Respectable

"Respectable"
Single by Rolling Stones
from the album Some Girls
Released	September 15 1978
Format	7"
Recorded	October-December 1977
Genre	Rock
Length	3:07
Label	Rolling Stones
Writer(s)	Jagger/Richards
Producer	The Glimmer Twins
Rolling Stones singles chronology
"Beast of Burden" (1978) "Respectable" (1978) "Shattered" (1978)
Some Girls track listing "Far Away Eyes" (6) "Respectable" (7) "Before They Make Me Run" (8)

"Respectable" is a song by The Rolling Stones from their 1978 album Some Girls. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

In the liner notes to the 1993 compilation album Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones (on which it was included), Jagger said, "It's important to be somewhat influenced by what's going on around you and on the Some Girls album I think we definitely became more aggressive because of the punk thing..." The lyrics are said to be about Mick Jagger's wife at the time, Bianca Jagger.

Recorded from October through December 1977, "Respectable" was originally written by Mick Jagger to be a slower song, but guitarist Richards saw the advantages of speeding up the tempo and crafting a rocker out of the song. Jagger continued in the liner notes, "On 'Respectable' I was banging out three chords incredibly loud on the electric guitar, which isn't always a wonderful idea but was fun here. This is a punk meets Chuck Berry number..." This resulted in Jagger and Richards having arguments over the song's tempo.

The biting lyrics talk of a woman (most likely the then-Mrs. Jagger) rising into high society and Jagger's attempts to remind her of where she came from. Jagger said at the time of its release, "'Respectable' really started off as a song in my head about how respectable we as a band were supposed to have become, 'We're so respectable'. As I went along with the singing, I just made things up and fit things in. Now we're respected in society... I really meant [the band]. My wife's a very honest person, and the songs's not about her... It's very rock & roll. It's not like (Bob Dylan's) 'Sara'. 'Respectable' is very lighthearted when you hear it. That's why I don't like divorcing the lyrics from the music. 'Cause when you actually hear it sung, it's not what it is, it's the way we do it..."

"Respectable" is one of the songs on Some Girls famed for its use of the core Stones members, all five then-members of the band playing their respective instruments, plus Jagger on guitar. On Jagger's inclusion, Richards said in the Jump Back liner notes, "This was one of the first times we allowed him to join in on guitar. He's a really good rhythm player, man; but then, he's had a good teacher."

"Respectable" was released as a single in the UK on September 15, 1978, where it peaked at #23 on the UK Singles Chart. A memorable music video,which was directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, was made for the single, featuring a more "punk" Stones on display. A still from this video—with departed bassist Wyman edited out—was used as the cover for the band's 2005 compilation album Rarities 1971–2003.

A live version from their 1997-1998 Bridges to Babylon Tour was released on the album No Security.

External links

• Complete official lyrics