This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
She would never say where she came from
Yesterday don't matter if it's gone
While the sun is bright
Or in the darkest night
No one knows, she comes and goes
Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still, I'm gonna miss you
Don't question why she needs to be so free
She'll tell you it's the only way to be
She just can't be chained
To a life where nothing's gained
And nothing's lost, at such a cost
Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still, I'm gonna miss you
"There's no time to lose," I heard her say
Catch your dreams before they slip away
Dying all the time
Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind
Ain't life unkind?
Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still, I'm gonna miss you
Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still, I'm gonna miss you
Yesterday don't matter if it's gone
While the sun is bright
Or in the darkest night
No one knows, she comes and goes
Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still, I'm gonna miss you
Don't question why she needs to be so free
She'll tell you it's the only way to be
She just can't be chained
To a life where nothing's gained
And nothing's lost, at such a cost
Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still, I'm gonna miss you
"There's no time to lose," I heard her say
Catch your dreams before they slip away
Dying all the time
Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind
Ain't life unkind?
Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still, I'm gonna miss you
Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still, I'm gonna miss you
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Keef said in his recent book that he wrote this song about the first girl who ever broke his heart; she is Ruby Tuesday. I forget her real name, but she was a really free spirit who would never settle down or stay in the same place for too long. He completely fell head-over-heels for her and they lived together for a little while in London in the 60s. The Stones went out on tour and when they got back, she had totally moved on and he was heartbroken, but not at all surprised because that was just her way. Ever since I read that story, this song took on a whole new feeling for me, and now I think it's just such a sad song, but so sweet at the same time.
You would think that's it then! <br /> I was just thinking today how it can relate to not finding what you dream of in life and becoming depressed about it etc.......<br /> <br /> "There's no time to lose", I heard her say<br /> Catch your dreams before they slip away<br /> Dying all the time<br /> Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind<br /> Ain't life unkind?
@SusieB Good answer
Interesting comments, all of the above. Only the original lyricists know for certain what the song means. For my part, the first time I heard Ruby Tuesday, shortly after it was released, I was mesmerized. (And the first time I heard Melanie's rendition I felt haunted. It is not often that a cover comes across more powerfully than the original, but Melanie's throaty rendition is the default version that will always run through my mind.)
As to the song, it falls between the bookends of Back Street Girl (musically) and Maggie May (lyrically). All three were songs for and by a generation that, although it did not always know it, was hungry for meaning yet wary of commitment, identifying with the present yet still expressing itself in terms from the past. In this case, Ruby was a wraith who drew the singer into a world that offered escape but no deliverance. The singer awakes, rues the fact that he could not draw her into his world, and reluctantly and nostalgically consigns memories of her to the world of ‘what might have been.’
A beautiful song, by any measure.
Nice one. But the way the comments come out they are below yours - the one above is a bit whacky! :)
The answer to your question Philadelphia Eagles is very simple---GREED! The money made from songwriting royalties is enormous. Truth be told, Jagger and/or Richards did write about 95% of the songs as the other members knew their efforts would not be credited so why bother. Mick Taylor and Ron Wood have received writing credits. Bill Wyman complains to this day that he wrote the riff for "Jumpin Jack Flash" but isn't that riff basically the same as the one in "Satisfaction'?
yeah, I remember several stories and complaints from musicians who worked with or for the Stones complaing about being ripped off - most notably Ry Cooder springs to mind, saying they used him for sessions on Let It Bleed because Brian was out of it and Mick Taylor was just coming aboard but they only credit him on one song and Keith played everything he had seen Cooder do during the sessions. Millions of dollars and many greased palms later, these stories are buried in out-of-print magazines and have never been seen on the internet for the most part.
best rolling stones song EVERRR
@bigfatloser I will take the entire Some Girls CD over any other stones song.
maybe this isnt the intended message, but the whole thing really just seems like a metaphor for existence. ruby could be a girl or just daily life. there is nothing to the past, there is nothing to hang on to.
life is essentially meaningless: "She just can't be chained to a life where nothing's gained and nothing's lost at such a cost"
everything is transient: "When you change with every new day Still I'm gonna miss you" yet is still beautiful
so live freely and experience everything as fully as possibly while you still have the opportunity to breath. this song makes me simultaneously blissful and incredibly melancholy.
but i suppose im just projecting my own feelings onto this. plus i was listening to the version from children of men rather than the rolling stones original so that might have something to do with it.
@eatbeast @eatbeast Thank you for your spin on this song. It innately know this was a message to me as I sat on the bus to my home. I didn't know why I would just break out into song (Ruby Tuesday) clear out of the blue. <br /> But, my divorce, as heartbreaking as it is, is almost finished. I am on the verge of starting my new life with a beautiful young lady and even though I still miss my old life, I am happy I am alive and have the potential to create my dream with my new bride. <br /> Your interpretation has helped me and I thank you for the insight.<br />
I think this ruby is bipolar and he knows it but still loves her and accepts it. "Change with every new day still I'm gonna miss you". He doesn't ask her why she acts the way she does, he understands "still I'm gonna miss you". With bipolar people sometime they do erratic things and want to be free and what they want every day that's why he says "Ruby Tuesday". Because she's a completely different person everyday and he's telling that person she was that Tuesday goodbye he'll miss her.
para entender las letras hay que figurarse el contexto en el que fueron escritas, los 60's mucho poder Flower y mucha Psicodelia, el amor libre. Definitivamente Ruby se debe ha alguna hippie de comunas que a pesar que se la mantenian rodando el mundo y haciendo el amor y no la guerra. El amigo escritor le dejo esta cancion !!! definitivamente habla de ser libres , de amar y LOVE POWER !!!
This song is not just about a girl. The tine it was written was when the Western Civilization had a sudden influx of Eastern Philosophical ideas. John Lennon's "Across the Universe", almost all of George Harrison's songs had a lot of philosophy.
Ruby Tuesday is the very essence of life. Be it Happiness, God, Chance, Faith....in essence - Absolute Truth. The Hindu Philosophy of absolute truth says that things are what you believe them to be. That is what Ruby Tuesday is, she changes everyday. When the sun is bright, or in the darkest night, she exists everywhere and nowhere - anywhere we humans want her to be.
The reason why she is mysterious and ever changing, is because she IS humanity's purpose. We humans think we have one purpose. It's not true. Purpose is what we make it to be. Ruby Tuesday thus can't be chained to a life where nothing's gained or lost.
The last paragraph deals with hope. The songs explains how Ruby Tuesday does what she wants, when she wants. Then why do we humans even care? So this talks about our dreams and how we shouldn't let them slip. That is the very essence of life, our purpose, of Ruby Tuesday.
Don't question why she needs to be so free, she'll tell you it's the only way to be... So creative lyrics, the Rolling of the 60s were the best, the soul of Brian Jones, so soon he left... And Keith Richards still here...
what can i say, i have no idea what it means, but hey it's one of the greatest songs ever, i recently made up my top ten and this made it by far