RUBY TUESDAY
Instrumentation Is The Key
When this song was recorded in the fall of 1966 (released in early 1967) it was the instrumentation that caught everyone\s ear. It was a very unusual setup for a straight-up guitar-bass-drums band. During the recording session, the instrument lineup consisted of:
- Tambourine: Mick Jagger
- Double Bass (Bowing Strings), 12-String Acoustic Guitar: Keith Richards
- Recorder, Piano & Flute: Brian Jones
- Double Bass (Fingers On Fingerboard) & Bass: Bill Wyman
- Drums: Charlie Watts
In the 1967 “live” TV performance (lip sync) video that I have included, Mick is without a tambourine, Keith is ‘playing’ the piano instead of Brian and there isn’t a guitar in sight. It’s quite often impossible to recreate instrumentation exactly as recorded in a studio when playing live because of one single person playing multiple instruments during recording sessions.
Originally recorded at Olympic Studios in London, England, it was released on the DECCA label in the UK and on the LONDON label in North America. It was the ‘B’ side of the single, with the ‘A’ side being the controversial Let’s Spend The Night Together.
The Genesis Of The Song
The song is apparently based on the breakup of Keith Richards and Linda Keith, who is the daughter of Alan Keith (well known in British entertainment). Linda is best known as a model for British Vogue magazine. One thing you can always count on from Keith is great quotes. Here he is talking about Ruby Tuesday in his book According to the Rolling Stones:
It was probably written about Linda Keith not being there (laughs). I don’t know, she had pissed off somewhere. It was very mournful, very, VERY Ruby Tuesday and it was a Tuesday.
That’s one of those things – some chick you’ve broken up with. And all you’ve got left is the piano and the guitar and a pair of panties. And it’s goodbye you know. And so it just comes out of that. And after that you just build on it. It’s one of those songs that are easiest to write because you’re really right there and you really sort of mean it. And for a songwriter, hey break his heart and he’ll come up with a good song.
As is Rolling Stones tradition, the writing of the song is officially credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. However, it is reported that it was actually written and composed by Richards and Brian Jones. Jones came up with the original melody, the tune, and Richards wrote the words.
A very enjoyable little ditty, nice and smooth, here it is for your listening pleasure:
Ruby Tuesday
She would never say where she came from
Yesterday don’t matter if it’s gone
While the sun is bright
Or in the darkest night
No one knows, she comes and goes
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you
Don’t question why she needs to be so free
She’ll tell you it’s the only way to be
She just can’t be chained
To a life where nothing’s gained
Or nothing’s lost, at such a cost
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you
“There’s no time to lose,” I heard her say
Catch your dreams before they slip away
Dying all the time
Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind
Ain’t life unkind?
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you
Goodbye Ruby Tuesday
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day
Still I’m gonna miss you
Writer: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Copyright: Lyrics © Abkco Music, Inc.
UMG (on behalf of Mercury Studios); LatinAutorPerf, BMI – Broadcast Music Inc., ABKCO Music, Inc., and 11 music rights societies
