Flip The Switch by The Rolling Stones

Album: Bridges To Babylon (1997)

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Songfacts®:

This is either about someone who is dying and telling the people to pull the plug, he's ready to go, or it is about someone who has been sentenced to death and is telling the people he's ready to go. >>
Suggestion credit:
Michael - London, England
Keith Richards: "Beat-wise the fastest track the Stones have ever cut or any other rock and roll song. It even beats Rip This Joint, which is always considered to be the fastest track ever cut. But it does come roaring at this beautiful beat and that's why I've been saying about Charlie Watts. The album starts with Charlie and it actually ends with Charlie, the whole record, so you know, I can go on and on about him, and everybody else yeah, great, really. But to me the real pleasure is playing with Charlie Watts, who is right on the top of his game. And that makes it much easier for me. Then I can really fly."
Mick Jagger: "It's a very strange lyric, really, about death and about madness and criminality and so on. Quite heavy stuff, really, but it's a good one. It's an excellent one to start a record with." >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 2

Comments: 5

Fid from FkirudaKeith says 'fastest track, faster than Rip This Joint'?!? There may be margin of error of a few BPM but my count says live version of 'Flip..' is about 153 beats per minute, studio version approx. 162 BPM and Rip This Joint is approx. 193 BPM.
Questor from Citrusheights, CaI first heard this song at a gym. It was extremely upbeat. I was surprised to look closer at the lyrics that it's so much about being so close to death. If I have to choose a way to go, this is it! It's otherwise got a very optimistic pulse to it. I've had some real down days especeially in the bad economy of 2011, and this tune makes me want to flip to on, better days ahead!
Brian from Alluhrst, NjI love the arab sound of the guitar
Johnny from Los Angeles, Casomeone should make a slower, more heartfelt version.
Johnny from Los Angeles, CaA pretty bad Stones song. Just doesn't have any feeling to it. Just seems of the assessmbly line.

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