The Rolling Stones – Sway

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  General Comment:I thought the Chorus was "It's just that evil eye forgot you/me in its sway" and that it was a lament for surviving trauma while others didn't "friends up on the burial ground". Who cares? Richard's rhythm is like a tank bursting through a wall thought secure. Taylor dance's around and over it, quite well, but he's the sideman as he is on most of the tracks on Sticky Fingers. Still a very good sideman. It was a shame they couldn't overcome whatever drove them apart.

  Flag rtorroneon May 11, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:I used to love this 8-track (ha ha, my older sisters) back when I was a little kid and way to young to understand it. Now that I do (and to some degree wish I didn't) it takes on such a greater depth and meaning. Sway and Dead Flowers are almost magical with the incredible sadness and yet somehow nostalgic feelings they bring me of a time when I made a lot of bad choices.

  Flag aphasiaon November 10, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Thanks j4c300 for clarifying the Pope's comment.
  The interpretation works perfectly for me.
  An example of Mick's well-furnished mind.

  Flag drivelon May 10, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Like PopeofEuroke said this song is definitely about Nietzsche's infinitely reoccurring universe.

  Flag j4c300on April 19, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:One of the great Rolling Stones Songs from the early 70's. Mick Taylor at his best.

  Flag workerscompmaon February 18, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:As Mick Fleetwood observed several years ago, the Stones' latter-day pop-cultural image has diminished their accomplishments as an innovative, creative band. This tendency leaves many, who apparently don't like the band or most of its music, to belittle Mick and Keith, usually for not being as brilliantly virtuosic as Mick Taylor, not being as "great" as Led Zeppelin, and on and on.
  
  Of course, this misses the point that the Stones, even if you believe they peaked in the early '70s, created more standard-setting rock and roll in their first 10 years than most subsequent bands after decades in the business.
  
  Furthermore, how can one question or casually dismiss the quality of the Stones' lyrics when they, among few other peers (Lennon-McCartney, Dylan, Neil Young, Lou Reed) wrote the template of what rock lyrics could and should say? I can only conclude that people who make these statements haven't really listened.
  
  You want great rock lyrics? How 'bout "Paint it Black," "Mother's Little Helper," "Get Off My Cloud," "Brown Sugar," "Sympathy for the Devil," "Gimme Shelter," "Blinded by Rainbows" and "Moonlight Mile" ... just for starters, of course. Say what you will about Mick Jagger's image, but the man — along with Keith, of course — always had a way with words.

  Flag mountainman2012on November 07, 2011   Link

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    Once again writing (for free no less) in an incorrect forum. Geesh....

    Flag TurnMeOnon November 07, 2011  

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    The God you don't believe in is CRYING....

    Flag TurnMeOnon November 07, 2011  

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    Because there are very few who possess a true talent for writing (and he is blessed beyond belief with not only intelligence, but an extensive vocabulary and an ability to express his thoughts and feelings in such a way as to engulf his audience's hearts and minds). He could be making $$$$ off his ability while reaching a much larger audience yet he isn't. He is SOOOOO lucky he's not with me or I'd nag him at least once weekly to share his gift (before he kicked me to the curb:)

    Flag TurnMeOnon November 07, 2011  
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  General Comment:I always thought it said, "Its just that you know I got you in a sway"
  
  great song and vibe

  Flag spiritofthetimeson May 29, 2011   Link

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    As Mick Fleetwood observed several years ago, the Stones' latter-day pop-cultural image has diminished their accomplishments as an innovative, creative band. This tendency leaves many, who apparently don't like the band or most of its music, to belittle Mick and Keith, usually for not being as brilliantly virtuosic as Mick Taylor, not being as "great" as Led Zeppelin, and on and on.
    
    Of course, this misses the point that the Stones, even if you believe they peaked in the early '70s, created more standard-setting rock and roll in their first 10 years than most subsequent bands after decades in the business.
    
    Furthermore, how can one question or casually dismiss the quality of the Stones' lyrics when they, among few other peers (Lennon-McCartney, Dylan, Neil Young, Lou Reed) wrote the template of what rock lyrics could and should say? I can only conclude that people who make these statements haven't really listened.
    
    You want great rock lyrics? How 'bout "Paint it Black," "Mother's Little Helper," "Get Off My Cloud," "Brown Sugar," "Sympathy for the Devil," "Gimme Shelter," "Blinded by Rainbows" and "Moonlight Mile" ... just for starters, of course. Say what you will about Mick Jagger's image, but the man — along with Keith, of course — always had a way with words.

    Flag mountainman2012on November 07, 2011  
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  My Interpretation:I hate to relate everything to drugs, but my old next door neighbor is a big h user. There would be times I'd see him in the laundry room just standing there, both feet planted firm...swaying. Maybe Taylor was observing Richards' drug abuse.

  Flag aramg83on May 24, 2010   Link

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    +1

    i hate to fill all of you in, but the actually lyrics are, "it's just that evil eye forgot me in its sway." Meaning that time has stopped on the pendulum on a clock. When your stuck in drug addiction you kind of just exsist, and you're getting nowhere.

    Flag rjohnson5on May 07, 2011  

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    i hate to fill all of you in, but the actually lyrics are, "it's just that evil eye forgot me in its sway." Meaning that time has stopped on the pendulum on a clock. When your stuck in drug addiction you kind of just exsist, and you're getting nowhere.

    Flag rjohnson5on May 07, 2011  
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  General Comment:my brain hears what it wants to, so i always tend to hear "it's just that demon life forgot you (me) in its sway"

  Flag TheWrongGirlon January 06, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you:'This Life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable time more; and there will be nothing new in it, but every pain and every joy and every thought and sigh and everything unutterable small or great in your life will have to return to you, all in the same succession and sequence--even this spider and this moonlight between the trees, and even this moment and I myself. The eternal hourglass of existence is turned upside down again and again, and you with it, speck of dust!' Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus? Or have you once experienced a tremendous moment when you would have answered him: 'You are a god and never have I heard anything more divine.'

  Flagged PopeofErukeon August 06, 2009   Link

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    +1

    one of the most brilliant things ever written, wouldn't you agree? could read that every day until i die... and still get chills.

    Flag TheWrongGirlon January 06, 2010  

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