All Down The Line

Another great song off the best album of all time.

I don't think you can really say Dylan or the Beatles wrote better lyrics than the Stones, or vice versa. The Stones lyrics are perfect for Jagger's voice and for their music. Dylan's lyrics are perfect for his music. You can't compare the two. Can you imagine Mick Jagger singing Blowing in the wind with just an accoustic guitar? When you listen to the stones you wan't songs about rock'nroll, drugs, booze and women (although they could, and did, write some deeper and very good lyrics).

I always thought this song was about cocaine. Nonetheless, I love the opening riff.

To my ears "All Down The Line" is using the metaphor of a train to speak about their hectic lives. At the time they were recording Exile the Stones were trying to find a way to avoid the high tax rates in Britain, Keith was being hounded by the French police over drugs, Mick was preparing to wed Bianca, most of Keith's and Mick Taylor's guitars were stolen (while Keith was lying asleep next to them), members of the band were dropping in/out of the recording session at all times of the day (and night), drinks and drugs were hopelessly prevelent among the band and crew, and the recordings themselves were being performed in a stuffy Chateau basement with the mobile tape truck parked outside.

It seems to me that they're simply talking about life as a Rolling Stone. The end part ("Wont 'cha be my little baby for a little while?") might be aimed at Bianca. Who can really say except Mick or Keith?

Incidentally, there are video documentaries recounting the days of Exile on Main Street. For Stones fans they're worth a look.

I don't think this song means much of anything but it is one of their most underrated songs. Maybe the best song on Exile.

The first thing this song reminds me of is cocaine.

The lyrics of this song aren't anything special and that's the point, I think. Good ol' rock n roll--nothing fancy. You're right that Dylan and the Beatles, for the most part wrote better lyrics, but I a lot of the Stones lyrics are great. They've written great lyrics in well over a hundred songs. Maybe you just don't understand them.

JumpyJack i understand them, thank you very much.

Don't let your love for the band blind your judgement.

Willia 05, interesting point, but i'll hold my ground.

Now boys (or ladies as the case may be) it's not that i don't think the world of Mick and the boys.....Sympathy, You Can't Always Get what you want, Gimmie Shelter are a few of the best written songs by anyone, but how many Lyrical cast offs do the Stones have? More than the Beatles , Dylan and Zeppelin combined i'd venture to say.

See you on the boards mates.

Love it!

This song, ventilator blues, stop breaking down, all remind me of the summers I worked on railroad tracks and scrap metal yards for my dad when I was in high school.
They have a blue collar feel. I was doing a lot of coke at that time and listening to Exile on Main St. Listen to me, if youre going to dabble in the white lady, this is the album to do it with. also have a pot brownie to chill you out.

I'm a little surprised anyone who has done any significant amount of coke would say anything that might encourage it's use.

It's sunk many a great mind.

I digress.

upon reflection i think this song is about the band and being on the road.