Memo From Turner

Album: Metamorphosis (1970)
Charted: 32
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  • Didn't I see you down in San Antone on a hot and dusty night?
    We were eating eggs in Sammy's when the black man there drew his knife

    Aw, you drowned that Jew in Rampton as he washed his sleeveless shirt
    You know, that Spanish-speaking gentlemen the one we all called Kurt

    Come now, gentleman, I know there's some mistake
    How forgetful I'm becoming now you fixed your business straight

    I remember you in Hemlock Road in nineteen fifty-six
    You're a faggy little leather boy with a smaller piece of stick

    You're a lashing, smashing hunk of man your sweat shines sweet and strong
    Your organs working perfectly but there's a part that's not screwed on

    Weren't you at the Coke convention back on nineteen sixty-five?
    You're the misbred, gray executive I've seen heavily advertised

    You're the great, gray man whose daughter licks policemen's buttons clean
    You're the man who squats behind the man who works the soft machine

    Come now, gentleman your love is all I crave
    You'll still be in the circus when I'm laughing, laughing in my grave

    When the old men do the fighting and the young men all look on
    And the young girls eat their mothers meat from tubes of plasticon

    Be wary of these my gentle friends of all the skins you breed
    They have a tasty habit they eat the hands that bleed

    So remember who you say you are and keep your noses clean
    Boys will be boys and play with toys so be strong with your beast

    Oh Rosie dear, don'tcha think it's queer so stop me if you please
    The baby is dead, my lady said, "You gentlemen, why, you all work for me" Writer/s: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
    Publisher: Abkco Music Inc., BMG Rights Management
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 15

  • Lars Iverson from Montreal CanadaI'm pretty sure Ted from Carlsbad is right about the players ,at least on the movie version (far and away the best version in my opinion{it's my favourite Jagger song})As to Johnny Zhivago's comment about the lyrics: certainly the "english language idiom" he quotes is an idiom but Jagger chooses to mutilate it and ,thus, make it more interesting. The lyric,as sung, is "they have a tasty habit,to eat the hand that bleeds" Also "Performance" is one of Roeg's best films,I believe'.
  • Jae from New YorkRy Cooder claimed a lot of music riffs and playing on Stones’ “Let it Bleed” were ripped-off from him; I’d guess it’s him on slide in “Performance” film version.
  • Ted from CarlsbadIt's not the Stones. It's Ry Clooder on slide, Russ Titelman guitar, Randy Newman piano, Jerry Schff bass, and Gene Parsons Drums. The Stones never sounded this good! S--t version on Metamorphosis. Look at the credits! Even on the singles collection it says, Mick Jagger.
  • Johnnyzhivago from Holmby Hills, CaI love this song but the lyrics, as printed here, seem off, even to my foreign ear. For example, I think it's "they have nasty habit, they bite the hand that FEEDS." It's an English language idiom.
  • Paul from Boston, MaThe version from "Performance" featured Ry Cooder and late Lowell George, before he founded Little Feet. Also Jack Nitzsche and Randy Newman, Jim Capaldi, and Steve Windwood.
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaI love this song. Jagger played this song live on his '88 tour of Japan with Joe Satriani on guitar.I wish they would play it live with the Stones.
  • Gary from Seattle, WaBrian Jones is on lead guitar. Also rumored at that session Stevie Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Al Kooper and Charlie Watts.

    Be safe.
    Crowski KZOK Classic Rock Seattle
  • Ken from Booneville,ms, MsDepends on which version, there are 3 different version. One had Ry Cooder, one has Brian Jones and one has Al Kooper
  • Todd from Toronto, Canadahmmmm. well eric claptons in the rolling stones! naww dude Keith Richards plays on the is
  • Dan from Newport, WalesDoes anyone know who played the guitar,it sounds like Clapton
    - Pete, Burlington, WI

    Ry Cooder
  • Pete from Burlington, WiDoes anyone know who played the guitar,it sounds like Clapton
  • Bertrand from Paris, FranceThe version on Metamorphosis is reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix's own influence.
  • Michael from Wayne, NjGreat song....great lyrics
    "You'll still be in the circus when I'm laughing, laughing in my grave..."
  • Dave from Chicago, LaThis song is also playing in the background in the movie "Goodfellas" when Ray Liotta's character Henry emerges from the house during the daylight on a binge. This is the song I thanked Mick Jagger personally for recording when I met him at the MCA in Chicago in 1999.
  • Michele from Philly, Pai belive there are 2 differnt sets of lyrics one for metamorphasis first ofall isnt all that legal stuff hisory now over time etc. also they lyrics were kinda differnt ,,on each verison even the live ones they do kow so how many really are they and who plays which instrument on it ??
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