Sway

Did you ever wake up to find
A day that broke up your mind
Destroyed your notion of circular time

It’s just that demon life has got you in its sway
It’s just that demon life has got you in its sway

Ain’t flinging tears out on the dusty ground
For all my friends out on the burial ground
Can’t stand the feeling getting so brought down

It’s just that demon life has got me in its sway
It’s just that demon life has got me in its sway

“Sway” from The Rolling Stones Album “Sticky Fingers”

Man, I had not thought of that song in a while. Robert (drummer) called me yesterday and said he wanted to sing it with the band.

To me, “Sticky Fingers” is a dark ride. Everybody has heard “Brown Sugar”, “Wild Horses” and “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” on the radio. When you hear them in the context of the whole record, they seem to take on a different vibe. The last song, “Moonlight Mile”, is positively eerie. There is something about it, that I can’t put my finger on, that runs a chill down my spine.

In my mind, I break the Stones down to three eras, Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, and Ron Wood. “Sticky Fingers” was the Mick Taylor era. He is the forgotten Stone. The Stones have always been a band based around rhythm guitar. Mick was more of a lead player than any other Stone. A lot of the songs from this period had a more straight rock feel for some reason; less of the stutter step approach.

It’s not just Mick’s playing; Keith played different around him the he did the other guys. A great example of how Keith and Mick worked is “Midnight Rambler” off the “Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out Record”. Two guitars sounding as one until, one takes flight. So, Mick Taylor was a great lead player but absolutely no slouch at the rhythm stuff either.

Mick did some fine work with Bob Dylan also including the “Infidels” record, which I have always liked.

Don’t let that demon life get you in its sway.