Today’s song is ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ that the ‘Rolling Stones’ rock band made famous following its release in 1968. One of the group's most popular and recognisable songs, it has featured in films and been covered by numerous performers, notably Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner. To date, it is the band's most-performed song: the band having played it over 1,100 times in concert.
The inspiration for the song came from a noisy gardener. Keith Richard stated that he and Jagger wrote the lyrics while staying at Richards' country house after they were awoken one morning by the clumping footsteps of his gardener Jack Dyer walking past the window. Surprised, Jagger asked what it was, and Richards responded: "Oh, that's Jack. That’s jumping Jack." The lyrics evolved from there. According to the book ‘Keith Richards:
The Biography by Victor Bockris, the line ‘I was born in a crossfire hurricane’, was written by Richards, and refers to his being born amid the bombing and air raid sirens of Dartford, England, in 1943 during World War II.
Mick Jagger said in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone that the song arose "out of all the acid of Satanic Majesties. It's about having a hard time and getting out. Just a metaphor for getting out of all the acid things.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I well recall the release of ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ by the Rolling Stones in 1968, the year of my first marriage. We were one of six couples, all recently married who lived in the same crescent in Mirfield. Over the next ten years, we would all be the closest of friends, dining at each other’s house in weekly rotation, going out dancing and drinking together, and even taking group holidays. I was at a party one night when suddenly, one of the neighbours called Tony ran to the record player, and, putting on the latest record he’d bought earlier that day he started jumping up and down like a demented mad man. I recall laughing for a full hour, wondering if he was on some illegal substance.
Over the following months when I saw Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones on television, I was to witness the same ‘ants in the pants’ dance routine as Mick strutted the stage like a bloated peacock seeking a mate. I must admit to finding the look, sound and performance of Jagger initially repulsive, but over the past fifty years, while the Rolling Stones have aged, a few of their songs have grown on me; like ‘Jumping Jack Flash’. However, absolutely nothing would ever induce me to find other songs of the Stones like ‘Little Red Rooster’ worthy of ever singing.
Regarding the group’s ‘pulling power’ (their ability to wed wives and bed women who are younger than their own daughters) and their ‘staying power’ (still doing live performances 50 years past their prime), I take my hat off to them. I don’t know what drugs they took in their hay day, but they are obviously still at play in their system. The group possesses stage stamina, of which I’ve not previously seen the like.
Love and peace Bill xxx
The inspiration for the song came from a noisy gardener. Keith Richard stated that he and Jagger wrote the lyrics while staying at Richards' country house after they were awoken one morning by the clumping footsteps of his gardener Jack Dyer walking past the window. Surprised, Jagger asked what it was, and Richards responded: "Oh, that's Jack. That’s jumping Jack." The lyrics evolved from there. According to the book ‘Keith Richards:
The Biography by Victor Bockris, the line ‘I was born in a crossfire hurricane’, was written by Richards, and refers to his being born amid the bombing and air raid sirens of Dartford, England, in 1943 during World War II.
Mick Jagger said in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone that the song arose "out of all the acid of Satanic Majesties. It's about having a hard time and getting out. Just a metaphor for getting out of all the acid things.”
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I well recall the release of ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ by the Rolling Stones in 1968, the year of my first marriage. We were one of six couples, all recently married who lived in the same crescent in Mirfield. Over the next ten years, we would all be the closest of friends, dining at each other’s house in weekly rotation, going out dancing and drinking together, and even taking group holidays. I was at a party one night when suddenly, one of the neighbours called Tony ran to the record player, and, putting on the latest record he’d bought earlier that day he started jumping up and down like a demented mad man. I recall laughing for a full hour, wondering if he was on some illegal substance.
Over the following months when I saw Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones on television, I was to witness the same ‘ants in the pants’ dance routine as Mick strutted the stage like a bloated peacock seeking a mate. I must admit to finding the look, sound and performance of Jagger initially repulsive, but over the past fifty years, while the Rolling Stones have aged, a few of their songs have grown on me; like ‘Jumping Jack Flash’. However, absolutely nothing would ever induce me to find other songs of the Stones like ‘Little Red Rooster’ worthy of ever singing.
Regarding the group’s ‘pulling power’ (their ability to wed wives and bed women who are younger than their own daughters) and their ‘staying power’ (still doing live performances 50 years past their prime), I take my hat off to them. I don’t know what drugs they took in their hay day, but they are obviously still at play in their system. The group possesses stage stamina, of which I’ve not previously seen the like.
Love and peace Bill xxx
