News Who did The Rolling Stones write ‘Ruby Tuesday’ about?
In the early 1960s, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met for the first time on platform two of Dartford Railway Station. Aged 18 and 17, respectively, the pair found common ground in their mutual appreciation of American blues music. Within a few years, they had acquainted the like-minded multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones and formed The Rolling Stones with the addition of Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman.
Although The Rolling Stones followed Jones’ lead through their early years, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards began to hone their songwriting skills and gradually aligned the band with the contemporary pop-rock scene. In 1965, the Jagger Richards partnership reached full stride with three UK number ones: ‘The Last Time’, ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ and ‘Get Off Of My Cloud’.
After achieving another number one with ‘Paint It, Black’ in May 1966, the Stones took heed of the dawning psychedelic era, inspired by The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and the Beatles’ Revolver. Jones, who had used the sitar in ‘Paint It, Black’, continued to expand his musical horizons, dropping his guitar to humour the organ, recorder, marimba, dulcimer, vibraphone and kazoo on 1966’s Between the Buttons.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Jagger once reflected on Between the Buttons, stating: “Frank Zappa used to say he really liked it. It’s a good record, but it was, unfortunately, rather spoiled. We recorded it in London on four-track machines. We bounced it back to do overdubs so many times we lost the sound of a lot of it”.
While Jagger wrote off much of the record, he singled out ‘Ruby Tuesday’, appearing on the US release, as its highlight. “That’s a wonderful song,” Jagger said. “It’s just a nice melody, really. And a lovely lyric. Neither of which I wrote, but I always enjoy singing it.”
Richards was primarily responsible for writing ‘Ruby Tuesday’, with some help from Jones. The name ‘Ruby Tuesday’ seems to serve as a symbol or metaphor rather than a real person. However, in the book According to the Rolling Stones, Richards said he was likely inspired by Linda Keith, his girlfriend at the time.
“It was probably written about Linda Keith not being there,” he said. “I don’t know, she had pissed off somewhere. It was very mournful, very, very Ruby Tuesday, and it was a Tuesday.”
“That’s one of those things – some chick you’ve broken up with,” the guitarist added on another occasion. “And all you’ve got left is the piano and the guitar and a pair of panties. And it’s goodbye, you know. And so it just comes out of that. And after that, you just build on it. It’s one of those songs that are easiest to write because you’re really right there, and you really sort of mean it. And for a songwriter, hey break his heart, and he’ll come up with a good song.”
How many times have The Rolling Stones played ‘Ruby Tuesday’ live?
‘Ruby Tuesday’ is The Rolling Stones’ 28th most played song, according to Setlist. At present, the band has played the song live on 180 occasions. Meanwhile, the Stones’ most-played song is ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ with 1,196 live outings.
Listen to The Rolling Stones’ ‘Ruby Tuesday’ below.
