Chansons. The Spider and the Fly

Publié le 30 juillet 1965 , mis à jour le 24 novembre 2021 Par Rolling Stones Stories

"The Spider and the Fly" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones, recorded in May 1965 and first released on the US version of their 1965 album Out of Our Heads. In the UK, it was released as the B-side to "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction".

The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The lyrics speak about what the band, especially the leader, will do after their gig is over:

Sittin' thinkin' sinkin' drinkin'
Wondering what I'll do when I'm through tonight

Smokin', mopin', maybe just hopin'
Some little girl will pass on by

Jagger explained in a 1995 interview with Rolling Stone, "I wasn't really that mad about it, but when you listen to it on record, it still holds up quite interestingly as a blues song. It's a Jimmy Reed blues with British pop-group words, which is an interesting combination: a song somewhat stuck in a time warp." In an AllMusic review, Mike DeGagne describes it as one of their earliest attempts at country music. It features early use of the Rolling Stones' "ancient form of weaving" by guitarists Richards and Brian Jones. Jagger performs harmonica on the recording while Jack Nitzsche provides percussion and keyboards.

The Stones have performed "The Spider and the Fly" live very rarely: they did so during two eras of their career, in 1965-1966 and once during the 1995 leg of their Voodoo Lounge Tour. A March 1995 studio reworking of the song was included on the Stones' album Stripped. In 1996, the song was recorded by blues-rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd (with featured harmonica playing by veteran bluesman James Cotton), and included in the soundtrack for the movie, "Michael". It was recorded by blues artist John Hammond on his 2003 album Ready For Love and Roland Van Campenhout on his 2003 album Lime & Coconut.

Musiciens

The Rolling Stones