Casino Boogie

Album: Exile on Main St. (1972)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was recorded at Keith Richards' villa in the South of France while The Stones were on their "exile" to avoid taxes in England. The band would often sleep most of the day, go to the casinos in nearby Monte Carlo, then work on the album until morning.
  • Bobby Keys played the sax solo on this track. An outlandish personality that fit in well with the band, he joined The Stones in France for the recording of Exile On Main St. and became a major contributor to the album.
  • The lyrics are very difficult to understand, maybe because they're very random. In an interview with Uncut Magazine April 2010, Mick Jagger was asked about the lyric "million dollar sad." He replied: "That song was done in cut-ups. It's in the style of William Burroughs, and so-on. 'Million Dollar Sad' doesn't mean anything. We did it in LA in the studio. We just wrote phrases on bits of paper and cut them up. The Burroughs style. And then you throw them into a hat, pick them out and assemble them into verses. We did it for one number, but it worked. We probably did it 'cos we couldn't think of anything to write."
  • Richards, The Stones' rhythm guitarist, played bass on this.

Comments: 5

  • Lyden from Spofford Tx 7877Always liked this song and has really good groove.
  • Steve from Phoenix, AzYeah kind of like
    Lennon's I'm a walrus, which had
    nothing to do with the symbol of death
    or Paul dying.

    It was him throwing words at paper.
    What ever rhymed and was in his head
    at the time.

    Sitting on a cornflake -waiting for the Van
    to come.
    What?
  • Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiIt sounds like "Kissing cotton cans" instead of what it really is.
  • Jacob from San Diego, Cajagger uses the word c-nt. that;s a no-no in todays popular music.
  • Dan from Uk, EnglandIt is widely beleived that the lyrics to this song were composed using William Burroughs "Cut-up", technique.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.