If you start me up
If you start me up, I'll never stop
You can start me up
You can start me up, I'll never stop

I've been running hot
You got me ticking, gonna blow my top
If you start me up
If you start me up, I'll never stop
Never stop, never stop, I'll never stop

You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry

Spread out the oil, the gasoline
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
Start it up

If you start me up
Kick on the starter
Give it all you got, you got, you got
I can't compete with the riders in the other heats
If you rough it up
If you like it, I can slide it up
Slide it up, slide it up, slide it up

Don't make a grown man cry
Don't make a grown man cry
Don't make a grown man cry

My eyes dilate, my lips go green
My hands are greasy
She's a mean, mean machine

Start it up
Start me up
Ah, give it all you got
You got to never, never, never stop
Slide it up, woo
Aw baby, just slide it up
Slide it up, slide it up, never, never

You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry

Ride like the wind at double speed
I'll take you places that you've never, never seen
If you start it up
Love the day and we will never stop, never stop
Never, never, never stop
Start me up
Never stop, never stop

You, you, you make a grown man cry
You, you made a dead man come
You, you made a dead man come


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Start Me Up Lyrics as written by Keith Richards Mick Jagger

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Start Me Up song meanings
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52 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    This song, like most Stones songs was about...wait for it... wait for it..... SEX, what a surprise.

    General_Bolton November 11, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Not "dead man cum", it should be "dead man come". Jeez.

    pkjunon March 21, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    it is spelled come and it means ejaculate. If it's a verb (action word) meaning to ejaculate, then it is spelled COME, but if it is a noun (person place or thing) it is spelled CUM. IE Come on my tits baby! You got cum on my tits, baby! this isn't necesarilly how it really is. I just made this rule up on the fly, but I really think it should catch on if you spread the word. Also, as a side note, traditionally come is always spelled COME no matter what it means. However, porno magazines spell it CUM in order to give it a distinction from the other word. So, if you think it is spelled cum, then you read a lot of porn, and are therefore a loser, because porn should be looked at and not read.

    KurdtTBOon December 20, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I thought it was about a lawnmower...really I thought it was about whoopee... Or a Windows commercial.

    Thia007on December 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    correct me if i'm wrong, but i think this song is about sex. i mean c'mon "if you star me up i'll never stop" [when you turn me on, i'll go on all night long?] "slide it up, slide it up" [hmmm]. "my hands are greasy..." [hmmm again]. "ride like the wind, at double speed, i'll take u places that you've never ever seen.." and of course "you make a grown man cry, you make a dead man cum.." lol. overall though. terrific song. definitely gets ya goin. you'll never stop, hah.

    appypollyloggyon March 09, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about the passions a man has for his car. The part in the song "You make a grown man cry Spread out the oil, the gasoline I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine Start it up" Mick Jagger is probably referring to a race car. More than likely a drag car. The next verse about his eyes dialating is what its like at the beginning of the race before the lights turn green. Its just my take on it..but hey, i'm not telling you anything that you dont already know.

    hammerhead_jdon March 11, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    What's Mick saying at the end? Huh? huh?

    oldrocks93on June 15, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I could care less about finding what this song means, since its had me stumped since the minute I heard it. Great song.

    Yakuza Warlordon June 24, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    you make a dead man come,

    i love that line

    bongoon May 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is kick ass. But really what I think this song is about is a woman who leads a guy on and...doesnt follow through. And on top of never putting out for a guy she is so hot she can make a dead man CUM(or ejaculate(sp?)).

    blacklight22on June 05, 2004   Link

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