Rolling Stones – Ruby Tuesday

I wish this era of the Stones would have lasted longer. Yes, I love the electric blues slanted work they did after this but they wrote some great pop songs. Brian Jones plays the recorder (it sounds like a flute) in this song. You don’t hear much about Brian now but he expanded their sound in the mid-sixties with an array of instruments.

Bill Wyman said that Keith wrote the lyrics and Brian helped finish the melody. This song was the B side to “Let’s Spend The Night Together.”

This song peaked at #1 in the Billboard 100 in 1967.

 

Keith Richards: “That’s one of those things – some chick you’ve broken up with. And all you’ve got left is the piano and the guitar and a pair of panties. And it’s goodbye you know. And so it just comes out of that. And after that, you just build on it. It’s one of those songs that are easiest to write because you’re really right there and you really sort of mean it. And for a songwriter, hey break his heart and he’ll come up with a good song.” 

 

 

From Songfacts

The fourth US #1 hit for the Rolling Stones, this ballad is about a groupie. It may have been inspired by Linda Keith, who was Keith Richards’ girlfriend. Richards said in According to the Rolling Stones: “It was probably written about Linda Keith not being there (laughs). I don’t know, she had pissed off somewhere. It was very mournful, very, VERY Ruby Tuesday and it was a Tuesday.”

Originally, this was called “Title B.”

Keith Richards and Brian Jones wrote most of this, but in keeping with Stones tradition, it was credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Brian Jones was their lead guitarist until he died in 1969, and could play just about any instrument. 

A large double-bass was used. Bill Wyman plucked the notes while Richards played it with a bow.

This was not on the English version of Between The Buttons because it was already released as a single there, and it was customary not to put singles on albums.

This was supposed to be the B-side of “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” but many radio stations shied away from the sexual implications of that song, so they played this instead and made it a hit.

Jagger: “Ruby Tuesday is good. I think that’s a wonderful song. It’s just a nice melody, really. And a lovely lyric. Neither of which I wrote, but I always enjoy singing it.”

The singer Melanie, who had a #1 hit with “Brand New Key” in 1971, released a cover of “Ruby Tuesday” in 1970 that went to #9 in the UK and #52 in the US. Rod Stewart also released a popular cover that was accompanied by a video. His version made #11 in the UK in 1993.

Ruby Tuesday

She would never say where she came from
Yesterday don’t matter if it’s gone
While the sun is bright
Or in the darkest night
No one knows, she comes and goes

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you

Don’t question why she needs to be so free
She’ll tell you it’s the only way to be
She just can’t be chained
To a life where nothings gained
And nothings lost, at such a cost

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you

“There’s no time to lose”, I heard her say
Catch your dreams before they slip away
Dying all the time
Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind
Ain’t life unkind?

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

46 thoughts on “Rolling Stones – Ruby Tuesday”

    1. I had that one. There is a story about that artwork…look at Brian’s flower…no leaves like the others…it was rumored that Mick and Keith had something to do with that.

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      2. Please disregard the above comment. I thought you were talking about this performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. I think you were talking about something else.

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  5. Whenever I heard this wonderful track, I would have to be reminded that it was in fact The Stones. It just never sounded like them to me. I think this, Helter Skelter and Sympathy for the Devil are my favourite Stones songs although I admit I was never a big fan.

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    1. Oh…Helter Skelter was The Beatles… .I think to this day it was the hardest song ever put on record by either…

      This song was a great pop record…I love this era from them.

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  6. The era right after the demise of Brian Jones was great but I think overall I miss those little touches Brian Jones added to the music- in the Between The Buttons era.

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    1. I tend to sound like a Brian Jones apologist but I do agree… I miss the subtle touches… he would have fit musically with the Beatles during that time.

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    1. It’s one of their masterpieces to me. I love this era of them. They had some pop classics…and Brian Jones was responsible for the sound of a lot of them.

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    1. It is one of their great middle period ones.

      Dave I’ll make it over to your baseball side soon…I was reading it and got interupted today..

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  9. This might be my oldest fave Stones song. The lyrics, melody and instrumentation are the complete package, imo. I love Keith’s description of the song. He alluded to that yearning that I only hear in songs written by young people.

    I love Melanie’s cover too.

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    1. I have’t heard Melanie’s cover I’ll check it out. I like the touches Brian adds to this era of Stones songs. I agree it has everything…and it was a B side.

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      2. Her voice really soars and stretches out in this version and carries the song. I didn’t know her voice was that strong.

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      3. Imo, she succeeded in making it a totally different song. I don’t think about the Stones when she performs it. And that’s something, since I love the Stones’ version so much.

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    1. They did lose more than they thought…and they erasing him from their history.

      Baby Pod???? Oh geez…I can’t believe that.
      We need to invent useless things and make a killing.
      No…then we would be contributing to the steady dropping of IQ points.

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      6. I don’t know if it’s an ego thing because Brian started the Stones…even Bill Wyman says that. He could be an ass but he was the best musician they had in the band. He could pick up any instrument and play. He started to do way too many drugs but he supposedly quit them at the end before Mick and Keith kicked him out…he died shortly after…
        Mick and Keith just have a put down when asked about him and move on…Wyman gets pissed at the two of them for doing that.

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  11. I have to admit as a Beatles fan, it took me a while to really appreciate the Stones. That being said, I really dig them now that I am older. Their Greatest Hits is always in my car. I have been wanting to feature “Honky Tonk Women”, “Jumping Jack Flash”, and “Brown Sugar” on my blog for a few weeks – eventually I will. LOL

    Great stuff!! Ever hear Weird Al’s Polka Medley of Stones songs??

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    1. Yea with me…I was a Beatles fan first…then came the Stones. They was their pop period which I enjoy a lot because the songs from this era are not as worn out.

      YES… that is hilarious.

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    1. That is a really good version. I like the dynamics she had. When I think of her, one song always comes to mind…Brand New Key. I guess it’s ingrained in my head from early childhood.

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  15. Ah, my comment went AWOL – must’ve been captured by Akismet ‘cos I included a link. If it did, have a look for Melanie’s song ‘Psychotherapy’ which is very funny.

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