"The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man" isn't among the Rolling Ston… Read Full Bio ↴"The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man" isn't among the Rolling Stones' more renowned songs, but a lot of people own it on record, even if many of them might have never played it. That's because it was the American B-side of their monster hit "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" in mid-1965 (also appearing on the Out of Our Heads LP). "The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man" was certainly a weird title for a rock song in 1965 -- only Bob Dylan, perhaps, had really started to make use of such song titles -- and the phrase only occurs once in the lyric, in the slightly altered phrasing "I'm an under assistant West Coast promo man." But the song was based on a real person -- George Sherlock, who worked for the group's U.S. label, London Records, and had accompanied them on their first American tour. Although Bill Wyman describes it as a "good-natured jibe" at Sherlock in his book Rolling With the Stones, it's actually pretty sardonic in its first-person narrative by a high on himself, toupee-headed, seersucker suit-wearing music biz flunky who obviously thinks he's much cooler and more important than he is. This type of sarcastic attitude toward authority figures, even lower-level ones such as Sherlock, was almost unprecedented in rock music before bands like the Rolling Stones emerged. The song as a whole is indicative of their rapidly widening lyrical scope as songwriters, and also of the flowering of their ability to start having their compositions reflect their real-life attitudes, which were often lacking in the R&B/blues and Merseybeat pastiches they'd written prior to 1965. As a song, though, it's only OK -- the lyric is witty (and quite drolly sung by Mick Jagger), but the tune is just a basic stock R&B progression, which as Wyman admitted was based on Buster Brown's hit "Fannie Mae" (which the Stones were certainly familiar with, as they covered it on the BBC in the mid-'60s). Still, it's got quite a nice jogging groove, with suave Charlie Watts drums, harmonica, and twangy guitar. A slightly longer version of the track was released on Singles Collection: The London Years in 1985; the final part was probably edited off the original release due to the lyric "I break my ass every day," the word "ass" being pretty no-go for popular music releases in 1965. Another bit of trivia: in the U.K., "The Spider and the Fly" was used on the B-side of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" instead, the feeling being that British audiences wouldn't quite get the American references in the lyrics (such as "West Coast").

The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man
The Rolling Stones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I'm waiting at the bus stop in downtown L.A.
Well, I'm waiting at the bus stop in downtown L.A.
But I'd much rather be on a boardwalk on Broadway

Well, I'm sitting here thinkin' just how sharp I am
Well, I'm sitting here thinkin' just how sharp I am
I'm an under assistant west coast promo man

Well, I promo groups when they come into town
Well, I promo groups when they come into town
Well they laugh at my toupee, they're sure to put me down

Well, I'm sitting here thinking just how sharp I am
Yeah, I'm sitting here thinking just how sharp I am
I'm a necessary talent behind every rock and roll band

Yeah, I'm sharp
I'm really, really sharp
I sure do earn my pay
Sitting on the beach every day, yeah
I'm real real sharp, yes I am
I got a Corvette and a seersucker suit
Yes, I have

Here comes the bus, uh oh
I though I had a dime
Where's my dime

I know I have a dime somewhere
I'm pretty sure

Overall Meaning

The Rolling Stones's song, The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man, reflects the life of a promotional agent in the rock and roll industry. The singer of the song is the titular "under assistant," who sits on a bus stop in downtown L.A. and laments his position. He wishes he was on Broadway, where the boardwalk is located, indicating the glamour and popularity of the Broadway strip. The singer realizes his worth in the industry and acknowledges that he is thinking about his sharpness. He describes himself as an under-assistant west coast promo man, responsible for promoting musical groups when they come into town. The groups mock him for his balding head, indicating that his work may not be respected by the musicians.

The singer claims that he is a necessary talent behind every rock and roll band, despite the ridicule he faces from some musicians. He claims to be really, really sharp and earns his pay. The song ends with the singer frantically searching for his dime as the bus pulls up, which indicates his position in society as a struggling lower-middle-class man.

Overall, "The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man" highlights the struggles and overlooked work of promotional agents in the music industry. It also comments on the importance of appearance in the industry and the divide between those who create the music and those who promote it.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, I'm waiting at the bus stop in downtown L.A.
I'm stuck waiting at the bus stop in Los Angeles.

But I'd much rather be on a boardwalk on Broadway
I'd rather be in a more exciting place like the boardwalk on Broadway.

Well, I'm sitting here thinkin' just how sharp I am
I'm thinking about how clever I am.

I'm an under assistant west coast promo man
I'm a low-level employee who promotes groups on the West Coast.

Well they laugh at my toupee, they're sure to put me down
People make fun of my toupee and look down on me because of my job.

I'm a necessary talent behind every rock and roll band
Despite being mocked, my work is crucial to the success of every rock and roll band.

I sure do earn my pay, Sitting on the beach every day, yeah
I work hard, but it's not a difficult job and I enjoy a leisurely lifestyle.

I'm real real sharp, yes I am, I got a Corvette and a seersucker suit
I'm successful and have a flashy car and fancy suit to prove it.

Here comes the bus, uh oh, I though I had a dime, Where's my dime, I know I have a dime somewhere, I'm pretty sure
I'm worried about missing my bus because I can't find my dime, but I'm confident it's somewhere in my possession.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Michael Jagger, Phelge Nanker

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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01Mercy Mercy2:13

02Hitch Hike2:26

03The Last Time3:42

04That's How Strong My Love Is2:11

05Good Times1:54

06I'm Alright4:07

07(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction3:44

08Cry to Me3:08

09The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man

The Rolling Stones

10Play With Fire2:16

11The Spider And The Fly3:11

12One More Try1:58

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@МихаилСергопольцев

5y↑13

"The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man"

Well I'm waiting at the bus stop in downtown L.A.
Well I'm waiting at the bus stop in downtown L.A.
Well I'd much rather be on a boardwalk on Broadway

Well I'm sitting here thinkin' just how sharp I am
Well I'm sitting here thinkin' just how sharp I am
I'm an under assistant west coast promo man, yeah, yeah

Well I promo groups when they come into town
Well I promo groups when they come into town
Well they laugh at my toupee, they're sure to put me down

Well I'm sitting here thinking just how sharp I am
Yeah I'm sitting here thinking just how sharp I am
I'm a necessary talent behind every rock and roll band

Yeah, I'm sharp, I'm really, really sharp
I sure do earn my pay, sitting on the beach every day
Yeah, I'm real real sharp, yes I am
I got a cravat and a seersucker suit, yes I have

Here comes the bus, uh oh
I though I had a dime, where's my dime ?
I know I gott a dime here some where
Oh oh I'm so sharp

@비정한세상

2y↑1

- The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man -
The Rolling Stones

Well, I'm waiting at the bus stop in downtown L.A.
But I'd much rather be on a boardwalk on Broadway

Well I'm sitting here thinking just how sharp I am
I'm an under assistant west coast promo man
I'm a necessary talent behind every rock and roll band

Well I promo groups when they come into town
Well they laugh at my toupee, they're sure to put me down

Yeah, I'm sharp
I'm really, really sharp
I sure do earn my pay
Sitting on the beach every day, yeah
I'm real real sharp, yes I am
I got a Corvette and a seersucker suit
Yes I have

@alfredogarciabalderas6588

5y↑1

I'm waiting
You´re waiting
We're waiting

Together we follow
Together we go wherever
Together we will be whatever

But we are still waiting

There's no where to go and anywhere always gonna perfect

All comments from YouTube:

@chazhernandez6933

39w↑10

I was Five when this song came out 1964 didn’t know what I meant. Ask my mom she didn’t know what it meant later years I became a West Coast promotion man for record companies. I guess this song was inspiring. Still love the Stones today I promoted them!!🎶🎶

@GasMaskParade

1y↑8

What makes even their earlier,bluesy songs ever modern, is Jaggers voice.Its such a timeless,instrumental artifact.

@biancabeavis7198

That makes no sense? He has never not been part of the band so wasn’t the driving component of their early sound? He has been a part of all their sounds?

@GasMaskParade

@biancabeavis7198 yeah,so even back then,with an ancient blues backdrop,Jaggers voice was always modern sounding.

@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe

1y↑1

Youre both correct and that is problem. @biancabeavis7198

@blondbowler8776

5y↑52

Love this song. My intro to blues in '65. Well, Little Red Rooster, too. Got me a harmonica and been playing it ever since. Much the same riff in Steve Miller's "Fanny Mae" three years later.
Can't imagine life without The Rolling Stones. There are two periods in life - pre-Stones and post-Stones. Thank you for this.

@juanbenede2267

5y↑1

yeah man...

@steveconn

Actually the Stones played Fannie Mae in the BBC sessions and just changed the lyrics to this.

@blondbowler8776

5y↑1

@@steveconn Well, I'll be a blue-nosed gopher. Never heard that before. Fun to jam along with the Stones.

@MSYNGWIE12

4y↑2

I am the little red rooster, too lazy to crow...Thanks to The Stones, I found the sustenance I needed, The Blues by black incredible performers. Love bottle neck guitar. I preferred The Stones to The Beatles...Namaste, Z

@alvarosantiago4285

@@MSYNGWIE12 Too

@FranzSausage

5y↑22

This is one of my favourite tracks of the Stones. In my opinion the 60s we're the best era.

@daveyvane

2y↑14

These early Stones recordings are far superior productions than Who or Kinks. Especially the drums.

@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe

39w↑1

Just got it! Rasn Avery and Moon! But I got this first?

@patriciagutierrez9947

23w↑1

Great Stones Song!

@davidanderson8469

3y↑5

I love all the Stones songs but especially these early ones. "You have to be an extrovert to be a lead singer." He sure is. God bless the Stones.

@martincruzc.6720

5y↑16

Recorded May 10 & 11, 1965. Released on Out Of Our Heads in 1965. Longer version with extra lyrics at song's ending, which was on the early pressings of Out Of Our Heads, was added back in and released on Rolling Stones Singles Collection - The London Years in 1985.

@ornjonasson8873

4y↑8

I have always liked this song ever since I heard it for the first time back in 1966 when I was just 4 years old.
Probably one of the Stones best songs.

@marcincrux1212

4y↑20

The Under Assistant West Coast Promotion Man was a good-natured jibe at George Sherlock, the London Records promo man who accompanied us on our first American tour.
The track is based on Buster Brown's 1960 hit, Fannie Mae_, which also inspired the Beach Boys' _Help Me Rhonda
Bill Wyman (2002)

@axiomist4488

Thanks ! I never knew that .

@donnyh420

We bought a house owned by George Sherlock in Garden Grove CA in 1974 for $34k-ish. He was supposedly quite the party animal.

@swamifakkananda4043

3y↑1

@@donnyh420 yo, wanna sell that house for $66,666.66 site unseen?????

@rebeccawagner4167

32w↑2

I love this song 🎵 ❤️ and the Stones. The Stones just keep making amazing music and lyrics. Their style is unique and original. This is definitely a hidden gem 💎. This is what kicked started their music career. This was the good old days when music 🎶 🎵 was awesome.

@shirleyhubbert5547

2y↑3

What a song! Simple cords...simple lyrics. But packs a punch.

@CWA61

5y↑33

These videos are sustenance to those of us starving in these times.

@julianG1212

5y↑1

Yep especially us that are going through tough times like myself

@bpwarrior53

4y↑7

Rock In Peace Charlie.

@pikeman80

3y↑3

This is one of my favourite Stones songs.

@thelionheart7178

4y↑6

THE ROLLING STONES FOREVER!

@solamentehalo5813

5y↑27

I LOVE THIS 1960'S VIBES (even though I didn't live in that time)

@duncanbuchanan5119

5y↑3

Sounds better than ever !!!!! Rock Classic !!! Classic rock !!!!!

@katarinaketi6528

Tako je !!!

@johnallenismynameandmusici2796

3y↑4

Oh, yeah, I've got a whole playlist just on this era, say Stones 63-67 pre-"Satanic Majesty's Request" but including "Beggar's Banquet." So raw and honest. They never tried to be anything that they weren't. But if you've ever been in the downtown LA bus station it's pretty wild. A lot of people still arrived there constantly headed for Hollywood. Back in the day you could still go in to cool off in the air conditioning for a while, read a magazine, people watch, or watch one of those quarter TVs and the cops wouldn't hassle you too much. But you better have a ticket in your pocket if you fell asleep cause they'd come around and roust you. But that was the main hub east, west you were about as far as you could go except for the beaches, north or south so for instance you met some hippies headed to Baja or migrant workers going north to San Fernando Valley. I speak Spanish enough to get by and a lot of the riders were Mexicans. Of course, Chicanos are born in America and their native language is English. But it was fun bussing it, you honestly did wind up meeting a lot of interesting people. I was down there a few months back and the whole area now is surrounded with homeless tents. They estimate about 4,500 people living there and that's sad.

@michealmecca3939

3y↑5

ALWAYS LOVED THIS SONG. BEING ON THE FLIP SIDE OF SATISFACTION IT DIDN'T GET ANY PLAY TIME ON THE RADIO

@davehire1433

2y↑1

The line “I break my ass every day” probably didn’t help.

@shannonschaerer1010

28w

@@davehire1433True - esp at that time!! What's important is that we're STILL listening to it in 2024!!

@MarkWylie-c8l

21w

❤under asst.E-Coast man...

@derjogderjog8031

2y↑3

I am not sure there is even one song I do not like from the fantastic mystic stones..my problem is cannot stop listening...takes time...

@mjrchapin

4y↑7

Sooner or later, everything ends up on You Tube. Thank God!

@rhondadiaz4605

Absolutely and yes, thank God.

@dannyhenderson5337

3y↑4

Love it

@Моджахед-о5ы

5y↑7

COOL

@maxmartino8979

4y↑2

I love them too much...somebody help me please!!!!

@axiomist4488

Forget it man, it's inoperable !

@davidhahnbirds

5y↑3

Love the Stones

@markmarkofkane8167

2y↑1

The flipside to Satisfaction (45 RPM record). My mom had it, I watched it play as a tot.(2-3 years old) I got my own 45 when I was 10.
London Records, blue and white swirl label.

@МихаилСергопольцев

5y↑13

@BigSky1

5y↑1

Cravat, not Corvette.

@МихаилСергопольцев

5y↑2

@@BigSky1 Thank you

@kyvensplatter2748

5y↑5

Amazing ❤️💜✌️👍

@kyvensplatter2748

@Rolling Stones Records, Promos and Bootlegs thank you so much

@flamarionfeijao6217

5y↑3

Great song, great voice

@monica-NJ-123

4y↑1

OMG forgot about this song until now xoxo

@paulbmi2976

5y↑5

Thanks great work! Mic is still the man

@greatunz67

5y↑2

"Mick"

@bungus49

4y↑2

"Where's my dime I know I gotta dime here" love it

@titobelisarioticeranguerra8877

50w↑1

Cover: LOS ARAGON ( México ) - SORPRESA, SORPRESA ( 196? ).

@imeldamartinez206

25w

Además el ritmo se lo pirateó el Alex Lora con terminal del Ado.

@elrolly7545

5y↑2

IN THE SIXTIES ⭐⭐⭐💿📀🎸🎸🎸🆒 ROLLING STONES FOR EVER👅👅👅

@fasteddie1360

4y↑1

Hi to Herbert Luthe - Yes this was one of the first Singles I bought - wish I still had the disc. 50+ years memories, played on a 'cheap' not back then portable, over and over until I knew the words. First I've found this copy. Excellent to be able to find history at your fingertips, isn't it ? Only been on PCs for 30+ years and still finding 'new' things !!
Back then I listened to BBC 'Evening Blues' (for them) about 9PM Ohio time. Best for US music was CKLW-Detroit for Motown and WBZ-Boston 'late-nite' for US Rock. I had an old "Sears Airline" multi-channel radio w-Shortwave so I was able to get these stations. Also recd S. American stations, but my Spanish was pretty poor then - I was only 12 !

@shirleyhubbert5547

Such a cool song...tells a story really..❤

@drisilva7621

5y↑2

Oi amigo tudo bem eu adoro os Rolling Stones e por isso vou deixar o meu like OK Tmj

@michaelcraig9449

4y↑1

I used to wait on a bus in downtown LA, sometimes real late at night! Scary stuff at times..

@Mynamesalexa

1y↑1

Flip side to Satisfaction 45

@alisonjackson-bass495

39w

Great graphics.

@petelewis9026

5y↑21

Great tune Brian on harmonica

@BigSky1

5y↑6

Mick on harmonica this time.

@rkmklz7562

20w

My Mom had the 45rpm with I Can't Get No Satisfaction....A Great One

@mcashnv

2y↑1

Charlie with that swing beat

@roberttattoo1634

5y↑1

Thank you

@axiomist4488

3y↑1

I love how funny this is : the guy doesnt even have a dime for the bus ! LOL. BUT, he's real sharp.

@debbieprice4357

Happy birthday Mick

@julianG1212

4y↑8

This is the b side of satisfaction

@CarrollDeanJones1931

36w↑1

Yes, in the U.S. In Britain, the flip of "Satisfaction" was "The Spider & the Fly."

@shannonschaerer1010

28w↑1

Cool info!! Thanks for sharing!!

@shannonschaerer1010

28w↑1

@EarlHutton2030 and thank you for sharing as well. I love learning about things like that.

@cchhaammppiioonnss

30w↑1

Ado el tri

@imeldamartinez206

25w↑1

Plagio

@juanbenede2267

5y↑5

great ...Charlie swing baby...
Fucking klein. ..

@hansfilzmoser9089

One of tue Best songs

@kjcpzone

5y↑6

El primero en español 🐷

@armanddimeo6575

3y↑2

The Stones at their blusiest best. A better song than the much better known "A" side in my opinion.

@k.t.5405

2y↑1

min 2:54 its not " a seer sucker suit", its " a SEARS sucker suit" 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

@herbertluthe6850

5y↑1

well, I'm the under assistant western germany stones fan - since 50 years.

@reginer7115

5y↑29

That harmonica though

@michaelcraig9449

4y↑2

What is wrong with harmonica? Lots of songs use it, all through rock history and they still do. Now WTF is wrong with it? Tell us about your great band and all your hits with no harmonica.

@reginer7115

4y↑4

@@michaelcraig9449 Did I say there was anything wrong with the harmonica?
No, I did not. So Calm the f*ck down.
This comment was meant to express how GREAT the harmonica sounds in this song and all the people who liked my comment agreed with me. Now, here's you coming here randomly and accusing me of saying there was something wrong with it when I said nothing like that at all. Maybe you didn't understand what I meant? But I did not say that the harmonica sounded bad or anything ffs.
If you don't understand what a person meant by their comment, then don't answer with a bunch of conclusions you came up with. It's that simple, jesus christ.

@igorbolotnikov4103

3y↑4

yeah, that's Brian ..really nice job

@shannonschaerer1010

28w

IDK - I've been listening to this song for decades, & it still sounds GR8 to me - all of it - including the harmonica.

@reginer7115

28w↑1

@@shannonschaerer1010 I was complimenting the harmonica

2 More Replies...

@no1nestandsalone387

5y↑13

I was driving home from work and added on impromtu notes and words to make the song sound cool. Kind of like a Robert Plant style change.. it sounds good and everyone passing me on the street keep looking and listening lol. It’s a good song!

@greatunz67

5y↑1

what are you talking about? lol

@no1nestandsalone387

5y↑4

GreatToonz me singing to this. I added little inflections by myself... to add to it and make it fun. I do it a lot.

@no1nestandsalone387

5y↑4

GreatToonz you know Plant adds words to his songs.. baby or my my my.. stuff like that. Can you dig it? Lol

@비정한세상

2y↑1

@jbstonesfan

5y↑9

Early Stones criminally underrated.

@sergioosorio4656

5y↑5

Que chimba ome :0

@trancentralovertone

sharpish

@TheMentalblockrock

It's clearly a very early dig at how the music business works. Very perceptive of Jagger and co.....

@thestones2789

4y↑2

AFTERMATH is biology

@andremendizabalfernandez109

5y↑1

🤘🏿🤠

@AlejandroGarcia-qj8kb

3y↑4

Estoy esperando mi camión
En la terminal del A.D.O.
Estoy esperando mi camión
En la terminal del A.D.O.
Quiero que me lleve muy lejos
Y a la chingada de aquí.

Plagio por parte del tri de México

@BobbyGrissom-z2o

37w

Yeehaaaah

@ruditrick6893

5y↑1

1960S🎵🎸❤🎸👍

@suzyrowzee2217

😎

@jasonjowan1154

5y↑1

Prophets, definitely prophets.

@barthelemyferreri9043

5y↑1

The rolling stones ❤😇😇🌈🌈

@chrisefthymiou8289

5y↑5

WELL IM SITTING HERE THINKING JUST HOW SHARP I AM . 55 YEARS STILL THINKING AND YHE STONESBLAYING DOWN THEIR ROOTS 4US ALL.

@georgebrunocostabastossant6646

5y↑4

Twenty second

@alfredogarciabalderas6588

5y↑1

I'm waiting
You´re waiting
We're waiting

Together we follow
Together we go wherever
Together we will be whatever

But we are still waiting

There's no where to go and anywhere always gonna perfect

@katarinaketi6528

5y↑1

Volim Stonse najvišeee.... SERBIA

@pjeromarinov6587

4y↑1

Ajde da se mi Hrvati slozimo s vama

@pjeromarinov6587

4y↑1

Srbima bar u jednom haha

@robarnum7180

got a seersucker suit he got it at sears and BOY did he get suckered!

@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe

51w

Stale minutia and worshippers!

@Huey_Nopal

4y↑6

así que de aquí se la fusilo el tri, es la mismo que la del ADO

@jamesgudgeon4868

This would be good for mad men

@swamifakkananda4043

4y↑1

Someone got a dime for the man???

@johnsurabian5522

@denispantis9366

LOL LOL

@dennishanson3364

5y↑6

Probably couldn't get away with this these days. Totally stole the music from Buster Brown's Fannie Mae.

@shelleyganz9095

3y↑2

Yeah, but more of a Tribute....not really stole...an homage to it's greatness!!

@plamenavasileva5132

Brian Jones on the harmonica!

@barthelemyferreri9043

5y↑3

Brian Jones ❤❤😇😇

@flexible8165

5y↑1

Iam rs

@roberttaylor914

4y↑2

I think this was on the opposite side of "Satisfaction" and was actually more popular at the time

@Townshend90125

3y↑3

Really? That’s seems kinda odd mostly because I heard the A - Side broke them into the main stream

@shannonschaerer1010

28w

Maybe it was in your crowd, but "Satisfaction" WAS (& still is worldwide) known by MANY more people. Not that this song isn't fantastic, but "Satisfaction" has the groove & the lyrics that EVERYONE KNOWS!!