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<h1>Beast of Burden (song)</h1><h2>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</h2><h2><br></h2><h2>"<strong>Beast of Burden</strong>" is a song by the English rock band <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Rolling Stones</a>, featured on the 1978 album <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Girls" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Some Girls</em></a>. In 2004, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Rolling Stone</em></a> magazine ranked the song No. 435 on their list of "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_500_Greatest_Songs_of_All_Time" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time</a>".</h2><h2><br></h2><h2>Background</h2><p>A "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_animal" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">beast of burden</a>" is an animal, usually <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">domesticated</a>, that labors for the benefit of man, such as an ox or horse. The music and some lyrics were primarily written by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Richards" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Keith Richards</a>. In the liner notes to the 1993 compilation disc <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_Back:_The_Best_of_The_Rolling_Stones" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Jump Back</em></a>, Richards said "Beast of Burden" "was another one where <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Jagger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mick (Jagger)</a> just filled in the verses. With the Stones, you take a long song, play it and see if there are any takers. Sometimes they ignore it, sometimes they grab it and record it. After all the faster numbers of <em>Some Girls</em>, everybody settled down and enjoyed the slow one."</p><p>In those same notes, Jagger says, "Lyrically, this wasn't particularly heartfelt in a personal way. It's a soul begging song, an attitude song. It was one of those where you get one melodic lick, break it down and work it up; there are two parts here which are basically the same." The song can be seen as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">allegorical</a>, with Richards saying in 2003, "When I returned to the fold after closing down the laboratory [referring to his drug problems throughout the 1970s], I came back into the studio with Mick... to say, 'Thanks, man, for shouldering the burden' - that's why I wrote 'Beast of Burden' for him, I realise in retrospect."</p><p>"Beast of Burden" was recorded from October–December 1977. Although basic lyrics were written before the Stones entered the studio, many of the lyrics on the recording were <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">improvised</a> by Jagger to fit with the smooth running guitars of Richards and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Wood" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ronnie Wood</a>. Characteristically, Richards and Wood trade off rolling, fluid licks. Neither is really playing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_guitar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">lead</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_guitar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">rhythm guitar</a>; they both slip in and out, one playing high while the other is low. The song is another famed <em>Some Girls</em> song that features each band member playing his respective instrument without any outside performers; both Richards and Wood play acoustic and electric guitars, with Wood performing the solo.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Burden_(song)#cite_note-am-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[1]</a> <em>Ultimate Classic Rock</em> critic Michael Gallucci said of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Watts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charlie Watts</a>' drumming that "he locks into a groove immediately after the great opening guitar riff, giving the mid-tempo song a worthy backbeat to carry it through to the end," also saying that it is a "typically subtle, but absolutely brilliant, performance."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Burden_(song)#cite_note-3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[3]</a></p><h2>Personnel</h2><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Jagger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mick Jagger</a> – lead and backing vocals</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Richards" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Keith Richards</a> – electric guitar, backing vocals</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Wood" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ronnie Wood</a> – electric guitar, acoustic guitar</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Wyman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bill Wyman</a> – bass guitar</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Watts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charlie Watts</a> – drums</li></ul><h2>Release and aftermath</h2><p>The song was released as the second single off the album. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Billboard</em></a> praised its "seductive lyrics" and "catchy <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm_and_blues" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">r&amp;b</a> flavor."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Burden_(song)#cite_note-4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[4]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_Box" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Cash Box</em></a> said it is "a slow but perky ballad" with "tasty guitar licks."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Burden_(song)#cite_note-5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[5]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Record_World" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Record World</em></a> said it "should be equally endearing to both their new and old audiences" as "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_You_(Rolling_Stones_song)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Miss You</a>."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Burden_(song)#cite_note-rw-6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[6]</a></p><p>It charted at No. 8 in the US. A live version was recorded during their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stones_American_Tour_1981" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1981 American Tour</a> and was released as a B-side to "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_to_a_Go-Go_(song)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Going to a Go-Go</a>", as well as being reissued on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rarities_1971-2003" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Rarities 1971-2003</em></a> in 2005. Another live version was recorded during their 2002-2003 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licks_Tour" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Licks Tour</a> which was released on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Licks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Live Licks</em></a>. The single edit of "Beast of Burden" was included on the compilation albums <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucking_in_the_Seventies" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Sucking in the Seventies</em></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rewind_(1971%E2%80%931984)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Rewind (1971–1984)</em></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_Back:_The_Best_of_The_Rolling_Stones" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Jump Back</em></a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Licks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Forty Licks</em></a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GRRR!" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>GRRR!</em></a> A 5:20 version of the song with extra lyrics circulates among collectors.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Burden_(song)#cite_note-7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">^[7]</a> It was taken from the eight-track mix of <em>Some Girls</em>, which features significant differences from all other versions of the album. In 1983, the song was featured in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_(1983_film)" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Christine</a>.</p>