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The Rolling Stones — Ruby Tuesday
Album: Flowers
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1059









Released: 1967
Length: 3:15
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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
Shell 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

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...
Comments (70)add comment
Hey! We do this every week!

BJAM - Ruby Tuesday
for many years, just hearing this on the radio, i always thought it was the beatles. not sure how that fact got reconciled for me, maybe a dj finally identified it for me
 Hannio wrote:


Yeah, I'm coping with increasingly annoying tinnitus myself.  Too many years of loud cars, loud music and loud women.

 
If you're going to damage yourself I can think of few better ways to do it. 
              
 Hannio wrote:

Yeah, I'm coping with increasingly annoying tinnitus myself.  Too many years of loud cars, loud music and loud women.



 
I too have that continuous high pitched sound in my ears. It's there since a concert, three years ago, which I didn't experience as being extremely loud. Still it was there afterwards and it never went away.

Funny thing is that the problem is caused by music and that playing music (not too loud of course) also is the best way to deal with it. I accept it will never go away and hope it won't get worse.
 ginniet wrote:
There are certain songs that take me back to a particular time and/or place.  This one puts me back in my sophomore year in high school in 1967 when it was released.  While that's a LONG time ago, hearing this again makes it seem like yesterday.

 
Same here.  And not one care in the world except fear of acne
The first 45 I ever purchased, Ruby Tuesday on one side, Lets Spend the Night Together on the other. I was 12.
I was about 12 and just getting into playing drums when this came out and was on the radio all the time. Used to love the snare roll!
White Knight is talking backwards.
 Misterfixit wrote:

Believe me when I tell you that no number of Veteran's Administration $4,000 each digital hearing aids wil ever make up for my 17-year old ear drums lost.  Too many years of drumming and too many times on the rifle range or in the jungle.

Word to the young and unwise reading this .. protect your hearing more fervently than you protect your gonads.  You can always find a sperm donor but never new ears.

Dave

 

Yeah, I'm coping with increasingly annoying tinnitus myself.  Too many years of loud cars, loud music and loud women.


 WonderLizard wrote:
Who did the piano on this? I seem to recall it was Brian Jones. The credits include Jack Nietzsche. But I wonder if it was the "other" Stone, Ian Stewart. Anyone know?

 
According to Wikipedia (which is occasionally accurate), Jones played the piano and the recorder on this tune.

Sounds like beatless *puke*


There are certain songs that take me back to a particular time and/or place.  This one puts me back in my sophomore year in high school in 1967 when it was released.  While that's a LONG time ago, hearing this again makes it seem like yesterday.
Who did the piano on this? I seem to recall it was Brian Jones. The credits include Jack Nietzsche. But I wonder if it was the "other" Stone, Ian Stewart. Anyone know?
This is/was never one of my favorites from this era but I find myself singing it forever after hearing it...aarrgghh
{#Bananajumprope} .......... Wonderful track has to be a really FAT 9
remembers when songs like this played on AM...in mono.      
The only RS song I'll give a 10.  Interesting (or not) how they could never repeat this, despite all the hooplah.
 BillG wrote:

That's not a flaw in our copy — it's a flaw in Mick's vocal itself.  It's always been there, and I always wondered why the didn't just do another take. Somehow, though, it adds to the charm.
  I never previously noticed it, (after only only a few hundred listens) but, yes, it does add to the charm.


 BillG wrote:

That's not a flaw in our copy — it's a flaw in Mick's vocal itself.  It's always been there, and I always wondered why the didn't just do another take. Somehow, though, it adds to the charm.
 
In my mind there is this thing with the Beatles and the Stones. The Beatles, with Mr. Martin, loved the studio and used it relentlessly, the Stones just came, sang and went for a pint. I'm probably wrong but this song sort of defines the difference for me.
The first LP I ever bought. Still sounds good to these ageing ears :-)
Die Version von Melanie bringt noch etwas mehr Gefühl, aber auch in der Interpretation der Stones ein Super Song.
.
timeless tune, but Franco Battiato's cover is incredibly enchanting...
Classic! My first Stones album was "Between the Buttons"...still have my vinyl.
 Sjaaks wrote:
A solid tune, except for the singing... Were they aiming for REALLY bad vocals?


 

Yes, that is how they roll.
 laozilover wrote:
Until I happened to hear Bill's dulcet tones mention it just now before the track started, I never noticed that there's a slight "speedbump" or hiccup in the music in Mick's vocal very near the beginning - - apparently the uploaded mp3 came from a turntable that suffered some interference at that moment that managed to get unnoticed through the subsequent processing.  At first, I thought that all the comments about vinyl related to that, but, reading them through disabused me of that notion.  Weird.

EDIT - the audible flaw never stopped me from rating this an "8"!
 
That's not a flaw in our copy — it's a flaw in Mick's vocal itself.  It's always been there, and I always wondered why the didn't just do another take. Somehow, though, it adds to the charm.
Great song, just have heard it way too many times.
A solid tune, except for the singing... Were they aiming for REALLY bad vocals?


Until I happened to hear Bill's dulcet tones mention it just now before the track started, I never noticed that there's a slight "speedbump" or hiccup in the music in Mick's vocal very near the beginning - - apparently the uploaded mp3 came from a turntable that suffered some interference at that moment that managed to get unnoticed through the subsequent processing.  At first, I thought that all the comments about vinyl related to that, but, reading them through disabused me of that notion.  Weird.

EDIT - the audible flaw never stopped me from rating this an "8"!


 ziakut wrote:
This furthers my dislike for the Stones. At least this one is sincere...
 
Fortunately Bill & Rebecca like it!  9

I don't know how it happened, but in the course of a 30-year friendship with a vagabond Gypsy-on-the-Road, my nickname has become "Ruby Tuesday." I could retrace the IMs and e-mails that resulted in this nickname - it has something to do with "Who could hang a name on you?"

This song will always and for as long as I live be a ten - because of my nickname, and because the message is so relevant, even today...
 EssexTex wrote:
When they WERE great
 
They are successful with their old stuff! But most of that is timeless. So, thats the thing!!

Imagine if this were recorded today.

The engineer would be reaching for the Auto-Tune before Mick had reached the end of "Good-bye"!

(Auto-Tune is the devil's work, btw. I like real voices.)
This furthers my dislike for the Stones. At least this one is sincere...
It's posts like this that make RP much more than just a "listening experience".

"Word" Mr Fixit!
 
Misterfixit wrote:

Lovely vinyl.

My system is a very ordinary early 1970's MacIntosh tube pre-amp; equipped with the latest Svetlana tubes (Svetlana used to make amplifier tubes for Soviet Army Radar Jammers now turns out sublime hand made tubes for audiophiles).  Amplifier is a Sansui 5000, equipped with same type tubes.  All cables are #10 guage solid copper wires threaded individually via emt conduit to 18kt gold connectors.

Turn table is a Technics from 1968, same type I had in Vietnam which was accidentally shot when my hootch-mate Carl "Reefer" Riffenberg let off an accidental 12 gauge flechette round.   The rest, the usual most expensive stuff I can buy.  Being filty rich does have it's benefits.

Except:

My Hearing is so far gone now that I can only close my eyes and dream of what it must sound like.

Believe me when I tell you that no number of Veteran's Administration $4,000 each digital hearing aids wil ever make up for my 17-year old ear drums lost.  Too many years of drumming and too many times on the rifle range or in the jungle.

Word to the young and unwise reading this .. protect your hearing more fervently than you protect your gonads.  You can always find a sperm donor but never new ears.

Dave
 


Good story, Misterfixit.  I have the same McIntosh amp.  You are just a little older than me.  I hear summer cicadas in my head all the time and sympathize.


On some of the other RS tunes there are comments about the big four stone albums. These earlier works were pretty strong as well. These guys could and still can play.
 Misterfixit wrote:

Lovely vinyl.

My system is a very ordinary early 1970's MacIntosh tube pre-amp; equipped with the latest Svetlana tubes (Svetlana used to make amplifier tubes for Soviet Army Radar Jammers now turns out sublime hand made tubes for audiophiles).  Amplifier is a Sansui 5000, equipped with same type tubes.  All cables are #10 guage solid copper wires threaded individually via emt conduit to 18kt gold connectors.

Turn table is a Technics from 1968, same type I had in Vietnam which was accidentally shot when my hootch-mate Carl "Reefer" Riffenberg let off an accidental 12 gauge flechette round.   The rest, the usual most expensive stuff I can buy.  Being filty rich does have it's benefits.

Except:

My Hearing is so far gone now that I can only close my eyes and dream of what it must sound like.

Believe me when I tell you that no number of Veteran's Administration $4,000 each digital hearing aids wil ever make up for my 17-year old ear drums lost.  Too many years of drumming and too many times on the rifle range or in the jungle.

Word to the young and unwise reading this .. protect your hearing more fervently than you protect your gonads.  You can always find a sperm donor but never new ears.

Dave
 
Lmao. Plain and simple. Lmao. I'm sad for the dart ridden technics, but glad overall that you made it through to type that.

 HazzeSwede wrote:
How true,very true! You are invited to me casa for some vinyl sounds of your choice,played thru one state of art 5.1 surround system,anytime! This song gets a#9 anyway.
 
Lovely vinyl.

My system is a very ordinary early 1970's MacIntosh tube pre-amp; equipped with the latest Svetlana tubes (Svetlana used to make amplifier tubes for Soviet Army Radar Jammers now turns out sublime hand made tubes for audiophiles).  Amplifier is a Sansui 5000, equipped with same type tubes.  All cables are #10 guage solid copper wires threaded individually via emt conduit to 18kt gold connectors.

Turn table is a Technics from 1968, same type I had in Vietnam which was accidentally shot when my hootch-mate Carl "Reefer" Riffenberg let off an accidental 12 gauge flechette round.   The rest, the usual most expensive stuff I can buy.  Being filty rich does have it's benefits.

Except:

My Hearing is so far gone now that I can only close my eyes and dream of what it must sound like.

Believe me when I tell you that no number of Veteran's Administration $4,000 each digital hearing aids wil ever make up for my 17-year old ear drums lost.  Too many years of drumming and too many times on the rifle range or in the jungle.

Word to the young and unwise reading this .. protect your hearing more fervently than you protect your gonads.  You can always find a sperm donor but never new ears.

Dave


 healyf52 wrote:
I think a 'recorder' was used.
 
Played by Brian Jones. Fun video of this on the Ed Sullivan DVD series.
can the boy tell time?

oh, my lord, no!
Sighhhh the memories.

Linda, about whom I have written before here in these pages, used to cry when she heard this played.  I had it on a 7" reel to reel tape, and dubbed it along with a bunch of romantic songs.

Sure glad that our little Love Child who Linda wrote me about here someplace, is doing well now that he is out on parole.


I wanted this album in '67. Only had enough dinero for one. Bought "Are You Experienced" instead. Never been sorry.
CafeRacer wrote:
What the heck is that thing that sounds like a buzzy bug that keeps popping up in the background? great song, though.
It's likely the string double bass that Bill Wyman and Keith Richards played on the song. Wyman plucked the strings while Richards used a bow for that effect you hear (according to wikipedia), combined with the recorder and keyboards makes it all sound psychedelic.
When they WERE great
daveturnley wrote:
Sounds like a bad mp3 or early CD release. The Stones demand to be heard on vinyl.
Yeah. I've got a vinyl effect on my sound card ;-), just turned while listening to this song
daveturnley wrote:
Sounds like a bad mp3 or early CD release. The Stones demand to be heard on vinyl.
How true,very true! You are invited to me casa for some vinyl sounds of your choice,played thru one state of art 5.1 surround system,anytime! This song gets a#9 anyway.
CafeRacer wrote:
What the heck is that thing that sounds like a buzzy bug that keeps popping up in the background? great song, though.
Tis a flute, Grasshopper. Like healyf52 said, most probably a Recorder. The first musical wind instrument most kids get in touch with.
What the heck is that thing that sounds like a buzzy bug that keeps popping up in the background? great song, though.
This song always reminds me of 8th grade on the school bus, a sheet of paper being passed around on which you could vote for either Ruby Tuesday or Eleanor Rigby. Basically, the mods voted for ER and the rockers for RT.
UltraNurd wrote:
Anyone know who did the version of this for the movie "Children of Men" (definitely *not* the Stones)?
From IMDB: "Ruby Tuesday" Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Performed by Franco Battiato Published by Abkco Music, Inc (BMI) What an incredible movie.
Sounds like a bad mp3 or early CD release. The Stones demand to be heard on vinyl.
Anyone know who did the version of this for the movie "Children of Men" (definitely *not* the Stones)?
Very good song IMO. Lots of influence. I can hardly bear it right now
ThePoose wrote:
I would like to know what woodwind was used for this.
I think a 'recorder' was used.
I would like to know what woodwind was used for this.
Grumm wrote:
Just makes me think of the scene in the tent in The Royal Tenenbaums...
I'm with JCJ: Makes me think of the restaurant, now with the same name. Sorry, but I can't help it. Marketing works.
I'm really surprised by the sentiment expressed here, that the chorus is the only memorable part of the song. I think these verses, especially the second and third, are brilliant. Mick Jagger & Keith Richards wrote:
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 Don't ask her 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 nothing's gained And nothing's lost At such a cost "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 may lose your mind In life unkind"
It's the same concise songwriting style they use in Paint It Black, filling in the negative space and allowing the foreground picture to emerge in your mind's eye. This is my very favorite Stones song. Godlike.
Typesbad wrote:
I'll take the chorus and leave the rest. Lets face it, Mick doesn't do sensitive very well.
You may have a point there.
Its not that bad - better than most stuff on FM. I like the Celo in my earphone. Thanks RP
Just makes me think of the scene in the tent in The Royal Tenenbaums. I love the chorus, but the rest of the song isn't too special.
ghevlana wrote:
Wow, such a Stones classic. Such a treasure. Such an opportunity to put it queitly in a museum and let it collect dust once and for all.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA....The subtlety of your delivery is priceless. Now burn that dresser, Meatwad. Smoke while you are doing so! Ciao, The Dude
Wow, such a Stones classic. Such a treasure. Such an opportunity to put it queitly in a museum and let it collect dust once and for all.
I always liked Mother's Little Helper better :) But then who hasn't let loose a good drunken "GOOOOOOOOOOD BYEEEEEEE RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUBY TUESDAY!!" ? :)
an absolute classic. the stones really lost something special when brian jones blew that fuse.
I'll take the chorus and leave the rest. Lets face it, Mick doesn't do sensitive very well.
Ah, the song that launched a thousand bad chain restaurants...
This is from one of my favorite Stones albums...Flowers (the other one is Between the Buttons). My 9yr old daughter loves this song...loves this CD!! Love Charlie on the drums! pbm 8^)
One of the best choruses of its dayÂ…brings back memories of Bono at Live Aid when he tossed it in during an amazing rendition of Bad.