My Gen X Playlist: Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones

If you had to get a tattoo right now, what would it be and why?

After you break the ice with the first one, it’s easier opening the door for the next one. I once had a tattoo artist design my second tattoo and I was all set to get it done. For some reason, when I came in to get inked, he was a no show that day. It’s been over 20 years now and I still haven’t gotten it.

Looking back, I’m fine that it didn’t happen. Not because there would have been any buyer’s remorse. There wouldn’t have been. It’s just not what I’d choose if I decided to get one today. Seasons change and so do preferences and perspectives.

When I got my tattoo 30 years ago, it wasn’t a typical thing for young professionals back then. I kept it well hidden and because I present myself pretty strait laced and buttoned up, people were surprised to learn I had one. We once interviewed a guy who was all tatted up. I liked him, but our firm was ultra conservative and senior management was concerned about company image and how clients would react. We ended up not extending him an offer. Too bad. He seemed talented.

These days, most young people have tattoos and I like that there’s no longer a stigma attached to them. I work with a guy who has artwork extending up and down his neck. No one bats an eye nor cares. Sometimes it takes time for the world to catch up and adjust.

I’ve been thinking about getting another one once I retire. I want a little good luck mojo to kick off that new stage of life. I still have a few years to think about what I’d like to get. Any suggestions?

In 1981, the Rolling Stones released the album Tattoo You. I wasn’t really a Stones fan, but Start Me Up got a lot of air play and it eventually grew on me. Who would have guessed this originally was suppose to be a raggae song. Shocking.

Keith Richards explained how this went from reggae song to rocker. “I was convinced – and I think Mick was – that it was definitely a reggae song. And we did it in 38 takes – ‘Start me up. Yeah, man, cool. You know, you know, Jah Rastafari.’ And it didn’t make it. And somewhere in the middle of a break, just to break the tension, Charlie and I hit the rock and roll version. And right after that we went straight back to reggae. And we forgot totally about this one little burst in the middle, until about five years later when somebody sifted all the way through these reggae takes. After doing about 70 takes of ‘Start Me Up’ he found that one in the middle. It was just buried in there. Suddenly I had it. Nobody remembered cutting it. But we leapt on it again. We did a few overdubs on it, and it was like a gift, you know? One of the great luxuries of The Stones is we have an enormous, great big can of stuff. I mean what anybody hears is just the tip of an iceberg, you know. And down there is vaults of stuff. But you have to have the patience and the time to actually sift through it.” 

Songfacts

Reggae? I’m still having a difficult time absorbing this one. Thank god song interpretations aren’t permanently inked like tattoos. The Stones were able to resuscitate this one in the only version that makes sense. And even though I think a raggae take would sound unnatural and wonky, I’m still a little bit curious about its vibe. Who knows. Maybe one day they’ll release one of those original takes. There’s plenty of room in the universe for this alt version.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

If you start me up
If you start me up I'll never stop
You can start me up
You can start me up I'll never stop

I've been running hot
You got me ticking going to blow my top
If you start me up
If you start me up I'll never stop
Never stop, never stop, never stop

You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry

Spread out the oil, the gasoline
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
Start it up

If you start it up
Kick on the starter
Give it all you got, you got, you got
I can't compete with the riders in the other heats
If you rough it up
If you like it, I can slide it up
Slide it up, slide it up, slide it up

Don't make a grown man cry
Don't make a grown man cry
Don't make a grown man cry

My eyes dilate, my lips go green
My hands are greasy
She's a mean, mean machine

Start it up
Start me up
Ah, give it all you got
You got to never, never, never stop
Slide it up, baby, just slide it up
Slide it up, slide it up, never, never, never

You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry
You make a grown man cry

Ride like the wind at double speed
I'll take you places that you've never, never seen
If you start it up
Love the day when we will never stop, never stop
Never, never, never stop
Tough me up
Never stop, never stop

You, you, you make a grown man cry
You, you made a dead man come
You, you made a dead man come