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The Rolling Stones — Waiting On A Friend
Album: Tattoo You
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1151









Released: 1981
Length: 4:27
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Watching girls go passing by
It ain't the latest thing
I'm just standing in a doorway
I'm just trying to make some sense
Out of these girls go passing by
The tales they tell of men
I'm not waiting on a lady
I'm just waiting on a friend

A smile relieves a heart that grieves
Remember what I said
I'm not waiting on a lady
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend

Don't need a whore
I don't need no booze
Don't need a virgin priest
But I need someone I can cry to
I need someone to protect
Making love and breaking hearts
It is a game for youth
But I'm not waiting on a lady
I'm just waiting on a friend
Comments (108)add comment
Womanizer Jagger is playing it cool: women are the better men.
Nice and Cool this one.


I love the music on RP and always appreciate the positive comments and stories that folks share, and love exposure to new (to me) regardless of the 'when' the music as created.
But also have to come to love the images / photographs that go along with each piece of music, yet never see a comment on those . . .
My best wishes and deepest gratitude to Bill and Rebecca for all that you do!!
Honey in the heart, 13 thank yous, Long Life!

Love the sax. 1981. Correct me if I'm wrong but this is before tattoos became a thing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH
12/18/2020
Does anybody else hear Coyote by Joni Mitchell at the start of that riff? It can't be an accident.
 Peter_Bradshaw wrote:
{#Bananajam}..... great song and really good video - Keith looks so cool. 10

 File:Physical Led Zeppelin.jpg
 

Same building as in the Physical Graffiti album cover.
Classic
 treatment_bound wrote:


That apartment building in the video is the same one which was used for the cover shot of Zep's "Physical Graffiti".

 
I came by this comment as this song played for me via PSD.
Great song, but I love the connection of the apartment building.
Eu vivo na sintonia da Radio Paradise e indiquei a muitos que também não saem da sintonia! parabéns Paradise e tenha o meu beijo brasileiro {#Notworthy}
Like the song generally, but I grew up in the same neighborhood as Mick and find his accent execrable on this track.
just for the saxophone  {#Bananajam}
i could not appreciate this tune until I saw the video. Love that video with Mick & Keef meeting up and then heading to the pub to hook up with the rest of the band. Nice cameo by Peter a Tosh too. Great mellowed-out Stones here.
 That Billy Squire video is, by far, one of the worst displays of 80's schmaltz that i have seen since... well... the 80's. It's as if it were choreographed for Jennifer Beals (I had to Google "Flashdance" for that name) and they had Mr. Squire stand in for her... now, i gotta see Journey...
Proclivities wrote:

It is a pretty silly video but "one of the worst"?  There are plenty which are far worse, like these two gems, for example:
 

 

@Proclivities those are awesome, embarrassing '80s video picks. Billy Squire's solo dancing reminds me of that Celtics/BonJovi fan, except that the latter is not ashamed.

 
 
Proclivities wrote:

It is a pretty silly video but "one of the worst"?  There are plenty which are far worse, like these two gems, for example:
 

 


Great! So much better than their contemporary friends in the Beatles (who has unfortunately lost their by far best members, John Lennon and George Harrison. RIP, at least we got to see them shine on their solo work).
 Elroweho wrote:
OK Song but one of the worst music videos I've ever seen!

 
It is a pretty silly video but "one of the worst"?  There are plenty which are far worse, like these two gems, for example:
 


Brings back great memories of living in Steamboat Springs, early 80s was a fun time.
 Peter_Bradshaw wrote:
{#Bananajam}..... great song and really good video - Keith looks so cool. 10

 

 

That apartment building in the video is the same one which was used for the cover shot of Zep's "Physical Graffiti".
Still love this video even after all these years
{#Bananajam}..... great song and really good video - Keith looks so cool. 10

 File:Physical Led Zeppelin.jpg
Sonny Rollins on that sax solo?  Nice!
Perfect.  I love The Stones -- and I love this song.  Tattoo You is as good as any, IMHO, Stones LP there is-- it RAWKS!  Little T&A?  Start Me Up?  Fughettabouddit.

the last great Stones LP?  Perhaps...
 Lazarus wrote:
big stud Romeo Tuma wrote:
This song has some very cool cords in it...  and the lyrics are wonderful...  jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins sounds soooo sophisticated...  great melody...  great beat...  everybody in my hotel room loves this song...
 

I be the holy ghost of big stud Romeo Tuma...  I meant this song has some very cool chords in it...

this song is beautiful...  everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches loves this song...
 

 
It's a damn fine tune indeed.
 cosmiclint wrote:

Me too. This is an under-rated album, imo. Tough to compete with classics like Exile, but the Stones have made great music at every stage of their careers.

 
Hear, hear!!
big stud Romeo Tuma wrote:
This song has some very cool cords in it...  and the lyrics are wonderful...  jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins sounds soooo sophisticated...  great melody...  great beat...  everybody in my hotel room loves this song...
 

I be the holy ghost of big stud Romeo Tuma...  I meant this song has some very cool chords in it...

this song is beautiful...  everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches loves this song...
 
This is the kind of song that forces you to reevaluate your priorities, step outside yourself, and smell a flower.
 SmackDaddy wrote:
Where for art thou Romeotuma?
 

I'm around!  Hope you are having an excellent evening right this minute... love this song...
 
 tulfan wrote:
This song evokes some awesome memories me...
 
Me too. This is an under-rated album, imo. Tough to compete with classics like Exile, but the Stones have made great music at every stage of their careers.
 LizK wrote:

"81 Houston, the Astrodome.  Eddie Money, Eddie Rabbit opened?  Glad it wasn't the Nevilles, I think they're kinda creepy.  The Stones were good and lively.  {#Guitarist}
 
American tour opener '81 JFK stadium Philadelphia with 98,000 crazed Stones fans.  George Thorogood and Journey opened.  Thorogood was awesome (had just put out Move It On Over) and laid into it for the hometown crowd, but Journey got booed off the stage in 15 minutes leaving us to wait 2 hours for the Stones.  The Stones were MORE than worth the wait.
 Elroweho wrote:
OK Song but one of the worst music videos I've ever seen!
 
Reminds me of a scene out of Sesame Street for some reason.
My very favorite RS song. {#Bounce}
 d48m02h1918 wrote:
Love the sax on this song - must be the one and only Bobby Keys himself....!! {#Cheers}
 
Sonny Rollins, believe it or not.
Love the sax on this song - must be the one and only Bobby Keys himself....!! {#Cheers}
Where for art thou Romeotuma?
OK Song but one of the worst music videos I've ever seen!
Good album.
 tulfan wrote:
This song evokes some awesome memories me...
 
Memories good, song sucks - a pathetic Rolling Stones effort given their (mostly) outstanding catalog.
The video(might have actually been film back then) was shot on St Marks Place in the East Village in NYC...up the block from my old grammar school. Brings back some nice memories for me.

romeotuma wrote:

Yes!  I remember that video!  It is great!  Love this song...
 
 


 gemtag wrote:
Stones leave me stone cold. I think it's because their music reeks of pretentiousness. Early stones is good stuff. From this point in time on I find it all hard to listen to.
Pretentiousness of what or who?  Great song on their last really impressive album (that's not a live show).. 


 kjf06 wrote:
Will never forget a time with complicated women problems in France. This song came on the radio and told me what to do and who to call. 
 

"complicated women problems".......INDEED!         are there any other kind?
 sirdroseph wrote:
Guilty pleasure song! I know it is not very good, but I have always loved it!{#Cheers}
 
What are you talking about? This is a great song! {#Cheers}
Guilty pleasure song! I know it is not very good, but I have always loved it!{#Cheers}
 toterola wrote:
I saw the Stones on this tour in '81 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Neville Bros. opened up. One of the 5 best shows I have ever seen. Great song!{#Wave}
 
"81 Houston, the Astrodome.  Eddie Money, Eddie Rabbit opened?  Glad it wasn't the Nevilles, I think they're kinda creepy.  The Stones were good and lively. 

 Foot wrote:
Sorry, the Stones at their most boring; it can stay in the dustbin as far as I'm concerned.

 
{#Stupid}

Stones leave me stone cold. I think it's because their music reeks of pretentiousness. Early stones is good stuff. From this point in time on I find it all hard to listen to.
A classic song...funny that all I can think of when I hear this is Mick sitting on the steps....like the video (back in the day when MTV was new)
Sorry, the Stones at their most boring; it can stay in the dustbin as far as I'm concerned.

Will never forget a time with complicated women problems in France. This song came on the radio and told me what to do and who to call. 
One of Mick's best.  A well-thought out song.   {#Good-vibes}
Me too ............ takes me back to better times         {#Dancingbanana}
 On_The_Beach wrote: 
That video's not earth-shattering, but I wouldn't call it horrific - especially compared to a lot of the videos being made at that time.  "She Was Hot" does have a much more entertaining video though.


I saw the Stones on this tour in '81 in Louisville, Kentucky. The Neville Bros. opened up. One of the 5 best shows I have ever seen. Great song!{#Wave}
This song evokes some awesome memories me...
Here's the record cover.

 lmic wrote:
True nuff. Yet interestingly, it happens to have been shot on the same Lower East Side block as the tenement used on the cover of Physical Graffiti - 98 St. Marks Place.

I know these things because I lived at 98 St. Marks Place one summer back in the 90s. How cool am I?
 
Yah, at least the location is cool. The video I was actually thinking of was this, from the same album. Mick's shirt: eeeyew: NotPrettyInPurple


 On_The_Beach wrote: 
True nuff. Yet interestingly, it happens to have been shot on the same Lower East Side block as the tenement used on the cover of Physical Graffiti - 98 St. Marks Place.

I know these things because I lived at 98 St. Marks Place one summer back in the 90s. How cool am I?

Great song, horrific video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9hbf-IRig


I still can't believe this tune didn't end up on 40 Licks...

Wikipedia says:

The Rolling Stones hired jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins to perform the solo on this song, as well as two others on the album. On his addition to the track, Jagger said in 1985:

"I had a lot of trepidation about working with Sonny Rollins. This guy's a giant of the saxophone. Charlie said, 'He's never going to want to play on a Rolling Stones record!' I said, 'Yes he is going to want to.' And he did and he was wonderful. I said, 'Would you like me to stay out there in the studio?' He said, 'Yeah, you tell me where you want me to play and DANCE the part out.' So I did that. And that's very important: communication in hand, dance, whatever. You don't have to do a whole ballet, but sometimes that movement of the shoulder tells the guy to kick in on the beat."

Superb song.

 


Humble Harv from KHJ-AM LA circa 1964 - 1969 introducing a Stones song...
The Rolling STONESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

This song is soooo not good for the ears......
One of my 5 all time favorite songs..EVER
 Radio_Man wrote:
Stolling Rones!  This has got to be THE quentintarantino Rolling Stones song.
 

Fictional pulp, methinks...
Love this song. Makes me nostalgic for the days I had a stoop in NYC.
My favorite Stones tune. And I'm not a big Stones fan. This gets a 10 from me!
Mostly harmless, which for the Stones, is a bit of a backhand slap, but still a cool tune notwithstanding.


Stolling Rones!  This has got to be THE quentintarantino Rolling Stones song.
 ScottN wrote:
Lots of songs you aren't intersted in will happen with a prolific band that has been writing for ..ah... 43 years now? It would be unreal if either you liked them all or some were not "their best".
 
yet, the average quality of their output is amazing, and there are many unknown gems as well

now that I think of it, that could be said of all those who are truly great: beatles, dylan and company ...


 spanishboots wrote:
This tune had a great music video with Keith And Mick in a NY neighbourhood. Those fabulous early days of music videos... Speaking of music videos, She Bop by Cindy Lauper must be one of the best, ever.
 
I remember that well ... the attitude was very cool and casual.  They should have stopped appearing on film after that ...  they're downright scary now.

One of the few Stones tunes I really like.
Awesome horns.
Awesome rhythm section - too bad ole Bill Wyman left the band.
tomkoshiol wrote:
A number of years ago a nearby radio staton did a Rolling Stones A-Z weekend. I have to say, there were a lot of songs I didn't need to hear again. This has always been probably my favorite Stones song, and a great slbum.
Lots of songs you aren't intersted in will happen with a prolific band that has been writing for ..ah... 43 years now? It would be unreal if either you liked them all or some were not "their best".
This tune had a great music video with Keith And Mick in a NY neighbourhood. Those fabulous early days of music videos... Speaking of music videos, She Bop by Cindy Lauper must be one of the best, ever.
7 for the percussion, 8 for the kit, 7 for the background vocals, 7 for the groove, 8 for the sax, 8 for the piano. Let's see - that's... Great Stones.
etwilson wrote:
Yea, if you'd told me in '81 that Tattoo You was the last good Stones album but that they would continue to grind out crappy albums for another 20+ years, I would have laughed at you. Sad, really.
A number of years ago a nearby radio staton did a Rolling Stones A-Z weekend. I have to say, there were a lot of songs I didn't need to hear again. This has always been probably my favorite Stones song, and a great slbum.
Great song, excellent album!
rickhoran wrote:
the last of the good rolling stones records as a group. Keith Richards had some good releases in the late eighties.
good memories 1978
the last of the good rolling stones records as a group. Keith Richards had some good releases in the late eighties.
I remember this video on MTV ... I hated it. I was too young to appreciate them....
Mostly Harmless.
Mugro wrote:
Hannio, don't forget "Some Girls" that came out in I think 1978. That was a great album. Tattoo You was the beginning of the end.
Yea, if you'd told me in '81 that Tattoo You was the last good Stones album but that they would continue to grind out crappy albums for another 20+ years, I would have laughed at you. Sad, really.
Hannio wrote:
I really like this, even though I pretty much stopped listening to the Stones around 1974.
Hannio, don't forget "Some Girls" that came out in I think 1978. That was a great album. Tattoo You was the beginning of the end.
I really like this, even though I pretty much stopped listening to the Stones around 1974.
Shimmer wrote:
Lame... baby boomer... commercial.... fantasy.
Although I like this tune, this comment is hilarious. How often to you see someone replying to a fellow townsman's comment on RP?
rkelly7246 wrote:
just a good ole memory
Agreed! I remember this from the early days of Mtv...... this song always puts me in a good place. Great way to end the work day!
FunkyZen wrote:
Summer... warm... patio... glass of wine... Oh yeah....
Lame... baby boomer... commercial.... fantasy.
Just when I forget how awesome a Stones song can be.......
A Stones song Jazz-fans may also enjoy because Sonny Rollins is playing the saxophone. Charlie Watts said Rollins would never do it, but Mick Jagger disagreed. When mr. Rollins asked what they wanted him to play, Jagger danced the solo for him 8)
just a good ole memory
From the album that caused us to call them the Rolling Bones ... long, long ago.
I give it a 2, I give it a 7. What I don't do is give a damn what you say, joe. One of the few Stones songs I don't mind hearing more than once a year. I give it a 7.
coyotexxx2 wrote:
Please do not rate this song. Leave it alone. If you give it a 2 you plainly are not worthy to even consider it.
ROFL. I didn't give it a 2! I swear! Don't shoot ME! :-)
joe1 wrote:
Sorry...I just think this sucks bigtime.....absolute crap.. Hence the '2' mark....soooo many better songs out there.....
Please do not rate this song. Leave it alone. If you give it a 2 you plainly are not worthy to even consider it.
Summer... warm... patio... glass of wine... Oh yeah....
Man, I am such a sap! Even though I know it's a highly manufactured product, this one always feels so human.
Love this one! :2dancingbananas: