Mick Jagger has sung many legendary lines.
“Well now, what can a poor boy do
‘Cept to sing for a rock-n-roll band?
‘Cause in sleepy London Town
There’s just no place for street fighting man”
In the early 1960s, no band could evoke the eyes and ears like the Rolling Stones. With their gritty, hard rock sound, the Stones have been prominent for over six decades and haven’t looked back since. With hits like, “Get Off of My Cloud“, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and the iconic (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction“, the band’s classic lineup featured Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts. Jones was eventually replaced by Mick Taylor before he died in 1969.
Mick Jagger’s Shocking Revelation
As we know, the Stones’ catalog features many timeless classics. While the fans have their favorites, they also have disliked ones. The same goes for the band. With so many hits to choose from, one would assume that the Stones like all of their songs. As far as Mick Jagger is concerned, not so much.
When asked what his least favorite was, he shocked a few by mentioning “Street Fighting Man“. While many of today’s artists are content with creating songs that are popular at the moment, most artists aim to create hits that resonate over time. Jagger’s disdain for the song was simply that he felt the song had resonance for the present day. Written by the pioneering songwriting team of Mick Jagger and Richards, “Street Fighting Man” was released in the US in August 1968. It was not released in the United Kingdom until four months later on the Beggars Banquet album.
A Musical Revolution
With its psychedelic rock vibe, the politically driven tune features the Indian instrumentation of Brian Jones. Unbeknownst to many, this would be the final single on which Jones performed. Originally, the song had a completely different title and featured lyrics about adult brutality. Eventually, Jagger became inspired by the current world events and wrote new lyrics to chronicle multiple periods of civil unrest in 1968. Not surprisingly, “Street Fighting Man” sparked controversy in the US upon its release, with many radio stations refusing to play it.
As a result, the song peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of their lowest charting singles ever. Despite the song’s poor chart performance and controversial lyrics, it was still praised by many upon its release. Ultimately, “Street Fighting Man” became known as one of the most significant songs of the 1960s. To date, the Rolling Stones have five Grammys and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. With estimated album sales of over 200 million, they have solidified themselves as one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
