Childhood living
Is easy to do
The things you wanted
I bought them for you

Graceless lady
You know who I am
You know I can't let you
Slide through my hands

Wild horses
Couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses
Couldn't drag me away

I watched you suffer
A dull aching pain
Now you've decided
To show me the same

No sweeping exit
Or offstage lines
Could make me feel bitter
Or treat you unkind

Wild horses
Couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses
Couldn't drag me away

I know I've dreamed you
A sin and a lie
I have my freedom
But I don't have much time

Faith has been broken
Tears must be cried
Let's do some living
After we die

Wild horses
Couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses
We'll ride them some day

Wild horses
Couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses
We'll ride them some day


Lyrics submitted by spliphstar, edited by sinbeach, 3d1mandakng, glynnw

Wild Horses Lyrics as written by Mick Jagger Keith Richards

Lyrics © Abkco Music Inc.

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Wild Horses song meanings
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  • +18
    General Comment

    Yup, I would 100% agree with that, and the chorus is saying, no matter how much he gets hurt, or how bad she treats him, nothing will stop him from loving her (wild horses couldnt drag me away) I love this song so much, it really suits Mick Jaggers unique voice, and the acoustic guitars are beautiful

    propheton May 09, 2002   Link
  • +9
    Song Meaning

    i love this song i think it talks about getting hurt by somebody who went through something bad but no matter what happens you'll always be there for them

    musicgirl9507on September 13, 2010   Link
  • +9
    My Opinion

    This song is simply beautiful. The expression of unconditional love, heartfelt...

    tinaemekon October 01, 2011   Link
  • +6
    My Interpretation

    I first heard the Stones version as a teen in the late 1980s and have heard all the other versions and will just add my personal interpretation of the song.

    "No sweeping exits or off stage lines could make me feel bitter,or treat you unkind"

    No matter what differences or rivalries there may be,there is a loyalty to this particular person that others may not be afforded - the singer has perhaps been bitter toward some,and unkind at times,but there is one person he/she will never feel that bitterness to,no matter what(my own interpretation).

    "I know I've dreamed you,a sin and a lie; I have my freedom,but I don't have much time. Faith has been broken;tears must be cried, let's do some living after we die"

    The singer has idealized both the person and the situation they have desired,and is aware of it.They are free of certain restraints and conventions but are growing older and time is catching up.The faith in the outcome they desired is fading,acceptance of fate and reality is imminent,and we are not getting any younger,damn it,so let's make the best of what time we may or may not have left.

    Just my personal interpretation of this awesome song.

    Smith472120on November 06, 2015   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    i think this song is about a guy who's involved with this girl who has suffered through something and takes it out on him. However, as much as she hurts him he still loves her and does whatever he can to make her happy. i think it a really sweet song but also really sad

    Isabel Archeron April 29, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    This song was played at my brother's funeral, so this is kind of a special song to me. It seems to be a pretty big song for a funeral, as my friends dad had it at his funeral as well. I think it's about going through a hard time in any relationship and knowing there is not much time to fix things. The line "let's do some living after we die" I think is explaying that a potentially perfect relationship was never able to happen for what ever reason, so there must be a chance for it after death. Great song.

    hawk_er_8on March 25, 2006   Link
  • +4
    Song Meaning

    Jagger states: "Everyone always says this was written about Marianne but I don't think it was; that was all well over by then. But I was definitely very inside this piece emotionally." Keith Richards wrote the melody and came up with the phrase "Wild Horses".

    • (In the liner notes to the 1993 Rolling Stones collection Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones)
    treefingersson April 07, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    i absolutely love this song...possibly one of the best "love songs" ever. just shows how versatile the stones are. it's sad but hopeful at the same time. whatever girl this song was written about was extremely lucky.

    it's all soul. awesome.

    eruannethon March 18, 2006   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Call me crazy, but I think this song is about drug addiction. Its about a struggle to be clean but no matter what wild horses can keep the person away. No matter how much pain is caused no matter what happens they just can't seem to beat the addiction. The faith broken and tears cried refers to all the pain the addiction has caused his loved ones, and being able to ride the wild horses someday, well that's when he'll finally over come the addiction and 'break in those wild horses' Just my point of view.

    jjones28on November 23, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love this song, absolutely gorgeous. I originally heard the Charlotte Martin cover (beautiful, very well done, sounds very different) so I wanted to find the original. I was surprised how emotion was in it, this song moves me to tears. I see it as a promise-no matter what happens, no matter what they do, no matter what tries to divide them, he'll always love her. (or her him, depending on the version...^^;; )

    EssEssDeeon May 23, 2005   Link

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