The song opens with what has since become a trademark riff for Keith Richards. It is this, coupled with Charlie Watts' steady backbeat and Bill Wyman's echoing bass, that comprises most of the song. Lead guitarist Ronnie Wood can clearly be heard playing a layered variation of Richards' main riff. Often live versions of the song are lengthened by giving Wood a solo near the middle of the song, pieces of which can be heard throughout the original recording.
'Start Me Up' peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Charts in August 1981., where it remains a significant single as the Stones have not been back into the UK Top 10 since. In Australia, the song reached No. 1 in November 1981. In the United States, 'Start Me Up' spent three weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also spent 13 weeks atop the Billboard Top Tracks chart.
Start Me Up
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you start me up I'll never stop
You can start me up
You can start me up I'll never stop
I've been running hot
You got me ticking going to blow my top
If you start me upIf you start me up I'll never stop
Never stop, never stop, never stop
You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry
Spread out the oil, the gasoline
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
Start it up
If you start it up
Kick on the starter
Give it all you got, you got, you got
I can't compete with the riders in the other heats
If you rough it up
If you like it, I can slide it up
Slide it up, slide it up, slide it up
Don't make a grown man cry
Don't make a grown man cry
Don't make a grown man cry
My eyes dilate, my lips go green
My hands are greasy
She's a mean, mean machine
Start it up
Start me up
Ah, give it all you got
You got to never, never, never stop
Slide it up, baby, just slide it up
Slide it up, slide it up, never, never, never
You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry
Ride like the wind at double speed
I'll take you places that you've never, never seen
If you start it up
Love the day when we will never stop, never stop
Never, never, never stop
Tough me up
Never stop, never stop
You, you, you make a grown man cry
You, you made a dead man come
You, you made a dead man come
The lyrics of The Rolling Stones's classic hit "Start Me Up" is about getting pumped up with excitement and energy, all while channeling it towards a woman. The song features the signature Keith Richards riff that builds up the song's adrenaline, which is also a metaphorical representation of getting a car's engine revving. The song is all about taking action and achieving anything you set your mind to, and this can only happen if you are motivated and focused.
The first verse is a promise of never-ending performance; that if you start someone up, nothing can stop them. The chorus then goes on to sing praises of a woman who makes a man cry, and who also makes him feel alive again. The second verse goes on to describe spreading oil and gasoline, which is a reference to getting the engine of a car running. The singer then mentions being able to ride in a mean machine, which is also a metaphor for the same thing: find your edge and exploit it.
In conclusion, "Start Me Up" is a great rock anthem about finding your strength, harnessing it, and channeling it into something meaningful. The song is all about the thrill of the chase, but ultimately, it is also about the joy that comes with the pursuit of passion.
Line by Line Meaning
If you start me up
If you ignite or initiate something within me
If you start me up, I'll never stop
I'll continue with that unrelenting passion
You can start me up
You have the power to get me going
You can start me up, I'll never stop
And I won't cease until I reach my goals or desires
I've been running hot
I've been experiencing an intense, fiery energy
You got me ticking, gonna blow my top
You're so electric that you could ignite a flame or cause me to lose control
Never stop, never stop, I'll never stop
I'll relentlessly persevere towards my pursuits
You make a grown man cry
You're so powerful that you can bring grown men to their emotional breaking point
Spread out the oil, the gasoline
Prepare the fuel needed to run the machine
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
I'm confident and in control, whether walking or driving a powerful vehicle
Kick on the starter
Engage the starting mechanism
Give it all you got, you got, you got
Exert your full effort and energy
I can't compete with the riders in the other heats
I'm unable to keep up with those who are better, faster, or more experienced than me
If you rough it up
If you make it more challenging or demanding
If you like it, I can slide it up
If you enjoy a difficult challenge, then I can rise to it
Don't make a grown man cry
Avoid causing me excessive emotional distress
My eyes dilate, my lips go green
My pupils widen, and my mouth puckers in anticipation or excitement
My hands are greasy
My hands are covered in oil and fuel, indicative of working hard
She's a mean, mean machine
Referring to an impressive and powerful vehicle or woman
Ah, give it all you got
Exert your full strength and energy
You got to never, never, never stop
Continue moving forward without pause or hesitation
Slide it up, woo
Do it better or with more energy
Aw baby, just slide it up
Encouraging someone to push themselves harder
Ride like the wind at double speed
Moving forward quickly with force and intensity
I'll take you places that you've never, never seen
I'll introduce you to new and exciting experiences
Love the day and we will never stop, never stop
Embrace life, and we'll continue pursuing our passions indefinitely
You, you, you make a grown man cry
Reinforcing how powerfully moving this person is
You, you made a dead man come
Metaphorically showing how intense and thrilling the experience is
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Demeter2004
Man, what a good song for a Transformers movie trailer)
@TekarinGaming
Damn bro beat me to it
@zenitsu_agatsuma1360
You're come from the future ?
@jcwick0859
transformers are for kids
@Randy.E.R
Let me tell you why I love this song so much. Back in 1982, when I was 17 years old, I was working at a Shell gas station in a small California desert town. This was when gas stations were still full service with a garage. I bought a 1968 Chevy Nova and spent almost every evening at the gas station trying to get the damn thing running. I installed an AM/FM stereo with an 8 track player, so even if the car wasn't running, I could at least listen to music. The only 8 track tape I had at the time was Tattoo You by The Rolling Stones.
My girlfriend at the time was a girl name Rhonda, she was absolutely gorgeous to me. Every evening, she would walk to the station and sit inside the car with me for a few minutes while we listened to my Stones tape. Rhonda eventually moved away before I was able to get the Nova running, it completely broke my heart. Every time I hear Start me Up, I can't help but think of sitting inside the Nova and listening to it with Rhonda. I sure hope she met someone that treated her right because she certainly deserved it.
@maxzamota9373
this is golden
@nicolesantos8412
Su historia es hermosa.
@nalumaui
I love this Story so much god bless you brother
@martinj2687
"You made a grown man cryyy" ๐ฅฒ
@jw870206
People love โ80s movies. You lived one.