Ruby Tuesday

Album: Between The Buttons (1967)
Charted: 3 1
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Songfacts®:

  • The fourth US #1 hit for the Rolling Stones, this ballad is about a groupie. It may have been inspired by Linda Keith, who was Keith Richards' girlfriend. Richards said in the book According to the Rolling Stones: "It was probably written about Linda Keith not being there (laughs). I don't know, she had pissed off somewhere. It was very mournful, very, VERY Ruby Tuesday and it was a Tuesday."
  • Keith Richards said of "Ruby Tuesday": "That's one of those things - some chick you've broken up with. And all you've got left is the piano and the guitar and a pair of panties. And it's goodbye you know. And so it just comes out of that. And after that you just build on it. It's one of those songs that are easiest to write because you're really right there and you really sort of mean it. And for a songwriter, hey break his heart and he'll come up with a good song." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 2
  • Brian Jones played the recorder (it sounds like a flute) on this song. He was a founding member of the group and fancied himself their leader, which along with a debilitating drug habit, starting causing problems in the band around this time. He was booted from the group in June 1969, and found dead in his swimming pool less than a month later.

    "Ruby Tuesday" is one of several early Rolling Stones songs that show his musical ingenuity. He was the group's lead guitarist, but could play just about any instrument. One of his most famous performances is on sitar for "Paint It Black."
  • Keith Richards wrote most of this song with contributions from Brian Jones, but in keeping with Stones tradition, it was credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
  • When the group was working on this song, they referred to it as "Title B."
  • A large double-bass was used. Bill Wyman plucked the notes while Richards played it with a bow.
  • This was left off the UK version of Between The Buttons because it was already released as a single there, where it was customary not to put singles on albums.
  • This was supposed to be the B-side of "Let's Spend The Night Together," but many radio stations shied away from that one due to the sexual implications, so they played "Ruby Tuesday" instead, helping make it a hit.
  • Mick Jagger told Rolling Stone in 1995: "'Ruby Tuesday' is good. I think that's a wonderful song. It's just a nice melody, really. And a lovely lyric. Neither of which I wrote, but I always enjoy singing it."
  • The singer Melanie, who had a #1 hit with "Brand New Key" in 1971, released a cover of "Ruby Tuesday" in 1970 that went to #9 in the UK and #52 in the US. Rod Stewart also released a popular cover that was accompanied by a video. His version made #11 in the UK in 1993.

Comments: 47

  • Deveaura Zowie Lovenelle from San Francisco, CaMy name Dai Bee is Chinese, but I was told by a Japanese teacher that the characters used meant "Black Ruby shining Blue", and I later figured out my birthday was a Tuesday. If I was older and got in to that song as a teenager I would probably have imagined it was about me, LOL.
  • Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenFor some reason, whenever I hear this, I have the urge to go out to eat.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaStill one of my fav tunes by the stones. Glad the girl it was written about got her life together.
  • Jim from LondonThere seems to be a bit of influence from the Kinks song "Ring the Bells" recorded the year before.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 28th 1971, Melanie performed "Ruby Tuesday" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'*...
    Four months earlier on November 29th, 1970 her covered version of the song entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #85; five weeks later on January 3rd, 1971 it would peak at #52 {for 1 week} and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
    Exactly four years earlier on March 28th, 1967 the Rolling Stones' original version of the song was at #23 on the Top 100; four weeks earlier on February 26th, 1971 it was at #1 for 1 week {See post below}...
    * This was the 1,068 original and last episode of 'The Ed Sullivan Show'; the first episode was on June 20th, 1948 and was known as 'The Toast of the Town' until September 25th, 1955, then was changed to the 'Sullivan' name.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 15th 1967, the Rolling Stones performed "Ruby Tuesday" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'*...
    And on that very same day the song entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #78; six weeks later on February 26th, 1967 it peaked at #1 {for 1 week} and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    On the same 'Sullivan' show the Stones also performed their 'Sullivan-forced' altered version of "Let's Spend the Night Together."
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 5th, 1970, Melanie's covered version of "Ruby Tuesday" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked #52 and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
    Her next charted record was her biggest hit, "Brand New Key", it reached #1 (for 3 weeks) on Christmas Day of 1971...
    Melanie, born Melanie Anne Safka, will celebrate her 67th birthday in two months on February 3rd, 2014.
  • Pattie from Orlando, FlTo Will regarding the "Yesterday" line....that would be a "nay".
  • Marlene from Montreal, QcMelanie Safka did an interesting version of it which became a big hit in 1970...
  • Matthew Hagerty from Newport, RiI've read that Brian Jones first wrote the melody as a piece for the recorder and that Keith Richards subsequently wrote lyrics for it.
  • Carol from Melbourne, AustraliaGod I love this song, it takes me back to great days.

    Carol Bawtree
    Melbourne Australia
  • Metal Maiden from Bronx, NyIn further study of the song from the Stones
    Osiris is speaking to Isis
    "since you can't hang a name on her"
    she is the ultimate Goddess with many names and all names
    the lines about "dying all the time" must mean the sun set
    the"still i'm gonna miss you" line
    is further proof that they can not be together
    since he is physically dead
    but he will see her as the sun will rise to a "new day"
    since he is the eye in the sky as is his son Horus.
    it is sad to say but this story of Isis and Osiris is love story
    between a reptilian/alien bloodline
    The stones are obviously part of the the illuminati agenda as are
    many other rock bands
    especially U2, Aerosmith and so on
    at some point these musical acts must give their praise to the Goddess/Isis
    since this one of the Masonic secret ritual
  • Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnI have only heard this song once but I love it. The lyrics really moved me.
  • Splunge from Tampa, FlSongwriters and poets often leave it up to the auduence to interpret their work, rather than divulging the actual facts of the matter. My interpretation is that "Ruby Tuesday" is the Stones nostaglic look back to the earliest days of R&B music. The Stones, particularly Mr. Brian Jones, were avid fans of early R&B. "Ruby Tuesday" was in the lyrics of one of these songs (I forget which one!). So whether or not the Stones wer inspired by Keith's girlfriend, a Sottish seamstress or an Italian actress, I believe the lyrics themselves are a wistful farewell to the root form of R&B, which, by the time the British Invasion had taken hold, had changed "with every new day".
  • Louis from Montreal, QcWasn't it suppose to refer to actress Tuesday Weld?She was kind of a cultish celebrity in the 60's.
  • Richard from San Francisco, CaThis song is not about a girl, it's about the present, the Zen ideal of living in the "here and now," being conscious of the moment. "Lose your dreams [awareness] and you will lose your mind." The present is here "while the sun is bright; Or in the darkest night" and it "changes with every new day." It "can't be chained/to a life where nothing's gained" or lost because we cannot hold onto time. Yesterday may not matter, but we can miss it.
  • Joe from Chicago, IlTo Michelle Aneheim,Ca :
    Andy Warhol designed the logo.
  • Joe from Chicago, IlThe Stones were awesome up until about 1971 and then started sucking! The only post-1971 Rolling Stones song I can tolerate is Miss You.
  • Amber from San Francisco, CaI love The Rolling Stones and this has always been a favorite of mine. Most of their songs are very well written and awesome!
  • Sally from South Orange, NjI love the Stones and I do like this song, but I think they were trying too hard to imitate the Beatles with this one,
  • Dominick from New York, NyMelanie also covered this song in 1970.
  • Ruby Tuesday from London, EnglandI feel compelled to add to the comments about the song I am named after. My mum was a huge stones fan in the 60s and named me Ruby Tuesday as a consequence.
    Glad to see so many other people like it!
    RT x
  • Shannan from Wilmington, DeI love this song. It's cool how Brian and Keith both wrote it, it seems like Keith was always there for Brian, like he was his true friend in the group. Brian should have been credited for writing it along with Keith. I LOVE this song!!!
  • Brian from Springfield, VaBrian Jones could play a lot of instruments, a skill which degraded with his health.
  • Nasruddin from Cochrane, CanadaA cover of this song by franco battiato was used very effectivly in the film "Children of Men". The song seems in the context of the film as a nastalgic look back to a freer society and the loss of youth (Don't question why she needs to be so free,
    She'll tell you its the only way to be)


  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI for some reason, thought that this song was about Nico. Lines quote "Yesterday don't matter once it's gone" are similar to stuff she believed. She apparently thought that. Also she went out with Bryan Jones who helped write the song. Also, noone never really knew where Nico was from. She always kept information like that from people, which in turn, added to her mystique.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScOn the studio version, the lyric is "Still..."
  • Patrick from London, EnglandIn the summer of 1969 I went with a handful of other 16/17 year olds to the town of Glastonbury in Somerset to investigate Arthurian connections, ley-lines etc, and of course to ingest banned substances. With us was an older girl called Cindy. She was sweetly outrageous, and wore a pink nightie the whole time we were there. She caused a near-riot in the town centre, before we headed up Glastonbury Tor for the night. Cindy was said to be the original of Ruby Tuesday. She had hung around with the Stones, and used to make shirts for Jagger and Richards. I asked her whether it was true, and she replied "Oh yeah, they wrote that when I left for India." By the time I met her she was in a fairly chaotic state, and was probably a little too out of it for the Stones. Later I ran into her in Notting Hill, and as we were talking she called out to a man in a suit across the road: "Hey mister, you got a light for my straight?" Straight was druggy jargon for a cigarette. I have no idea what happened to her, but she was a sweet girl, and I really do believe she was Ruby Tuesday.
  • Mike from Germantown, MdI was watching old footage of the Stones performing this and Let's Spend the Night Together on The Ed Sullivan Show online and I noticed that Jagger changes the lyrics "still I'm gonna miss you" to "Girl,I'm gonna miss you". Is the correct lyric not "still I'm gonna miss you"?
  • Tony from Devon, EnglandChip Taylor, brother of actor Jon Voight and writer of the Troggs' "Wild Thing" used "Ruby Tuesday" for his inspiration for his composition "Angel Of The Morning"
  • Alexander from Aguascalientes, MexicoRuby tuesday is a good-bye song to Linda Keith, a groupie. The legend says that Keith sent her away to her parents house, because she was getting wasted and getting into drugs etc. So Keith sent her away to save her.
  • Tom from Newark, DeWill, I doubt it. Despite differences in style and competition between the bands, the Stones & Beatles were actually close. So I don't believe they would take a potshot at the song "Yesterday" BUT, an instance where there was a potshot at the song "Yesterday" was in John Lennon's very bitter solo song "How Do You Sleep". The song is all about his anger at Paul, and he sings "The only thing you done was Yesterday", in a rather delicious double entendre, i.e. does that mean his only accomplishments are behind him, or his only accomplishment was that one song?
  • Michelle from Anaheim, CaI was on a message board reading a topic about the Rolling Stones, and they said they got the name from Ruby Mauzer, who designed the famous Tongue logo.
  • Jim Painter from Billings, MtI met a woman who says she was a flight attendent
    and dated Mick. she is the same age as Mick,and
    her name is Ruby Tuesday. Anybody know anything about this?
  • Katie from Somewhere, NjThose St. Elsewhere references are cool! I wish I was alive in the 80s...
  • Eric from Cincinnati, OhProbably my favorite drum work in any Stones song (Charlie Watts did a lot of great drum work, but this one really stands out to me.)
  • Andy from Chattanooga, TnAs for the restaurant and the song: "Ruby Tuesday is a sit- down restaurant chain that was founded in 1972 by Sandy Beall, a University of Tennesse student who came up with the concept for this restaurant while still in college. Named after the hit single 'Ruby Tuesday' by the Rolling Stones, Beall opened up his first restaurant near the university...."
  • Natasha from Chico, Cadoes anyone know the relation between the restaurant chain and this fabulous song?
  • Will from Schoharie, NyThis is a great song, although an uncharacteristic one for the Rolling Stones.

    I always wondered if the line "Yesterday don't matter if it's gone" might be a sort of response/put down to the Beatles song "Yesterday." Can anyone give me a "yea" or "nay" on this?
  • Mr. Chimp from Brno, Czech RepublicThe best song, on which Brian Jones contributed.
  • Julienne from Woodcliff Lake, NjActually, Ruby Tuesday was written about one of Keith's early girlfriends, Linda Keith.
  • Dustin from Tampa, Flalso, this is one of the best songs to use in a movie, esp. at the end of The Royal Tenembaums
  • Dustin from Tampa, FlI saw the stones in 96 or 97. This was the best song of the entire set(only because they didn't play Paint it Black).
  • Richard from St. Louis, MoRuby Tuesday is a restaruant chain
  • Jason Lee from New York, NyWhat a great song! Out of all Rolling Stones, second to only Sympathy for the Devil. By the way Randy, that's really cool.
  • Randy from Beaumont, TxHere's another quick one. Once again it was Mandel and he was talking to twin sisters whose last name was Crain. He was hitting on the and said "... ohhh you CRAIN GIRLS really knock me out..." want another? Flash down to the Maternity ward where an air force officer is waiting for the announcement. A maternity nurse burst through the door and said to him (are you ready?) "... it's a boy Captain Walker, it's a boy.." to which he replied '... a SON, a SON..." Great show!!
  • Randy from Beaumont, TxOk, I'll try to make this fairly short...in the tv show "St. Elsewhere" they used to bury rock lyrics in the show dialog. Here's an example... Howie Mandel was talkin to a nurse about leaving the hospital. At the same time, she asked him when he was leaving and another nurse in the background yelled a "Goodbye" to him. He first turned to the other nurse and said goodbye and then turned back and told the first nurse he would be leaving on Tuesday. The dialog went like this".... Goodbye Ruby (turns)..Tuesday". Look for more in the reruns we used to have a contest to see who could spot them.
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