send it to me
So here I'm begging you
Begging you, begging you
Down on my knees
Baby, please, please, please
You, you, you got to send it
Send it, send it, send it to me
Send her, oh, send her to me
You got to send her
Send her to me
Send her to me
Send her to me
Yeah, I'm sending a letter
To my sister
In Australia
Sister Marie
Ain't got no doctor
No sense of cover
That needs my loving
Send it to me
Send it to me
Send it to me
Send it to me
Send it to me
She won't have to watch her step
She won't have to relocate
I guarantee her personal security
She don't have to be five foot ten
Or blond or brunette
She don't have to be no social hostess
Send her
She may work in a factory
Right next door to me
In my fantasy
Send her to me
Send her to me
Send her to me
Send her to me
Send her to me
She could be Romanian
She could be Bubarian
She could be Albanian
She could be Hungarian
She might be Ukrainian
She could be Australian
She could be the Alien
Send her to me
Send her to me (you got to send it)
Send her to me (you got to send it)
Send her to me (you got to send it)
Send her to me
The Rolling Stones' song "Send It to Me" expresses a feeling of desperation in love and personal affairs. The singer has had enough of religion, implying that he has been let down by something he believed in. He implores the listener to send him a letter with love, money, or hope. He is appealing from his lowest point, admitting that he needs consolation and love. He is willing to take any means necessary to bring what he needs to himself – by mule train, airplane or any other means. The bridge speaks of his deeper need for love and his willingness to beg for it, to grovel for the love that he so desperately needs.
The verses of the song each express different needs. He sends the first letter to his mother, someone he trusts to give him the love he needs. He then shifts to the urgent need for money, which he believes his lover owes him when he discovers she is unfaithful. He changes the tone when he sends his sister a letter, hoping for some love from her too. He promises to take care of her and protect her should she come. These changes in the letter recipients show us some of the thoughts that come to a person in a state of desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I had enough, you know religion, it's tough
Religion is too difficult for my conscience and my thinking. I have had enough of it.
It's a state of mind I don't need it!
Religion is a way of thinking that I do not require for myself.
I'm sending a letter to my mother
I am writing a message addressed to my mother.
I need some loving Send it to me
I am asking someone to provide me with some affection or care through this message.
I lost my lover Unfaithful lover I need some money Send it to me
My disloyal partner has left me and I require some financial assistance, so I am requesting it through this message.
I need consoling Your boy's feeling lonely Describe her for me Send it to me
I am feeling upset and isolated, so I am seeking some emotional support, specifically information about a woman, through this message.
If she can't travel I can take the mule train I can take the aeroplane Send it to me
If the woman is unable to travel to me, I am willing to take an alternate mode of transportation and I request that this information be included in the message.
So here I'm begging you Begging you, begging you Down on my knees Baby, please, please, please You, you, you got to send it Send it, send it, send it to me Send her, oh, send her to me
I am pleading with the recipient of this message to fulfill my request, specifically to send me the information or the woman I have asked for.
Yeah, I'm sending a letter To my sister In Australia Sister Marie
I am writing another message to my sister, who lives in Australia, and her name is Sister Marie.
Ain't got no doctor No sense of cover That needs my loving Send it to me
I am in need of some medical attention, but I do not have any medical insurance or coverage, so I am asking for someone's love and care through this message.
She won't have to watch her step She won't have to relocate I guarantee her personal security
If the woman comes to me, she will not have to fear for her safety or security because I will protect her.
She don't have to be five foot ten Or blond or brunette She don't have to be no social hostess Send her
I am not concerned about the physical appearance or social status of the woman I am requesting. I just want her to be sent to me.
She may work in a factory Right next door to me In my fantasy Send her to me
Even if the woman works in a factory near me, I am willing to have her in my imagination or dreams and I want her sent to me.
She could be Romanian She could be Bubarian She could be Albanian She could be Hungarian She might be Ukrainian She could be Australian She could be the Alien Send her to me
I have no specific preference or requirement for the woman's nationality or origin. I am willing to accept any woman who is willing to come to me, and I want her sent to me.
Send her to me (you got to send it) Send her to me (you got to send it) Send her to me (you got to send it) Send her to me
I am repeating and emphasizing my request to have the woman sent to me, and urging the recipient to fulfill my request.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mick Jagger Keith Richards Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Greg Halder
on 2000 Light Years From Home
Totally underrated track and album..