The Rolling Stones — Jig-Saw Puzzle
Album: Beggar's BanquetAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 598
Length: 5:53
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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There's a tramp sittin' on my doorstep
Tryin' to waste his time
With his methylated sandwich
He's a walking clothesline
And here comes the Bishop's daughter
On the other side
And she looks a trifle jealous
She's been an outcast all her life
Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do my jigsaw puzzle
Before it rains anymore
Oh, the gangster looks so fright'ning
With his luger in his hand
But when he gets home to his children
He's a family man
But when it comes to the nitty-gritty
He can shove in his knife
Yes, he really looks quite religious
He's been an outlaw all his life
Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do this jigsaw puzzle
Before it rains anymore
Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do this jigsaw puzzle
Before it rains anymore
Oh, the singer, he looks angry
At being thrown to the lions
And the bass player, he looks nervous
About the girls outside
And the drummer, he's so shattered
Trying to keep up time
And the guitar players look damaged
They've been outcasts all their lives
Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do this jigsaw puzzle
Before it rains anymore
Oh, there's twenty-thousand grandmas
Wave their hankies in the air
All burning up their pensions
And shouting, "It's not fair"
There's a regiment of soldiers
Standing looking on
And the queen is bravely shouting
"What the hell is going on?"
With a blood-curdling, tally-ho
She charged into the ranks
And blessed all those grandmas who
With their dying breaths screamed, "Thanks"
Me, I'm just waiting so patiently
With my woman on the floor
We're just trying to do this jigsaw puzzle
Before it rains anymore
Tryin' to waste his time
With his methylated sandwich
He's a walking clothesline
And here comes the Bishop's daughter
On the other side
And she looks a trifle jealous
She's been an outcast all her life
Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do my jigsaw puzzle
Before it rains anymore
Oh, the gangster looks so fright'ning
With his luger in his hand
But when he gets home to his children
He's a family man
But when it comes to the nitty-gritty
He can shove in his knife
Yes, he really looks quite religious
He's been an outlaw all his life
Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do this jigsaw puzzle
Before it rains anymore
Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do this jigsaw puzzle
Before it rains anymore
Oh, the singer, he looks angry
At being thrown to the lions
And the bass player, he looks nervous
About the girls outside
And the drummer, he's so shattered
Trying to keep up time
And the guitar players look damaged
They've been outcasts all their lives
Me, I'm waiting so patiently
Lying on the floor
I'm just trying to do this jigsaw puzzle
Before it rains anymore
Oh, there's twenty-thousand grandmas
Wave their hankies in the air
All burning up their pensions
And shouting, "It's not fair"
There's a regiment of soldiers
Standing looking on
And the queen is bravely shouting
"What the hell is going on?"
With a blood-curdling, tally-ho
She charged into the ranks
And blessed all those grandmas who
With their dying breaths screamed, "Thanks"
Me, I'm just waiting so patiently
With my woman on the floor
We're just trying to do this jigsaw puzzle
Before it rains anymore
Comments (114)add comment
yep, fav stones album. and this is in my top 5 fav stones tunes. fantastic to hear it again.
Still scratches me where I itch.
The Stones, baby. If LZ is the best rock group ever, it's with an asterisk. But the Stones are undeniable.
Pretty damn good country band, too.
The Stones, baby. If LZ is the best rock group ever, it's with an asterisk. But the Stones are undeniable.
Pretty damn good country band, too.
Pretty uninspired and definitely not one of their better ones.
great cut from one of their best / still like the original album cover better howeverOne of the greatest contributions to music ever made! 
On one hand I can understand that there are very popular bands that some people simply don't like. I have two on my list: Rush and Steely Dan. I know that there are die-hard followers of both those bands, but i just cannot stand anything I've ever heard by them and i will find myself reaching to change the station three bars into a song that i don't immediately recognize, only to realize that it's one of those two bands...
On the other hand, I like some of the Stones music so very, very much, that i can't imagine how anyone can dismiss "all their work" (the way i have dismissed all Rush and Steely Dan)... I guess that makes me a hypocrite... or just human?
msymmes wrote:
On the other hand, I like some of the Stones music so very, very much, that i can't imagine how anyone can dismiss "all their work" (the way i have dismissed all Rush and Steely Dan)... I guess that makes me a hypocrite... or just human?
msymmes wrote:
You might be even more shocked to hear that there are people on this planet that don't like any Stones tunes.
scrubbrush wrote:
scrubbrush wrote:
I'm shocked by the low ratings and general dislike of this song... I've loved it for around 35 years... maybe more. 10 for me. The album wouldn't be complete without it.
This track is a puzzle, it is neither one thing nor the other and an example of too much from this group - thank goodness for PSD and a Danny Gatton CD
A classic from a very special space in time.... a gem of an album!
Trying to channel Dylan. Not a bad job.
Randomax wrote:
I concur!!!! Can't we have an hour of Stones (the good, old stuff!!)??
I agree, even though I am not a great fan. But I do like lots of the old stuff.
This? Not so much.... But it is interesting.
I concur!!!! Can't we have an hour of Stones (the good, old stuff!!)??
I agree, even though I am not a great fan. But I do like lots of the old stuff.
This? Not so much.... But it is interesting.
Terrible!
dwlangham wrote:
Why didn't you just say that in the first place?
dwlangham wrote:
h8rhater wrote:
Go back to commenting on Youtube where this type of idiocy is expected.
Allow me to retort. I should have said that this song is hardly worthy of the airtime it consumed when there are so many much finer Rolling Stones tunes from which to choose. Were this song the product of a lesser band, I doubt that it would be played at all.
Of course, this is merely my opinion.
Have a nice day.
a stupid waste of time that wouldn't see the light of day if the band's name was "Jack Turd and the Shit Droppers".
h8rhater wrote:
Go back to commenting on Youtube where this type of idiocy is expected.
Allow me to retort. I should have said that this song is hardly worthy of the airtime it consumed when there are so many much finer Rolling Stones tunes from which to choose. Were this song the product of a lesser band, I doubt that it would be played at all.
Of course, this is merely my opinion.
Have a nice day.
Why didn't you just say that in the first place?
You might be even more shocked to hear that there are people on this planet that don't like any Stones tunes.
scrubbrush wrote:
scrubbrush wrote:
I'm shocked by the low ratings and general dislike of this song... I've loved it for around 35 years... maybe more. 10 for me. The album wouldn't be complete without it.
Filler.
I'm shocked by the low ratings and general dislike of this song... I've loved it for around 35 years... maybe more. 10 for me. The album wouldn't be complete without it.
bam23 wrote:
By hipster grad school elites
It probably serves me right for asking, but: Underrated how? By whom? When? Possibly the typical Lady GaGa fan gives this album little attention, but what does the term underrated mean?
By hipster grad school elites
h8rhater wrote:
But Sister Morphine is a 10 to you?!!?? ...
The REAL "Sister Morphine" used to be a 10!
But Sister Morphine is a 10 to you?!!?? ...
The REAL "Sister Morphine" used to be a 10!
Wow! I just cranked this song on the way in to work this morning as I blasted through the album.
dwlangham wrote:
h8rhater wrote:
Go back to commenting on Youtube where this type of idiocy is expected.
Allow me to retort. I should have said that this song is hardly worthy of the airtime it consumed when there are so many much finer Rolling Stones tunes from which to choose. Were this song the product of a lesser band, I doubt that it would be played at all.
Of course, this is merely my opinion.
Have a nice day.
a stupid waste of time that wouldn't see the light of day if the band's name was "Jack Turd and the Shit Droppers".
h8rhater wrote:
Go back to commenting on Youtube where this type of idiocy is expected.
Allow me to retort. I should have said that this song is hardly worthy of the airtime it consumed when there are so many much finer Rolling Stones tunes from which to choose. Were this song the product of a lesser band, I doubt that it would be played at all.
Of course, this is merely my opinion.
Have a nice day.
dwlangham wrote:
Go back to commenting on Youtube where this type of idiocy is expected.
a stupid waste of time that wouldn't see the light of day if the band's name was "Jack Turd and the Shit Droppers".
Go back to commenting on Youtube where this type of idiocy is expected.
Catalytic wrote:
Maybe it's some kind of "proof" to you; personally, I think it's a very good tune. This whole album is just about perfect. To each his own.
Proof that all bands, no matter how legendary, can also produce utter crap on vinyl. This song should have been left off the album.
Maybe it's some kind of "proof" to you; personally, I think it's a very good tune. This whole album is just about perfect. To each his own.
Very confused.
Cynaera wrote:
And anyway, if Keith died on the floor, how could he have any more cameos in Pirate movies? (I love the hell out of him. He's a doof, and he knows it - but man, can he play guitar... And his stint with The Expensive Winos was pretty stellar.)
miss you so much, Cynaera...
this song demonstrates Bob Dylan's influence on music in the 1960's... sounds almost like a Dylan parody...
And anyway, if Keith died on the floor, how could he have any more cameos in Pirate movies? (I love the hell out of him. He's a doof, and he knows it - but man, can he play guitar... And his stint with The Expensive Winos was pretty stellar.)miss you so much, Cynaera...
this song demonstrates Bob Dylan's influence on music in the 1960's... sounds almost like a Dylan parody...
these lyrics are hilarious!
Proof that all bands, no matter how legendary, can also produce utter crap on vinyl. This song should have been left off the album.
Nice song!
gemtag wrote:
And yet you rate the song that immediately follows this one on Beggars Banquet a 10?
Should take this tripe and flush it down that comode.
And yet you rate the song that immediately follows this one on Beggars Banquet a 10?
one of my very, very favorites from one of my fav bands of all time. from my fav album of theirs!
This sounds like a cover!?!
such a blatant rip-off of Robert Johnson, fats domino, muddy water.. i sure hope they're listed in the liner notes (lol)
Jörg_Asmussen wrote:
I guess you had to be there, and if you were, then you missed it
This piece is a perfect example of why the Stones have been so unappealing to me. Where is the music ?
I guess you had to be there, and if you were, then you missed it
Jörg_Asmussen wrote:
You're soaking in it.
This piece is a perfect example of why the Stones have been so unappealing to me. Where is the music ?
You're soaking in it.
This piece is a perfect example of why the Stones have been so unappealing to me. Where is the music ?
gemtag wrote:
that's heavy and uncool, dude
Should take this tripe and flush it down that comode.
that's heavy and uncool, dude
Should take this tripe and flush it down that comode.
Sympathy for the Devil?
Another brililant song - and one not played on terrestial radio -from one of the top ten albums of all time.
ja gibt es das ? so nette alte teile ist ja klasse
I'm losing my faith in the human race. 6.5? What is wrong w/ you people?
Wow. Forgot about this song entirely. Best LP of the Stones, imo.
MojoJojo wrote:
Ankh, an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph symbolizing eternal life.
Two crosses (what's the type with the loopy thing at the top? I always forget)
Ankh, an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph symbolizing eternal life.
I am fascinated with the album cover.
Trying to pick out the more interesting additions to the wall.
Trying to pick out the more interesting additions to the wall.
- Taco Thighs
- Bob Dylans dream (pointing to the flush lever)
- God rolls his own!!
- Dandy '65
- Keep Out!
- Snack Time
- Friend of mine
- DOWNEY
- Champion sticker under the toilet lid
- Beef jerky (can't make out subtext)
- Two crosses (what's the type with the loopy thing at the top? I always forget)
- Kilroy, without the "Kilroy was here".
- Peace symbol
- L O V E on the fingers of a hand
Although staggeringly unlikely, if I ever make my own album I would use every one of these for song titles. 
yeh, this is getting boring now. As someone previous said, 'like the stones doing a stones cover'. Recently listened to the remaster of 'Exile....' and was totally underwhelmed. I like the stones but have they ever made a great album?
9.
(16 when high)
(16 when high)
bam23 wrote:
I think bachbeet meant that this album and song are not often considered among the greatest of The Stones' works by critics, etc.
It probably serves me right for asking, but: Underrated how? By whom? When? Possibly the typical Lady GaGa fan gives this album little attention, but what does the term underrated mean?
I think bachbeet meant that this album and song are not often considered among the greatest of The Stones' works by critics, etc.
A cacophony with emphasis on the cack
bachbeet wrote:
Great and underrated album. This song is also underrated, even by me. I appreciate it more now than I did then.
It probably serves me right for asking, but: Underrated how? By whom? When? Possibly the typical Lady GaGa fan gives this album little attention, but what does the term underrated mean?Love the lyrics
h8rhater wrote:
But Sister Morphine is a 10 to you?!!?? ...and Stray Cat Blues, from the same disc as this awesome Stones gem, is a 9 in your book?!?!
You really need to get a handle on those alternate personalities.
And anyway, if Keith died on the floor, how could he have any more cameos in Pirate movies? (I love the hell out of him. He's a doof, and he knows it - but man, can he play guitar... And his stint with The Expensive Winos was pretty stellar.)
But Sister Morphine is a 10 to you?!!?? ...and Stray Cat Blues, from the same disc as this awesome Stones gem, is a 9 in your book?!?!
You really need to get a handle on those alternate personalities.
And anyway, if Keith died on the floor, how could he have any more cameos in Pirate movies? (I love the hell out of him. He's a doof, and he knows it - but man, can he play guitar... And his stint with The Expensive Winos was pretty stellar.)aaaaah, that washes the Big Head Todd out of my ears nicely...
Great and underrated album. This song is also underrated, even by me. I appreciate it more now than I did then.
Deadwing wrote:
London (US) didn't think that a toilet was appropriate for an album cover, tho' Decca (UK) apparently thought otherwise. Go figure.
This isn't what my album cover looked like 
London (US) didn't think that a toilet was appropriate for an album cover, tho' Decca (UK) apparently thought otherwise. Go figure.
mrdak wrote:
But Sister Morphine is a 10 to you?!!?? ...and Stray Cat Blues, from the same disc as this awesome Stones gem, is a 9 in your book?!?!
You really need to get a handle on those alternate personalities.
This is absolute Vomit....... I don't know which rolling stone is worse. yesh... I do... It's Keeph.... I wish HE would just die on the floor.
But Sister Morphine is a 10 to you?!!?? ...and Stray Cat Blues, from the same disc as this awesome Stones gem, is a 9 in your book?!?!
You really need to get a handle on those alternate personalities.
Big Stones fan here but that was a real "clunker"
jeeezzz....
jeeezzz....
LongGoneDaddy wrote:
I concur!!!! Can't we have an hour of Stones (the good, old stuff!!)??
just play the whole damn album!
I concur!!!! Can't we have an hour of Stones (the good, old stuff!!)??
Please allow me to introduce myself...uh, no that's another and another and another Stones song.
jagdriver wrote:
Brian was playing slide.
Ah, okay. I wasn't sure who was playing slide...I just knew that I don't care for it all that much.
Brian was playing slide.
Ah, okay. I wasn't sure who was playing slide...I just knew that I don't care for it all that much.
just play the whole damn album!
I always thought this song sounded like the Stones doing a cover of a Stones song.
In this era of prettified and aurally massaged digital recordings, I like the rawness and even sloppiness of this. It should, of course, be loud and enjoyed with appropriate adjuvants.
This is absolute Vomit....... I don't know which rolling stone is worse. yesh... I do... It's Keeph.... I wish HE would just die on the floor.
This is my all time favorite Stones tune.
Thanks Bill!
Thanks Bill!
Danimal174 wrote:
I'd agree with this. One of my favorite elements of the Stones' work is Keith's guitar, and the slide play on this song just sounds lazy to me...nothing to write home about.
Brian was playing slide.
I'd agree with this. One of my favorite elements of the Stones' work is Keith's guitar, and the slide play on this song just sounds lazy to me...nothing to write home about.
Brian was playing slide.
On_The_Beach wrote:
I'd agree with this. One of my favorite elements of the Stones' work is Keith's guitar, and the slide play on this song just sounds lazy to me...nothing to write home about.
One of the weakest tracks on a great album.
I'd agree with this. One of my favorite elements of the Stones' work is Keith's guitar, and the slide play on this song just sounds lazy to me...nothing to write home about.
One of the weakest tracks on a great album.
This LP is a fave, although I never, ever need to hear Sympathy For the Devil again in this lifetime.
good gawd. make. it. stop.
Ngoziman wrote:
On and on and on. Clinkity Clank.
Proof that even The Stones had a few clinkers in the coal-shed.
On and on and on. Clinkity Clank.
Never liked the Stones. I'll be nice and give it a 2.
From the era when anything went . . .
Shimmer wrote:
It's a pretty good song, I think. It just goes on too long and the lyrics overreach at the end.
Mick Jagger attempting to be clever. Not for the faint of heart.
It's a pretty good song, I think. It just goes on too long and the lyrics overreach at the end.
Mick Jagger attempting to be clever. Not for the faint of heart.
Proof that even The Stones had a few clinkers in the coal-shed.
the guitar players look damaged
they've been outcasts
all their lives...
cathenley wrote:
I agree with you Cath, my fellow SBer who I have yet to meet!
No words can describe how I feel when I hear this song. And, it seems very timely...
I agree with you Cath, my fellow SBer who I have yet to meet!
No words can describe how I feel when I hear this song. And, it seems very timely...
heberman wrote:
I was watching Ed Sullivan in '67 or '68 and the Rolling Stones were playing Under My Thumb. Dear old dad walks in and says "those guys will be around for a couple of years, then you won't ever hear from them again." I thought my dad was probably wrong, but I never would have thought the Stones would be around 40 years later.
Bluch. Yuck. No wonder this band never made it big.
I was watching Ed Sullivan in '67 or '68 and the Rolling Stones were playing Under My Thumb. Dear old dad walks in and says "those guys will be around for a couple of years, then you won't ever hear from them again." I thought my dad was probably wrong, but I never would have thought the Stones would be around 40 years later.
i can't remember hearing this on RP before!! won't scroll back to look to see if i commented, because i probably did. LOL
this is the cover i have.
anyway - one of my most favorite stones songs, from my 2nd fav stones cd. nice.
this is the cover i have.
anyway - one of my most favorite stones songs, from my 2nd fav stones cd. nice.
Deadwing wrote:
I believe this is the original British version.
This isn't what my album cover looked like
I believe this is the original British version.
This isn't what my album cover looked like
I need to get this CD in my collection!
SmackDaddy wrote:
uh duh, at least Stones Pre 1978. Everything after that was Rock influenced by pop. Rock n Roll came from the blues, how could it not be influenced by it?
Born in the Blues. Check out the film: https://www.shinealightmovie.com/main.html
a_genuine_find wrote: 
+ 
= 
Oh the singer, he looks angry
At being thrown to the lions
And the bass player, he looks nervous
About the girls outside
And the drummer, he's so shattered
Trying to keep on time
And the guitar players look damaged
They've been outcasts all thier lives
Love It!
+ =
Oh the singer, he looks angry
At being thrown to the lions
And the bass player, he looks nervous
About the girls outside
And the drummer, he's so shattered
Trying to keep on time
And the guitar players look damaged
They've been outcasts all thier lives
Love It!
theirishtickler wrote:
how would one classify the stones? rock influenced by blues?
uh duh, at least Stones Pre 1978. Everything after that was Rock influenced by pop. Rock n Roll came from the blues, how could it not be influenced by it?
now we know what beck had been listening to when he came up with "strange apparition."
how would one classify the stones? rock influenced by blues?
This is messy...not one of their good ones
Less known song from a great album and band. Good to hear it.
From the old hippie, you just had to been there to understand what it was like.
You were either on the bus, or you weren't.
Peace out
Love the Stones, but this song is pretty tough to have on in the background with Mick hitting the same note over and over and over...infinitum. Needs headphones and a phatty.
+ =
Oh the singer, he looks angry
At being thrown to the lions
And the bass player, he looks nervous
About the girls outside
And the drummer, he's so shattered
Trying to keep on time
And the guitar players look damaged
They've been outcasts all thier lives
Bakaretsu wrote:
Sorry just painful...........
Couldn't agree more!
Sorry just painful...........
petercroob wrote:
This song is such an incredible piece of imagery
I think the toilet seat on the album cover sums up the "incredible imagery" when ever I have the misfortune of hearing the rolling stones.
jadewahoo wrote:
One of the best albums by the Naughty Boys of Rn'R, and a great cut from that album.
Too true, a real time piece!
heberman wrote:
Bluch. Yuck. No wonder this band never made it big.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!!! Here's food for thought 50 years from now the Rolling Stones will still being played on wireless net radio.
Is that Dylan cadence, or is just me?
Name that tune.....
Good stuff, writing a term paper, keyboard tapping with the rhythm.....love the Stones.
Would the "tramp on his doorstep" be Keith?...."Lost me keys again Mick"....come on man! 
it\'s jus good \'ol sloppy piano poundin, guitar lickin\', drum beatin\', music...yEaH!
newyorkone wrote:
RS...so overrated IMHO.
Back to 7.3... Thank you to whomever.
RS...so overrated IMHO.
alux wrote:
When I logged in, this song was rated the same as that preceding dreck by Big Head Todd (7.2). At least my rating knocked it up to 7.3. Just tryin' to do my part.
I don't get it. I think this is one of the worst RS tunes I've ever heard. I tried rating it a "2" but unfortunately it had no impact on the now 7.6 rating.
Don't get me wrong... I love most of what I know of the RS but this is just drech.
This song is such an incredible piece of imagery
One of the best albums by the Naughty Boys of Rn'R, and a great cut from that album.
When I logged in, this song was rated the same as that preceding dreck by Big Head Todd (7.2). At least my rating knocked it up to 7.3. Just tryin' to do my part.
I think this song is good enough to play more than once every three years . . . as good as anything they've done . . . in other words, 's outstanding!
Excellent Album.
Mick's voice sounded cleaner way back when. 
MsfStl wrote:
FYI - This last played October 7, 2000 (when RP had a listening audience of 12). This is my new favorite 'old' song for Spring 2004, I requested Bill to play this, and if he does, you can thank me by sending all donations to Bill/RP in care of me.
(pimp) 12Apr04
Good work there. _great_ song.
Bluch. Yuck. No wonder this band never made it big.
FYI - This last played October 7, 2000 (when RP had a listening audience of 12). This is my new favorite 'old' song for Spring 2004, I requested Bill to play this, and if he does, you can thank me by sending all donations to Bill/RP in care of me.
(pimp) 12Apr04