Lyric discussion by pthalomarie 

Cover art for Torn and Frayed lyrics by Rolling Stones, The

this song makes a lot of sense if you watch the movie Cocksucker Blues. You see them dealing with lots of drugs and dressing rooms filles with parasites.

i think most of the takes on it are spot-on. i always too the line "Just as long as the guitar plays" to mean that Mick was hoping that Keith wouldn't die or eel over in the middle of a performance.