We Love You by The Rolling Stones

Album: The Singles 1965-1967 (1967)

Charted: 8 50

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Songfacts®:

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote this after they were arrested along with Brian Jones on drug charges stemming from a raid on Keith's house, Redlands, on February 12, 1967. This song was a thank you message to the fans who supported Jagger and Richards through their arrest - note the jail ambiance at the beginning.
This was also a "Thank You" to The Beatles, The Who and the editorial page of the London Times, who supported and spoke out in favor of the Stones after Jagger, Richards and Jones were arrested on drug charges. The Who recorded and released a double A-side of the Stones' "The Last Time" and "Under My Thumb" to keep the Stones' music alive while they were going through their court and prison difficulties. >>
Suggestion credit:
Joel - Chicago, IL
The Rolling Stones lead guitarist at the time, Brian Jones, played a Mellotron, which was an early synthesizer, on this track. Jones was a founding member of the band, but the more popular they got, the more his drug habit affected him. By 1969 he was out of the band's good graces and was fired, then found dead in his swimming pool less than a month later. "We Love You" is a testament to his influence on the band. "Despite being off his head on Mandrax by this time, Brian manages to arrange the track with that syncopated layer of psychedelic madness," says Nick Reynolds, co-producer of the documentary Rolling Stone: Life and Death of Brian Jones. "Pure genius."
The Beatles and Rolling Stones collaborated a bit in 1967: John Lennon and Paul McCartney sang backup on "We Love You," and Mick Jagger sang on the Beatles' "Baby You're A Rich Man."
The Stones made a promotional film for this song that was banned by the BBC but shown elsewhere. It was directed by Peter Whitehead and based on The Trials Of Oscar Wilde with Mick Jagger as Oscar, Keith Richards as the Marquis and Marianne Faithfull as Bosie. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 18

Max Mix from Pamplona, NavarraFor me and my band "Satanic Majestic Request" is the most interesting album of the Stones. All the LP is a gem, music totally advanced for the time. The work of Glyn Jones, the engineer, is totally extraordinary. And we've done a CD with a version of the album, without the "parties" and including "Dandelion" at first and "We love you" at the end. My father continues to get emotional when he tells how he first heard "We love you" on pirate Radio Carolina...it was wild, impressive and astounding, in the teenager night of a land under a heavy authoritarian dictatorship...People don't realize now how all that music (Beatles, Stones, Who, Dylan, Beach Boys, Hendrix, Cream, Love, Byrds, you name it) really changed everything.
Grimtraveller from North West LondonDerek from London, United Kingdom said:
"stones copying beatles as usual."

That's unfair, Derek. Both bands gave to and took from each other. For example, the Stones tried to wear waistcoat and ties like the Beatles but then chucked that and started wearing their own clothes. The Beatles then followed suit {no pun intended !}.
The Stones were doing fuzzy guitar songs like "Satisfaction" before the Beatles replied with songs like "Day Tripper."
The Stones were exploring songs not connected with boy~girl love, taking a dive into the abstract {"Get off of my cloud"} before the Beatles did so with "Nowhere Man" and "Think for yourself."
And so on.
Naturally, the Stones were hugely influenced by the Beatles ~ virtually every British artist that came along after 1963 was.
Paul Wakely from Cork, IrelandAfter the second verse We don't care if hound us missing is lock the door around us. Furthermore this was a protest song and if you have got the orinigal vinyl single (I have), by winding back the end lyrics say we hate. A true Rolling Stone fan p.W. Castletownbere.
Neil from Reading, United KingdomThe Mellotron was not a synthesizer. Sometimes described as an early sampler it was a tape replay keyboard (it played back recorded audio, it didn't synthesize sounds).
Derek from London, United Kingdomstones copying beatles as usual
Scott from Boston, MaOn iTunes, you can find this under "Singles Collection: The London Years". It's a great collection of Stones songs that were never released on an album.
Domenico from Wenham, MaIn "All You Need Is Love" PAUL sings "She loves you...". Watch the video-- it was part of the first worldwide broadcast.
Chris from Charleston, ScBill: No, no no no no no, at the end of All you need is Love, he is singing "she loves you, yeah yeah yeah" come on...
Olli from Hankasalmi, FinlandYou can find We Love You on Rolled Gold : The Very Best Of (2CD)
Nathaniel from Boston, MaThis song has very unusual use of pronouns.
Dave from Scottsdale, AzThis was the "b" side of "Dandelion" released in late 1967. It would have fit very well on the "Satanic Majesties Request" album.
Gary from Mansfield, OhThere's an extensive quotation from Ravel's "Bolero" in the last minute.
Bill from Southeastern Part Of, FlActually, John Lennon sings the words "We Love You" at the end of The Beatles song "All You Need Is Love."
Bill from Southeastern Part Of, FlAlso note that as a tribute to The Rolling Stones, The Beatles sing the words "We Love You" at the end of their song "All You Need Is Love," but they sing it to the tune of "She Loves You." It goes - "We love you, yeah, yeah, yeah."
Alan from City, MiOn the Sgt. Pepper album there is a doll to the right with a shirt that says "Welcome the Rolling Stones." On "Their Satanic Majesties Request" original 3-d album, you can see the Beatles faces in the flowers.
Steve from Lafayette, InI believe you can find we love you on Hot Rocks two.Haven't seen it on cd but I'm sure it is.
Eric from Franklin, MaWhere can you get "We Love You". I haven't seen it on any of the albums or the greatest hits compilations. If you can help me out I'd appreciate it.
Brandon from Seattle, WaJohn and Paul returned the favor of Mick and Keith singing on "All You Need is Love" by singing on "We Love You"

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