Lyrics for Under My Thumb as interpreted by oofus

Under My Thumb Lyrics
Under my thumb
The girl who once had me down
Under my thumb
The girl who once pushed me around

It's down to me
The difference in the clothes she wears
Down to me, the change has come, she's under my thumb

Ain't it the truth babe?

Under my thumb
The squirmin' dog who's just had her day
Under my thumb
A girl who has just changed her ways

It's down to me, yes it is
The way she does just what she's told
Down to me, the change has come she's under my thumb
Ah, ah, say it's alright

Under my thumb
A siamese cat of a girl
Under my thumb
She's the sweetest, hmmm, pet in the world

It's down to me
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come, she's under my thumb
Ah, take it easy babe
Yeah

It's down to me, oh yeah
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come, she's under my thumb
Yeah, it feels alright

Under my thumb
Her eyes are just kept to herself
Under my thumb, well I
I can still look at someone else

It's down to me, oh that's what I said
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come, she's under my thumb
Say, it's alright

Say it's all
Say it's all

Take it easy babe
Take it easy babe
Feels alright
Take it, take it easy babe

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  • 49 Comments
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bjoemama
02-25-2010

Rated 0 
It's about control and the abuse of it. It's a passing feeling. Just as rage and jealousy can be. The author can have moments of bitter selfishness. They are only human. Everyone has an ego. Cheers to somebody that can admit that those thoughts exist from time to time.

This is along the lines of The Police's Wrapped Around Your Finger.

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PinkGoddess
01-21-2010

Rated +1 
The song is about a BDSM relationship, and no, that is not "sexist" because the woman in the song CHOOSES such an arrangement. "Feminists" (i.e. female politicians) expressing opposition to this song is laughably ironic as it completely flies in the face of female liberation, which was intended to give women rights and freedoms and not treat them as infantile beings incapable of understanding their own needs and making decisions accordingly. The only people who criticise ANY type of relationship consisting of consenting adults are nothing more than judgemental bluenoses.

The woman in the song initially "pushed around" the male subject because she did not respect a man who wasn't dominant. Once he exerted power and influence, she became satisfied with the relationship which was compatible to her needs. It seems most people are too blind to realise that SHE was the one who made the change in him; either that or they're daft enough to believe that women alternate between attraction to submissive and dominant men.

And as has already been mentioned, if the submissive character in the song was male (whether he be straight or homosexual) there would likely be little protest; entirely due of course to political correctness. The reverse equivalent would be a masuclinist group opposing Iggy Pop's 'I Wanna Be Your Dog', which would of course be considered high comedy by our contemporary society. It's unfortunate double standards have to rear their ugly heads even when art is concerned.

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jassss
10-30-2009

Rated +1 
omg it's perfectly acceptable for a girl to write a song about revenge on her boyfriend ( a la carrie underwood among MANY others) but when a sex god like mick jagger feel the same way about a female it's the end of the world. get the hell over it this song rocks the stones rock nuff said.
i love the "She's the sweetest, hmmm, pet in the world" part-always makes me smile :)

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strippy6
10-18-2009

Rated 0 
I appreciate satire, but this song never sounded satirical to me (the more so when you consider some other, similar Stones lyrics). It definitely sounds gloating. Even if the girl had abused him first, the healthy response would be to repair the relationship to one of mutual respect (which is a feature of healthy M/s relationships too, btw), or else put her behind him. "Turning the tables" on abuse just perpetuates the pathology. Even if it were intended as satire, I'm sure many would hear it as validation of their uglier impulses.

I personally dislike this song so much that I've recorded other music over it both places it appears in my Stones tapes.

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annabean
05-06-2009

Rated +1 
hasn't anyone on this site heard of satire?

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volcomnukka
04-14-2009

Rated 0 
first off everyone this site isnt about how much u like the song or how u think its cool its just wasting comments on this the website is called song meanings for a reason to say what u think the song its about anyways enough with me wasting a comment too kenba nailed it this song is about a girl who the singer likes and she used to not have the same feelings for him and later she liked him and he realized he had the upper hand he had her under his thumb

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buffonia
03-06-2009

Rated 0 
This song is not insulting to women! Maybe it would be if he was just talking about some random woman he pushes around, but he's not - the song is about a woman who has pushed HIM around, but now the tables are turned. Fair enough, she's got what's coming to her!! This song is brilliant :o)

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laffnredhead
02-24-2009

Rated 0 
This song is about S & M - and dominate and submissive - sex. It's about being in both roles - he wrote it after an encounter with a dominatrix -

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convince
02-05-2009

Rated 0 
The s&m concept is interesting, but I'll take the literal meaning any day. Thanks

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ahaavik22
10-10-2008

Rated 0 
I find it kind of remarkable that it hasn't really occurred to anyone that this song could be interpreted as being about S&M play. Regardless of gender politics, it's very much about psychological control. First, the man is the controlled one. Then the table turns-- a metaphorical "switch"-- and the woman is under his "thumb" or sexual control. It's Master and slave. It's Domination/submission. And it's a mentality.
The word "pet" is often used as a sort of lusted after honorific. Though degrading, it is perceived as a great honor to serve another.
There. I said it.
Open your eyes.

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hilarysayshi
05-28-2008

Rated 0 
How mean :[


It is a good song though!

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Androcles
01-15-2008

Rated 0 
I agree with crash400, and I'll add to that by saying that it's understandable for the guy in this song to want the upper hand in the relationship. Especially considering the fact that this girl used to be a haughty and manipulative type who pushed him around.

I suppose the relationship described in this song may be a bit exaggerated, and in a real life relationship it would be unnecessary for the guy to gloat like this. But this song paints an ideal picture of the sort of submissive, obedient woman that most guys want. Probably my favorite Rolling Stones song for that rason, and because it sounds so cool.

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jannet_of_leon
09-15-2007

Rated 0 
"it's down to me"

um, yeah...it's about control.
song rocks, weird message.

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slightreturn
07-23-2007

Rated 0 
i'm female and i like this song. i don't think it's to be taken that seriously. it's him being so frustrated but now relieved that he just needs to embellish it a bit, gloat about his control over her now that the tables have turned. it's kind of a joke, and anybody who listens to this song and takes it seriously, man or woman, just needs to loosen up. it's almost misogynistic but not in a wrong way, just as a joke. it really shouldn't represent society's views on wo/men relationships.

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crash400
07-15-2007

Rated 0 
doesn't every guy just want his girl to take it easy?... not to freak out if he naturally admires beauty in other women. Doesn't part of every man want to have his word in edgewise? this is about basic, male needs that SOME women don't understand. Sure, it's taken to "shocking" levels of honesty in this song, but that makes it brilliant at the same time...

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twollamalove
06-20-2007

Rated 0 
Did I mention that I like the lyrics too? Perhaps I missed that part.

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nectarytomato
06-14-2007

Rated 0 
Songs like "under my thumb," "yesterday's papers," and "stupid girl" are full of misleading, gender stereotyped, partiarchal bull shit and unfortunately a catchy melody and "perfect" delivery only perpetuate these things in society.

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twollamalove
06-14-2007

Rated +1 
minero, you've said everything I wanted to say. Thanks! But, I'll say it all again, anyway.

This blues-rock, xylophone-accompanied ditty is absolutely perfect. Mick Jagger's delivery is so unapologetic. Really a great example of why the Stones are of the most respected rockers ever.

Classic!

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hangwire13
09-08-2006

Rated 0 
This is the song they were playing at Altamont when the killin' went down.

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green_heaven
07-29-2006

Rated 0 
this song.. i love!!!!! the tune and everything.... i couldnt stop singing it on the way to the stones concert!!!! i waas so hyped up!!!

anyway... but yeah the lyrics seem a little offensive... especially this : "I can still look at someone else"

well ill tell u now, if i was going out with mick (wich i would love to be :)) that i would make sure this didnt happen to me, and hopefully he would be under my thumb..... although i do always say id do anything for the stones..... so im confused :S

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grimeboy
06-13-2006

Rated 0 
I originally thought this song was a sad song, because the narrator (or whatever the equivelent is for songs) has crushed his former love - she's nowhere as desirable now that she's so pathetic all of a sudden. I don't know, I suppose music is free for interpretation.

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JosephWolf
02-09-2006

Rated 0 
I think it's how a relationship that was....oh, you know. It's not sexist, just that she wants him now that ....well. I'm lazy. Everyone has their own ideas, so yeah, good song.

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loischantrelle
01-29-2006

Rated 0 
This is one of my favorite Stones songs. Its about a guy who has been treated badly by his girlfriend but now the tables are turned and he has the control. He has her trained like a pet. Its a truly funny concept. Tina Turner made a cover of the song on her Acid Queen LP in 1975. It is interesting to hear the song from a woman's perspective. I love both versions.

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paretus
01-23-2006

Rated 0 
Listen to the Social Distortion cover of this song. The song does not change but there is a whole different feeling about it. The RS original song is cool and you can imagine a hyped Mick Jagger playing with the girl once that he got her.
The S.D. cover is about all the pain that the guy had to go through in order to have her "under his thumb.

One of my favourite songs though.

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annashels
12-24-2005

Rated 0 
The womans name was Anita, this song is about her

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