In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I'll never be your beast of burden
My back is broad but it's a-hurting
All I want for you to make love to me
I'll never be your beast of burden
I've walked for miles, my feet are hurting
All I want for you to make love to me
Am I hard enough?
Am I rough enough?
Am I rich enough?
I'm not too blind to see
I'll never be your beast of burden
So let's go home and draw the curtains
Music on the radio
Come on baby make sweet love to me
Am I hard enough?
Am I rough enough?
Am I rich enough?
I'm not too blind to see
Oh, little sister
Pretty, pretty, pretty girls
Ooh, you're a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girl
Pretty, pretty, such a pretty, pretty, pretty girl
Come on, baby, please, please, please
I'll tell ya
You can put me out
On the street
Put me out
With no shoes on my feet
But put me out, put me out
Put me out of misery, yeah
All your sickness, I can suck it up
Throw it all at me
I can shrug it off
There's one thing, baby
I don't understand
You keep on telling me
I ain't your kind of man
Ain't I rough enough? Ooh, honey
Ain't I tough enough?
Ain't I rich enough? In love enough?
Ooh, please
I'll never be your beast of burden
I'll never be your beast of burden
Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be
I'll never be your beast of burden
I've walked for miles, my feet are hurting
All I want is you to make love to me
Yeah
I don't need no beast of burden
I need no fussing
I need no nursing
Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be
My back is broad but it's a-hurting
All I want for you to make love to me
I'll never be your beast of burden
I've walked for miles, my feet are hurting
All I want for you to make love to me
Am I hard enough?
Am I rough enough?
Am I rich enough?
I'm not too blind to see
I'll never be your beast of burden
So let's go home and draw the curtains
Music on the radio
Come on baby make sweet love to me
Am I hard enough?
Am I rough enough?
Am I rich enough?
I'm not too blind to see
Oh, little sister
Pretty, pretty, pretty girls
Ooh, you're a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girl
Pretty, pretty, such a pretty, pretty, pretty girl
Come on, baby, please, please, please
I'll tell ya
You can put me out
On the street
Put me out
With no shoes on my feet
But put me out, put me out
Put me out of misery, yeah
All your sickness, I can suck it up
Throw it all at me
I can shrug it off
There's one thing, baby
I don't understand
You keep on telling me
I ain't your kind of man
Ain't I rough enough? Ooh, honey
Ain't I tough enough?
Ain't I rich enough? In love enough?
Ooh, please
I'll never be your beast of burden
I'll never be your beast of burden
Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be
I'll never be your beast of burden
I've walked for miles, my feet are hurting
All I want is you to make love to me
Yeah
I don't need no beast of burden
I need no fussing
I need no nursing
Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be
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Great version of a great song,
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When I was young, I thought Mick was singing "I'll never leave your pizza burning." Now, if he'd just said that, and if I were the girl, I'd be with him in a heartbeat.
seriously laughed my ass off
i mean, how is this song so perfect? it's one of those songs that was in your head before you ever even heard it. it's just so.......just so.
It`s perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!I love this song
Lanny, that is so true.
@lannymad What a great comment. It seems like this song has always existed, and The Stones just seemed to tap into the other side to retrieve it.
He's lying when he says he'll never be her beast of burden. He'll do anything, anything, so she'll make love to him and be his. She can throw him out and treat him bad, as long as she puts him out of his misery (ie has sex with him). He's so enthralled that he can't even keep up a modicum of self-respect.
@darnheckshoot <br /> Red Pill<br />
this song is great. how the hell did they make such a great song it sounds so perfect man. the guitars are matched up perfectly the sounds so right
great song....one of their best and always makes you think about the one you want so bad but just can't have at the moment.....i like it though because it isn't one of those sappy love songs about someone ignoring you.....he is very optimistic as he sings it.
I believe this was actually written by Keith about Anita Pallenberg, he was sick of her games and he just wanted to make love to her.
"Saying shit to get laid" is the dumbest thing I have ever heard, you completely missed the point of the song, its the opposite of that. He's through "saying shit to get laid", he's not trying to decieve her, he's just straight forward asking her to make love to him, that's it.
@tootsvegan <br /> Red Pill
He's TRYING to convince her (and even himself) that he WON'T be her beast of burden anymore, but it's not true. He will do anything for her, even though she treats him poorly, just to be with her.
one of those songs that makes you forget to breath
Its a BEAUTIFUL song. I agree with darnheckshoot. He said he won't be her beast of burden but he will do anything for her. It's like when you say something, and you mean it but deep inside you know it's not true, you know you cant help it.
My sister likes to sing "big suburban" rather than Beast of Burden.
Anyway, I think, like some people said, he's getting a little frusterated with how things are with this girl. So now he's saying he's not gonna be her beast of burden- a very clear image, even if it could mean a number of things- though he probably will, in the end. He's just being more frank at the moment. And he probably does care about her, too. Like I say, he's frusterated in this song- in several ways.