Coming Down Again

Album: Goats Head Soup (1973)
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Songfacts®:

  • Although many fans think this song is about Keith Richards stealing Anita Pallenberg away from Brian Jones, Richards told a different story in his autobiography Life (2010): "Of 'Coming Down Again,' I said not long ago that I wouldn't have written it without heroin. I don't know if it was ABOUT dope. It was just a mournful song - and you look for that melancholy in yourself. I'm obviously looking for great grooves, great riffs, rock and roll, but there's the other side of the coin that still wants to go where 'As Tears Go By' came from. And by then I'd worked a lot in the country field, especially with Gram Parsons, and that high-lonesome melancholy has a certain pull on the heartstrings. You want to see if you can tug 'em a little harder. Some people think 'Coming Down Again' is about me stealing Anita, but by then that's all water under the f--king bridge." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • In 2002, Richards said: "I wonder about the songs I've written: I really like the ones I did when I was on (heroin). I wouldn't have written 'Coming Down Again' without that. I'm this millionaire rock star, but I'm in the gutter with these other sniveling people. It kept me in touch with the street, at the lowest level."
  • Nicky Hopkins played piano on this track. It also featured Bobby Keys and Jim Horn on saxophones and Pascal on percussion. Pascal contributed to Goats Head Soup on many songs during the mixing sessions in London in 1973. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France, for all above

Comments: 3

  • Zabo from Pugh, Pa.Where are all my friends, coming down again. Great point Keef they can't be found when you really need em.
    I also love the way Jagger does the back-up vocals on this tune. Mick's voice sounds great as the second. Just like when he did the back ups in "your so vain" with Carley Simon!
  • Juan from Buenos Aires, ArgentinalOVE THIS SONG , BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER A LITTLE SHORTER. TOO MUCH "COMING DOWN AGAINS "·
  • Ben from Chelsea, MeI love the line about "Slipped my tongue/in someone else's pie" - it's classic Keith lyrics, just really dirty and raunchy, and yet you love it so much. Like "Star Star"
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