Rough Justice (Rolling Stones song)

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"Rough Justice"
RollStones-Single2005 StreetsofLoveRoughJustice.jpg
Single by The Rolling Stones
from the album A Bigger Bang
A-side "Streets of Love" (double A-side)
ReleasedAugust 22, 2005 (2005-08-22)
RecordedJune 2005
Studio La Fourchette, France
Genre Hard rock
Length3:12
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s) Jagger/Richards
Producer(s)
The Rolling Stones singles chronology
"Sympathy for the Devil (remix)"
(2003)		"Rough Justice" / "Streets of Love"
(2005)		"Rain Fall Down"
(2005)

"Rough Justice" is a song by rock band the Rolling Stones that was released as a double A-side single with "Streets of Love" from their 2005 album A Bigger Bang . It is the opening track from the album. The single was released on 22 August 2005, prior to the album.

Contents

History

Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Rough Justice" was a heavily collaborative effort like many of the lead singer and guitarist's latter-day compositions. On the writing, Richards said in 2005, "That came to me in my sleep. It's almost like "Satisfaction". Yeah, I almost sort of woke up and said, 'Where's my guitar?' Sometimes you do dream a riff, you know? I had to get up, and it's really hard to get me up. Once I go down, I go down, you know? But, I mean, it's only a song that could get me up and start running around the room, 'Where's my guitar, where did I put my guitar, before I forget it?' I don't often remember dreams, only when they're musical."

A straight ahead rocker, but sets the scene of a long time, up and down, love affair between the singer and the subject:

One time you were my baby chicken, Now you've grown into a fox; Once upon a time I was your little rooster, But now I'm just one of your cocks.

It's rough justice, oh yeah, We never thought it risky; It's rough justice, But you know I'll never break your heart; You're feeling loose and lusty, So if you really want me, Yeah, it's rough justice; And you know I'll never break your heart.

Recording

Recording began at La Fourchette, Posé sur Cisse, France in June 2005. With Jagger on lead vocals, Richards plays electric rhythm (including the riff). Ronnie Wood plays the song's distinct electric slide guitar, including the song's opening intro and solo. Charlie Watts plays drums. Additional musicians are included Darryl Jones on bass while Chuck Leavell on play the song's piano.

Release and aftermath

"Rough Justice" was released as a double A-side with "Streets of Love" on 22 August 2005. It charted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. In the US, the song peaked at number 25 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 5 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart.

Music critic Robert Christgau applauded the song as "a strikingly ironic/acerbic expression of both Jagger's musical gift and his romantic limitations". [1]

The song has been performed heavily by the Stones on their A Bigger Bang Tour and is featured on their latest concert DVD release, The Biggest Bang . It was also one of the three songs played by the Stones during the halftime show for Super Bowl XL although the word "cocks" was censored on the ABC broadcast.

It was included in their greatest hits album GRRR! .

Chart performance

Chart (2005)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC) [2] 15
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [3] 25
US Adult Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [4] 5

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References

  1. ↑ Christgau, Robert (June 16, 2021). "Xgau Sez: June, 2021". And It Don't Stop. Substack . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. ↑ "The Rolling Stones: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  3. ↑ "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  4. ↑ "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
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