The Rolling Stones — Like a Rolling Stone
Album: StrippedAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 929
Length: 5:38
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Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And ask him do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And ask him do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Comments (52)add comment
Authentic version. I mean.. you get it
More than worthy cover of an iconic game changer.
Props to Al Kooper for his bold and ultimately priceless contribution to the original.
Props to Al Kooper for his bold and ultimately priceless contribution to the original.
idiot_wind wrote:
Well said!
Finding themselves still alive and performing as a band in their 50s, what other song could they sing?
Mick is covering this song in the spirit of Dylan. Sing it in a way to piss people off.
Sometimes you give the people what they need, not what they want (reference to a Dylan song, get it?)
Well said!
Finding themselves still alive and performing as a band in their 50s, what other song could they sing?
Not a big Stones fan, but this is a great cover. Hat tip to a solid 8
Mackmoney3000 wrote:
When I was 11yrs old (1966), I thought Dylan was singing about "The Rolling Stones"! LOL!
Somehow takes some of the 'power' out of the original but still a good effort.
When I was 11yrs old (1966), I thought Dylan was singing about "The Rolling Stones"! LOL!
Somehow takes some of the 'power' out of the original but still a good effort.
flatop wrote:
At "there" worst?
Perhaps you can find a first-grader to help you with your grammar.
garbage from has beens ... The Rolling Bones at there worst should have quit after Exile on Main Street -1.
At "there" worst?
Perhaps you can find a first-grader to help you with your grammar.
NeilBlanchard wrote:
yes...sounds like drunken noodles
I am fine with this rendition - except for the harmonica! Wow, that was rough ..
yes...sounds like drunken noodles
So professional
stangalbraith wrote:
Love this rendition. Great to hear the Stones doing something different. It retains the attributes of the classic song by Dylan while incorporating elements that make it into a Stones song.
Well put!
Well put!
My favorite Stones CD. Perfect in every way ALMOST. Thanks for the play. But you could have played a better cut, this one is the only so-so cut on an otherwise perfect CD.
Embarrasing
xkolibuul wrote:
So an accurate cover then? I say that as a huge Dylan fan, this tune in particular is one of the most important Rock and Roll songs, and my initial 6 rating is getting the +1 for the Stones deciding to cover a song that has their name in it. LLRP!!
Yes, but lord that harmonica is painful.
So an accurate cover then? I say that as a huge Dylan fan, this tune in particular is one of the most important Rock and Roll songs, and my initial 6 rating is getting the +1 for the Stones deciding to cover a song that has their name in it. LLRP!!
Isn’t there a late 60s studio version of this song by the stones?
It's a special day when a band I dislike covers an artist I dislike even more!
Yes, but lord that harmonica is painful.
BC_Night_Heron wrote:
BC_Night_Heron wrote:
I actually like this and I find the Stones to be very tedious since the days of Exile On Main Street. Dylan's lyrics that wreak of the outsider looking in take on a new twist through the agency of the ultimate outsiders who evolved into a haughty, royal old guard. Irony abounds. If you must play Stones, this one is fine.
garbage from has beens ... The Rolling Bones at there worst should have quit after Exile on Main Street -1.
DW4554 wrote:
Yikes. Yea, that is dreadful.....
Ya, the harp playing needs some work. Mick usually does much better.
Shoulda let Charlie Musselwhite sit in.
Shoulda let Charlie Musselwhite sit in.
Yikes. Yea, that is dreadful.....
Ya, the harp playing needs some work. Mick usually does much better.
Shoulda let Charlie Musselwhite sit in.
Shoulda let Charlie Musselwhite sit in.
Should’ve got someone who could play harp in. That gob-iron playing ruins this track. It’s dreadful!!
MrStatenIsle wrote:
Too late.
If they wanna play this for fun at some benefit show, fine, but recoding it for an album, no!
Too late.
MrStatenIsle wrote:
Why not, pray tell?
If they wanna play this for fun at some benefit show, fine, but recoding it for an album, no!
Why not, pray tell?
If they wanna play this for fun at some benefit show, fine, but recoding it for an album, no!
App Problem iPhone....dunno where to post this...
About 2 weeks ago, or more, the app will not load cached music. This despite reboots, new RP App, etc. This aggravation will hopefully end soon. I've been a loyal, paying, subscriber for quite a while, and this is my favorite...but.
HELP
About 2 weeks ago, or more, the app will not load cached music. This despite reboots, new RP App, etc. This aggravation will hopefully end soon. I've been a loyal, paying, subscriber for quite a while, and this is my favorite...but.
HELP
This is a classic. The Rolling Stones doing a song from the great poet/songwriter Bob Dylan and giving it their own unique Rolling Stones sound. I have never enjoyed this song more than this version by Mick and Keith and Charlie and Ronnie. Always an added bonus when Mick adds some blues harp.
Mick is covering this song in the spirit of Dylan. Sing it in a way to piss people off.
Sometimes you give the people what they need, not what they want (reference to a Dylan song, get it?)
Sometimes you give the people what they need, not what they want (reference to a Dylan song, get it?)
At least they are the only ones that REALLY did it "Like a Rolling Stone"
There are a lot of Dylan-covers out there that I find better than the original. Not this one though.
Sounds like bad kareoke.
Kick jagger could never sing well live
Wow, if Mick just swallowed that harp, it would have improved the performance. Just wretched. Produced by Don Was, and he should have squashed it.
I much prefer Jimi's version of this.
How does it feel?? Bloody awful, that's how!!! 
I guess ya had to be there.
That harmonica!
Ouch. Excedrin headache # 4.
On the other hand, I would say it's entirely possible that the song's author has done worse renditions.
So there.
On the other hand, I would say it's entirely possible that the song's author has done worse renditions.
So there.
C'mon Mick. Yowza!
ouch @ harmonica
oh, lord, why??
I am fine with this rendition - except for the harmonica! Wow, that was rough ..
This is a great album, period. Nothing but fun. Everything an 8 or better.
Not bad, but this is one of Dylan's songs that I think you do need Dylan singing it -- lose something in the vocals otherwise. I just do not picture the Stones of this era fitting the theme. Band name irony aside.
I seem to recall hearing a story that Mick and the Boys had always pondered covering the tune, but were afraid they'd be tempting fate a bit too much. Seems they figured after 30 years of doing this they could finally take the risk. Entertaining cover, even without the meta aspect of it.
Baby_M wrote:
I was so hung up on how odd it was for them to be coving Bob that I almost missed that aspect of it!
I don't much like it, but I have to respect the "meta" aspect of it: Rolling Stones singing about being rolling stones.
I was so hung up on how odd it was for them to be coving Bob that I almost missed that aspect of it!
I like it!
I've often wondered if they ever did this song. While I try to be open to the covers I hear on RP, I can't find any value to this one aside from its novelty.
Love this rendition. Great to hear the Stones doing something different. It retains the attributes of the classic song by Dylan while incorporating elements that make it into a Stones song.
I don't much like it, but I have to respect the "meta" aspect of it: Rolling Stones singing about being rolling stones.
hobbes wrote:
I agree.
not quite as good as Bob, but good nonetheless
I agree.
Do you think it's a coincidence that they decided to their own version of Like a Rolling Stone ?
Unlike a lot of recent (20 years?) Stones songs, Mick sings with conviction, and the band sounds like they\'re having fun.
I actually like this and I find the Stones to be very tedious since the days of Exile On Main Street. Dylan\'s lyrics that wreak of the outsider looking in take on a new twist through the agency of the ultimate outsiders who evolved into a haughty, royal old guard. Irony abounds. If you must play Stones, this one is fine.
not quite as good as Bob, but good nonetheless