The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want

ORIGINATION Let It Bleed
LAST LISTENED TO yesterday
CHANCE OF WAKING TO IT mucho high
RATING

This is not my favourite Stones song and it probably never will be. But as a song it is perfectly realised. The slow build up through the gradual addition of instruments is nothing short of perfection. It seems rather pointless to describe fully the whole of this build up, as it is so well known. Instead i will single out a few particular moments that stand out.

First up is the crystal-clear diction of the choir at the opening, which never fails to bring a smile to my lips. This is followed wonderfully with a bare guitar, the sheer simplicity of which almost gives the impression of the song drawing breath before its climb. It also works as a great contrast to the very proper choir. The organ embellishments after the line 'I went down to the Chelsea Drug Store' are restrained but add a lovely touch of soul. Later, with the choir returning for just a few bars in anticipation of the climax, the song just steps up a gear, showing its power and depth. Then there are the piano rolls near the climax and finally the climax itself, particularly Charlie kicking into double time on the fade. Just wonderful.

Today i also noticed for the first time the quietly-mixed bongos that appear a few minutes in, which mesh with the drums to add just one more texture to this complex weave. This depth of layers is just one more great thing about the song.

As i wrote to being with, this is not my favourite Stones song. Only Gimme Shelter or Sympathy For The Devil will ever be that. This song, however, will never be less than third best.

And i've not even mentioned the resignation-to-redemption truth of the lyrics, that the music echoes and which drives home the utter correctness of the song's message: you can't always get what you want, but sometimes, if you try, you might get what you need.