My Gen X Playlist: Waiting On A Friend – The Rolling Stones

I have a good friend from college that I’ve known for over 30 years. Typically with friendships that last that long, you tend to rub off on one another. The one thing that I appreciate about him is his get shit done attitude. He doesn’t complain, bitch or moan. Despite the task, he rolls up his sleeves silently gets to work. Sure, he may dislike what he’s doing, but you’d never know it.

I met his older brother and discovered he is a spitting image in the get shit done department. Talk about cut from the same cloth. If I had to guess between nature or nurture, I’d say nurture rings the bell on this one. Their parents were old school, with old school attitudes and values. This is the textbook case where the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Not a bad crop if you ask me. I’m just fortunate some of this rubbed off on me. I wonder what of me rubbed off on him. Or do I want to know? You know, that can cut both ways.

The Rolling Stones originally recorded Waiting On A Friend in 1972, but it didn’t make it on an album until 1981. I’ve never been a huge Stones fan, but I do like a number of their songs, this being one of them.

When it came time to make a new album circa 1980 so they could go out and tour, Jagger and Richards couldn’t bear the thought of settling in for weeks or months to write new material. It was Chris Kimsey, an associate producer who had worked with the band throughout the ’70s, who suggested that all the rough material needed for a new album was in the vaults. The Stones had consistently recorded more than they needed for the last several albums.

They began scouring the cutting-room floor for songs, and one that they liked was sourced all the way back to 1972 and the sessions for the album Goat’s Head Soup. The track breezed about on a simple, catchy guitar lick, and it was adorned with lovely piano by studio ace Nicky Hopkins. As with all the other songs that would land on the “Tattoo You” album in 1981, the band just needed to lay down some embellishments on top of that, while Jagger had to come up with lyrics.

– americansongwriter

Funny how you can trace things back from when they originated years ago. If you are lucky, you might find a few shiny pennies worth keeping. Put yourself under a microscope and I’m sure you’ll find a few footprints left by others. We all have them. Some are just more visible than others.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Watching girls passing by
It ain't the latest thing
I'm just standing in a doorway
I'm just trying to make some sense
Out of these girls that passing by
The tales they tell of men
I'm not waiting on a lady
I'm just waiting on a friend

A smile relieves a heart that grieves
Remember what I said
I'm not waiting on a lady
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
Just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah

Don't need a whore
I don't need no booze
Don't need a virgin priest
But I need someone I can cry to
I need someone to protect

Oh, making love and breaking hearts
It is a game for youth
But I'm not waiting on a lady
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
Waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
I'm just waiting on a friend
Waiting on a friend

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah