Under My Thumb

I can see why some would find it offensive, after all, he's singing about making this girl submissive so he can live his life his own way without having her nag him constantly. Jagger is telling her to be his bitch essentially. It doesn't take a feminist to see that this song is super misogynistic. But that doesn't mean it's not catchy as fuck.

minero, you've said everything I wanted to say. Thanks! But, I'll say it all again, anyway. This blues-rock, xylophone-accompanied ditty is absolutely perfect. Mick Jagger's delivery is so unapologetic. Really a great example of why the Stones are of the most respected rockers ever. Classic!

What many people fail to read in these lyrics is the lyrics at the beginning of the song which are: "Under my thumb The girl who once had me down Under my thumb The girl who once pushed me around." I am a male who is an advocate for abused women either physically, mentally, or both. There is never a time when any type of abuse is acceptable. Mick Jagger said in a 1998 interview that this song was written as a joke in response to a female that he dated at one time that as the beginning of the song states "Once had him down, once pushed him around" so he wrote the song as if the shoe was on the other foot but it was a joke and it never happened. People that take this song to serious don't realize the fact's for one and two, are looking for something to bash anyone about regarding anti-feminism lyrics, etc. You could do that with just about any song by any band, by a male singer or a female singer. It's all in what you want to take from a song and how far you want to take it. Are they role models? No, and I don't think the Stones ever pretended to be. What I find ironic is when a male writes a song like this it is viewed as a song that condones abuse, etc. When a woman writes a song like this most times she is held in high regards for finally breaking free from the cycle of abuse and so on. As I mentioned I am a male and I was in an abusive relationship for nearly 7 years both physical and mental but I was the one who was abused. So that goes both ways but of course woman are the ones abused more often than men, but when a man admits he's been abused he takes a lot of flack from friends, etc. and little support is available for him. My point is if you don't like a song you don't have to listen to it. Make sure you know what it's about and why it was written. And enjoy music, it's a great escape. The song "Under My Thumb" by The Rolling Stones first of all was written as a joke or tounge and cheek and that's coming from Mick Jagger himself.

seems to me it's like this: boy likes girl, but she rejects him. once he stops, she suddenly realizes that she likes him back. so now he feels he can do what he likes with her, cause now she'll do anything for him.

it means he's got her whipped to do what he says, so probably not to good of a thing

Right, one more thing. About the last part of your comment. You'd think that the girl would be insulted and embarassed, not complimented, because it's not just him sitting back and laughing at her, it's him telling millions of people how he's taking advantage of you, and you're just going along with it.

I appreciate satire, but this song never sounded satirical to me (the more so when you consider some other, similar Stones lyrics). It definitely sounds gloating. Even if the girl had abused him first, the healthy response would be to repair the relationship to one of mutual respect (which is a feature of healthy M/s relationships too, btw), or else put her behind him. "Turning the tables" on abuse just perpetuates the pathology. Even if it were intended as satire, I'm sure many would hear it as validation of their uglier impulses. I personally dislike this song so much that I've recorded other music over it both places it appears in my Stones tapes.

The song is about a BDSM relationship, and no, that is not "sexist" because the woman in the song CHOOSES such an arrangement. "Feminists" (i.e. female politicians) expressing opposition to this song is laughably ironic as it completely flies in the face of female liberation, which was intended to give women rights and freedoms and not treat them as infantile beings incapable of understanding their own needs and making decisions accordingly. The only people who criticise ANY type of relationship consisting of consenting adults are nothing more than judgemental bluenoses. The woman in the song initially "pushed around" the male subject because she did not respect a man who wasn't dominant. Once he exerted power and influence, she became satisfied with the relationship which was compatible to her needs. It seems most people are too blind to realise that SHE was the one who made the change in him; either that or they're daft enough to believe that women alternate between attraction to submissive and dominant men. And as has already been mentioned, if the submissive character in the song was male (whether he be straight or homosexual) there would likely be little protest; entirely due of course to political correctness. The reverse equivalent would be a masuclinist group opposing Iggy Pop's 'I Wanna Be Your Dog', which would of course be considered high comedy by our contemporary society. It's unfortunate double standards have to rear their ugly heads even when art is concerned.

This is a song about a relationship based on hate and control instead of love. The singer has an obvious, palpable disdain for his partner, and possibly for all women. It really speaks to the times and should be a wake up call for anyone who thinks this time period was a bastion of equality, peace, and love.

If anyone has read the Marianne Faithfull autobiography they'll know that this is about a woman (I can't remember her name, any ideas?) Jagger was going out with who was totally in control of him and taking advantage. Then the tables turned and she was under his thumb! read this book it's absolutly brilliant, it mentions how lots of their songs came about. and how 'ruby tuesday's tune was a complete fluke, when Brian Jones was playing around on the recorder (sounds like a flute) they all noticed the brilliant sound it had. It's beautiful! oh yeah and don't think its ''demeaning'', its from Jaggers own experience and it works both ways for men and women. She did it to him first! what goes around.........!! Legend.