The Rolling Stones » Tracks » Honky Tonk Women

The Rolling Stones – Honky Tonk Women (3:34)

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About This Track

Honky Tonk Women is a 1969 hit song by The Rolling Stones. Released as a single on 4 July 1969 in the UK and a week later in the US, it topped the charts in both nations.

Two versions of the song were recorded by the band: the familiar hit which appeared on the 45 single and their collection of late 1960s singles, Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2); and a honky-tonk version entitled “Country Honk” with slightly different lyrics, which appeared on Let it Bleed. The concert rendition of the song featured on Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out differs from both the hit version and the country version, with a markedly different guitar introduction and an entirely different second verse.

The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards while on vacation in Brazil from late December 1968 to early January 1969. Inspired by Brazilian gauchos at the ranch where Jagger and Richards were staying, the song was originally conceived as an acoustic country song. Richards has said: ” was originally written as a real Hank Williams/Jimmie Rogers/1930s country song.”

Thematically, a “honky tonk woman” refers to a dancing girl in a western bar who may work as a prostitute; the setting for the narrative in the first verse of the blues version is Memphis, while “Country Honk” sets the first verse in Jackson.

Recorded in London in early February 1969 without Brian Jones, the band initially recorded the track called “Country Honk”. The song was transformed into the familiar electric, riff-based hit single “Honky Tonk Women” sometime in the spring of 1969, prior to Mick Taylor’s joining the group.
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  • Giovanni-perez

    yA

    Monday afternoon

  • sidekuma

    einfach nur volksmusik,geil

    27 days ago

  • giggleloop1

    Classic!!

    last month

  • xtwntraphq

    Another classic.....too many to mention

    last month

  • PattySauce

    The Rolling Stones know how to get me out of my seat!!! :)

    last month

  • escarabat94

    (;-))

    February 2012

  • ben12a

    "First she blew my nose and then she blew my mind:" Only Mick can do this song!

    February 2012

  • jeanvaler

    terrific

    January 2012

  • oldiesfanjohn

    Sept 28,2005 Pgh`s PNC Park...Mick starts off and then lets us in the crowd sing most of the song!!!...40,000 people in unison standing,swayin`,singin` was quite a scene to behold!!!

    December 2011

  • r-iman

    i met her just bar queen

    December 2011

  • kemp678

    Classic Stones. Love!

    December 2011

  • VeroniqueAtroce

    This is one of the best songs ever. Saw them live years and years ago and everyone was singing along. It was crazy.

    November 2011

  • Songman82

    They just don't write them like this anymore and great job to the band who has never stopped touring yet and will probably die touring with matching caskets lol Rock On Stones

    November 2011

  • srv_

    Perfect!

    October 2011

  • nickthetick

    so good

    September 2011

  • tenlong7thick

    luv dis song

    September 2011

  • TheDarkSide73

    She Blew My Nose Then She Blew My Mind

    August 2011

  • behemouth

    Another stripper friendly classic.

    August 2011

  • bob101910

    Never heard this version before. Some of the lyrics are different from previous live versions I've heard.

    July 2011

  • retrowens

    honky tonk? what is this, a country song? lol, oh well, sounds good!

    June 2011
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