Waiting On A Friend

To me there's always been two ways of interpreting this song.

1. The most obvious is that it's a tribute to Keith. The singer is at the stage in his life where he actually realizes that the "love of his live" isn't all the jetset-ladies or the groupies he's been hanging out with up til now, it's the man playing guitar in his band.
2. To say that Mick Jagger's lyrics always been a bit sexistic would be a rather big understatement. That's why I like to think that the song is about a man that finally realize that women can be something else then sexpartners. So he's not waiting for something he can screw, he's waiting for something he can hang out with. But knowing anything about Sir Mick tells you that the last alternative is probably out of the question. Well anyways, a remarkable song that just creates a mood so inviting that you just wanna wrap yourself in it.

I always thought it was about a couple who broke up and they were meeting somewere and he is not over her yet. he's trying to convince himself they are just friends now

This song says it all...sometimes after many relationships, the hurt and pain, the arguments...it's just nice to be waiting on a friend, be it a female or a male.

He's not looking for a woman, you know a whore, a girlfriend, etc. He just feels better sometimes to be with a friend that will listen to his problems.

Only 2 posts for this song? This song is absolutely beautiful. The sax part of the song is phenominal, does anyone know of any other Stones songs where there is a lot of sax. I'm thinking Can't You Hear me Knocking does as well.

Not your typical Stones song for sure. Very vulnerable and honest words from the weary singer of the song.

That is Sonny Rollins playing the great saxaphone at the end.

This is a great song, and I completely disagree with kfe2.

For fuck's sake kfe2, not all songs are about smack, you know...

this song is pure fucking great. the sax really inspires it to pull of different tricks and then when that falsetto voice comes in (doo doo doo...etc.) that's what the song is right there yeah right there definately

Sounds like me right now. Brilliant song.