Mick Jagger Doesn’t Know Why He Wrote ‘Brown Sugar’

The Rolling Stones have at all times struggled with their catalog. Generally they take pleasure in sure songs and are happy with sure albums. More often than not, although, they bash their very own music. Should you don’t hear The Rolling Stones play one among their greatest hits reside, there’s a cause. Possibly they wakened that day and determined they hated it and by no means needed to play it once more.

However one among their greatest songs, “Brown Sugar,” actually shouldn’t have been written in any respect, and the worst half is that Mick Jagger doesn’t even know why he wrote it. Now, after enjoying the hit for 50 years, The Rolling Stones have determined to chop “Brown Sugar” from their setlist due to its racist subject material.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards | Robert Knight Archive/Redferns

The Rolling Stones’ ‘Brown Sugar’ is sexist and racist

“Brown Sugar” was the lead single off The Rolling Stones’ 1971 album Sticky Fingers. Nevertheless, they’d been enjoying “Brown Sugar” since 1969. They first performed it at Altamont, their notorious live performance that turned lethal for one viewers member. By some means, the music turned widespread regardless of its horrible, gross, sexist, and racist subject material.

If you hearken to lyrics like, “Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields. Sold in the market down in New Orleans. Scarred old slaver knows he’s doing alright. Hear him whip the women just around midnight,” it’s a surprise The Rolling Stones have been ever allowed to file the music.

Vulture wrote in 2015 that if The Rolling Stones launched “Brown Sugar” as we speak, “the backlash would be instant. Twitter would lampoon them with carefully thought out hashtags. Multiple Change.org petitions would be signed. The band would be forced to issue an apology.” It’s true.

Mick Jagger doesn’t know why he wrote ‘Brown Sugar’

Jagger initially needed to name the music “Black P***y.” Fortunately, Jagger determined that was too “nitty-gritty.” That identify actually would have shocked individuals, and the music would have gotten no air time. Nevertheless, the offensive subject material stayed.

Based on Vulture, in the way in which of making an attempt to defend the nasty music, The Rolling Stones have stated that the music was written shortly “as if its dirty, offensive nature was an accident or an act of the subconscious mind.” In Keith Richards’ Life, Jim Dickerson says it was written in 45 minutes, “It was disgusting,” Dickerson says.

Jagger wrote “Brown Sugar” whereas filming Ned Kelly in Australia. “God knows what I’m on about in that song. It’s such a mishmash. All the nasty subjects in one go,” Jagger advised Rolling Stone in 1995. The music was a “very instant thing.”

In that very same interview, Jagger recalled The Rolling Stones’ first tour to the southern states. “Americans shocked me by their behavior and their narrow-mindedness,” he stated in regards to the south’s segregation. Possibly he wrote “Brown Sugar” as a response to what he noticed?

The Rolling Stones have reduce ‘Brown Sugar’ from their setlist

When Rolling Stone requested why “Brown Sugar” works, Jagger stated, “It’s a good groove and all that.” Jagger continued to say that he didn’t take into consideration whether or not the music would succeed with all of the nastiness. However he’d by no means write a music like “Brown Sugar” as we speak, that’s for positive.

“I would probably censor myself,” Jagger stated. “I’d think, ‘Oh God, I can’t. I’ve got to stop. I can’t just write raw like that.’” Jagger typically did censor himself whereas performing the music. That, and you may hardly make out what he’s saying when he performs the music reside. Censoring and mumbling “Brown Sugar” in live performance might have allowed the music’s subject material to go unnoticed by some followers for a few years.

Now, The Rolling Stones have determined to depart out “Brown Sugar” from their latest No Filter tour and a few followers, who might or might not know in regards to the music’s which means, observed. “Brown Sugar” is one among their greatest hits. How might they not play it? Keith Richards doesn’t perceive why they’re leaving it out both.

Talking to the LA Times, Richards stated, “I’m trying to figure out with the sisters quite where the beef is. Didn’t they understand this was a song about the horrors of slavery? But they’re trying to bury it. At the moment I don’t want to get into conflicts with all of this sh**. But I’m hoping that we’ll be able to resurrect the babe in her glory somewhere along the track.”

Jagger says they could put the music again in in some unspecified time in the future, however they simply wish to see what occurs once they don’t play it. Nevertheless you interpret “Brown Sugar,” it is among the nastiest songs ever.



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