Released: November 1, 2004

Songwriter: Mick Jagger Keith Richards

Producer: The Glimmer Twins Don Was

[Spoken Word: Mick Jagger]
When the whip comes down

[Intro]
One, two
One, two, three, four

[Verse 1]
Yeah, Mama and Papa told me
I was crazy to stay
I was gay in New York
I was just a fag in L.A
So I saved my money
And I took the plane
Wherever I go
They just treat me the same

[Refrain]
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
Yeah

[Verse 2]
Yeah, some call me garbage
When I'm sweeping up the street
But I never roll
And I never cheat
And I’m filling a need
Yeah, I'm plugging a hole
My Mama's so glad
I ain’t on the dole


[Refrain]
When the whip comes down, yeah
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
Oh yeah, when the whip comes down

[Verse 3]
Yeah, I go to 53rd Street
And they spit in my face
But I'm learning the ropes
Yeah, I'm learning the trade
The East River truckers
Are churning with trash
I've got so much money
But I spend it so fast

[Refrain]
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down

When the shit hits the fan
I'll be sitting on the can
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down

[Guitar Solo 1]

[Refrain]
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
Yeah, check it out baby

[Guitar Solo 2]

[Refrain]
When the whip comes down, yeah
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down, yeah
When the whip comes down
Yeah, check it out, check it out, check it out, check iout
Check it out, check it out, check out
Check it out, check it out, check out

[Guitar Solo 3]

[Instrumental Outro]

[Audience Applause]

The Rolling Stones

Formed in London in 1962, The Rolling Stones led the “British Invasion” along with The Beatles and were so successful their influence can be seen in arguably every rock ‘n’ roll band that followed.

Three of the current members have been there since the band’s singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, who write the majority of the band’s catalogue and also produced some albums as The Glimmer Twins; and drummer Charlie Watts. The fourth official member is guitarist Ronnie Wood, who has been there since 1975 (the keyboardist and bassist who play in studio and live are usually not listed). The Stones have released more than 20 studio albums, and even as age caught up on them, continued to be a huge attraction on the live circuit, with big stadium tours continuing through the 1990s, 2000s and into the 2010s.

Discography