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Jones left the band shortly before his death in 1969, having been replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.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)
The Spider And The Fly
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wonderin' what I'd do when I'm through tonight
Smokin', mopin', maybe just hopin'
Some little girl will pass on by
Don't wanna be alone but I love my girl at home
I remember what she said (what she said)
She said, "my, my, my, don't tell lies,
Keep fidelity in your head
When you're done you should go to bed
Don't say hi, like a spider to a fly
Jump right ahead and you're dead"
Sit up, fed up, low down, go round
Down to the bar at the place I'm at
Sittin', drinkin', superficially thinkin'
About the rinsed-out blonde on my left
But then I said "hi" like a spider to a fly
Rememberin' what my little girl said
She was common, flirty, she looked about thirty
I would have run away but I was on my own
She told me later she's a machine operator
She said she liked the way I held the microphone
Then I said "hi" like a spider to a fly
Jump right ahead in my web
The Rolling Stones's song The Spider And The Fly is a cautionary tale about infidelity and the consequences that come with it. The opening verses depict the singer sitting alone in a bar, contemplating what he will do for the night. He hopes for a momentary distraction from his loneliness in the form of a passing girl. However, he remembers the words of his loved one, who warned him to keep fidelity in his head and not to fall prey to temptation, comparing the situation to a spider capturing its prey, a fly. Despite this, he eventually succumbs to the advances of a flirtatious woman who shows interest in him.
The second verse recounts how he meets this girl, who is described as common and flirty. He acknowledges that he should have avoided her, but his loneliness and desire led him to stay. She expresses admiration for his microphone-holding ability, and he instantly sees an opportunity for a quick fling. Again, he disobeys his loved one's advice and approaches her like a spider catching a fly. The song ends with the implication that the singer is trapped in his own web of desire, unable to escape from the consequences of his actions.
Overall, The Spider And The Fly is a powerful statement about the importance of fidelity and the dangers of infidelity, using the metaphor of a spider and a fly to convey its message. It warns against being lured into temptation by the promise of temporary pleasure, reminding listeners that actions have consequences that cannot be escaped.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin', drinkin', sinkin', drinkin'
I am sitting and drinking, feeling low and sad, wanting to know what I should do after tonight.
Wonderin' what I'd do when I'm through tonight
I am wondering what to do once the night is over.
Smokin', mopin', maybe just hopin'
I am smoking, feeling low and sad, and perhaps just hoping that a girl walks by.
Some little girl will pass on by
I am waiting for a girl to walk by.
Don't wanna be alone but I love my girl at home
Although I don't want to be alone, I still love my girlfriend at home.
I remember what she said (what she said)
I recall what my girlfriend told me.
She said, "my, my, my, don't tell lies, Keep fidelity in your head, My my my, don't tell lies, When you're done you should go to bed, Don't say hi, like a spider to a fly, Jump right ahead and you're dead"
My girlfriend warned me not to lie and to remain faithful. She also advised me not to greet other women like a predator, or it could lead to trouble.
Sit up, fed up, low down, go round
I am sitting up straight, feeling unsatisfied and depressed, and going around in circles in my thoughts.
Down to the bar at the place I'm at
I am going to the bar in the location where I am currently located.
Sittin', drinkin', superficially thinkin'
I am sitting and drinking while thinking shallow thoughts.
About the rinsed-out blonde on my left
I am thinking about the blonde woman sitting next to me who looks washed-out and faded.
But then I said "hi" like a spider to a fly
Despite my girlfriend's warning, I still greeted the woman next to me in a predatory manner.
Rememberin' what my little girl said
I am now recalling my girlfriend's warning again.
She was common, flirty, she looked about thirty
The woman I greeted was ordinary, flirtatious, and looked about thirty years old.
I would have run away but I was on my own
I would have fled from the woman's advances, but I was alone and vulnerable.
She told me later she's a machine operator
The woman I met later told me that she works as a machine operator.
She said she liked the way I held the microphone
The woman complimented me on my microphone work.
Then I said "hi" like a spider to a fly
Again, despite my girlfriend's warning, I greeted the woman in a predatory manner.
Jump right ahead in my web
I then proceeded to lure the woman into my trap.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Κυριάκος Χατζόγλου
Sittin' thinkin' sinkin' drinking
Wondering what I'd do when I'm through tonight
Smoking moping, maybe just hoping
Some little girl will pass on by
Don't wanna be alone but I love my girl at home
I remember what she said
She said, "My, my, my don't tell lies, keep fidelity in your head
My my my, don't tell lies. When you're done you should go to bed
Don't say hi, like a spider to a fly
Jump right ahead and you're dead"
Sit up, fed up, low down go round
Down to the bar at the place I'm at
Sitting drinking, superficially thinking
About the rinsed-out blonde on my left
Then I said, "Hi" like a spider to a fly
Remembering what my little girl said
She was common, flirty, she looked about thirty
I would have run away but I was on my own
She told me later she's a machine operator
She said she liked the way I held the microphone
I said my, my, like a spider to a fly
Jump right ahead in my web
mistery-ed
I just love how these Stones classics drop out of nowhere every so often.
john scialfa
@Rob Pattison great tune rob
Rob Pattison
just found out memo from Turner was only Mick jagger and none of the stones . Ry Cooder on amazing slide ! . matter of fact only heard it a few times in 45 years shamefully
Douglas Vilaça
I love this song, one of the bests songs by Rolling Stones ❤️
Benjamin Bemis
It sounds like one of their later songs somehow.
MizEileen
One of my early Stone Age faves. Intro and outro pure gold. Tight blues arrangement and classic Jagger vocal. Brian shines on harp and Keith nails the riff. I always pictured a stinging bee in the instrumental break instead of a spider.
MizEileen
@That_90s_Guy I remember his harmonica on I Just Want to Make Love to You and his slide work on Got No Expectations. A true virtuoso who left this world far too soon.
That_90s_Guy
@MizEileen Np. A hallmark of Brian's harmonica skill is that for one he was able to produce a more fuller sound than Mick, more bluesy, and also when he played harmonica, he usually played it for the entire duration of a song, not just in spurts. For example, Dear Doctor on Beggar's Banquet is an example of Brian's harmonica style
MizEileen
@That_90s_Guy Yes. I stand corrected.
That_90s_Guy
Brian is on rhythm guitar, it's Mick on harmonica