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Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow? Lyrics
Have you seen your mother, baby, standing in the shadow?
Have you had another, baby, standing in the shadow?
I'm glad I opened your eyes
The have-nots would have tried to freeze you in ice
Have you seen your brother, baby, standing in the shadow?
Have you had another baby, standing in the shadow?
I was just passing the time
I'm all alone, won't you give all your sympathy to mine?
Tell me a story about how you adore me
Live in the shadow, see through the shadow,
Live through the shadow, tear at the shadow
Hate in the shadow, and love in your shadowy life
Have you seen your lover, baby, standing in the shadow?
Has he had another baby, standing in the shadow?
Baby, where have you been all your life?
Talking about all the people who should try anything twice
Have you seen your mother, baby, standing in the shadow?
Have you had another baby, standing in the shadow?
You take your choice at this time
The brave old world or the slide to the depths of decline
Have you had another, baby, standing in the shadow?
I'm glad I opened your eyes
The have-nots would have tried to freeze you in ice
Have you had another baby, standing in the shadow?
I was just passing the time
I'm all alone, won't you give all your sympathy to mine?
Live in the shadow, see through the shadow,
Live through the shadow, tear at the shadow
Hate in the shadow, and love in your shadowy life
Has he had another baby, standing in the shadow?
Baby, where have you been all your life?
Talking about all the people who should try anything twice
Have you had another baby, standing in the shadow?
You take your choice at this time
The brave old world or the slide to the depths of decline
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u people are stupid! nobody's commented on this song? it's great.....i absolutely love the rolling stones, and this is one of their best songs.
I have a feeling this song is about a filthball politician who's as transparent as a car windshield. The last line of the tune cements for me: "The brave old world...". It means that the guy has to choose to tell about his dirty laundry or hide it in the shadows. He has to be good or be bad and be truthful about his choice.
one of my favorite stones songs.
tell me a story about how you adore me :) this song kicks ass
This is an amazing song. I think it's just about somebody whose always been forced out of the limelight by other people, and they're being given their chance to shine.
Going dark on this one...think he is saying he knocked up someone and they are contemplating birth or abortion???...mother, brother, previous lover, may have all been in the "shadow" of what to do? Actually the more u listen n check out the lyrics I am convinced. Very dark tune that I never realized the content! Lot of stones songs are like this
It means are you aware that your mother is three-dimensional, that she has a dark side? Is she frozen in ice as if she was stuck in a particular image? Standing in the shadow is a reference to prostitution, in the second verse about the brother, to a street quickie. This is also the meaning of the cover to the single with the band in drag, some in WW2 drag. So in this way the song is a little like 'Walk on the Wild Side'. There's no point in going too deeply into the lyrics, which are impressionistic and surreal, not intended to be completely specific as to meaning.
It always felt like they were taking a jab at moralistic sexual attitudes. As if to say, "So, you disapprove of my sexuality. I bet your mother did the same thing. Don't presume to judge me." It could be any gender speaking to any gender, hence the mother, brother, lover, variants.
Think the GREATEST singular meaningful lyric is " HAVE YOU HAD ANOTHER"??- like biblical concept.." Hell CALLS HELL"-- ultimately about fidelity!! And ones minimally contemplating cheating!!!( on truest real love!)- maybe for the first time...and their very MOTHERS darkened shadow and silhouette actually appears to ones eyes...usually hovering STANDING in SHADOWS... MOTHER\'S SHADOWY FORM ?= like ones cheating THEIR own very MOTHER via cheating on truest love...and maybe MOTHER DIVORCED via cheating herself!(??) Lol..innately a song about being and remaining TRUE TO ONES HIGHER SELF OR LOWEST SELF...maybe MOTHER SHADOWY IMAGE only VISIBLE TO REAL cheaters and other DISHONEST people( especially when n WHERRRE ones own MOTHER was very dishonest!!)?? Best i can offer!!- ????