Love In Vain

Album: Let It Bleed (1969)
Play Video
  • Well, I followed her to the station
    With a suitcase in my hand
    Yeah, I followed her to the station
    With a suitcase in my hand

    Whoa, it's hard to tell, it's hard to tell
    When all your love's in vain

    When the train, come in the station
    I looked her in the eye
    Well the train come in the station
    And I looked her in the eye

    Whoa, I felt so sad so lonesome
    That I could not help but cry

    When the train left the station
    It had two lights on behind
    Yeah, when the train left the station
    It had two lights on behind

    Whoa, the blue light was my baby
    And the red light was my mind

    All my love was in vain

    All my love's in vain Writer/s: Robert Leroy Johnson
    Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 16

  • Jimdep from Muscle Shoals, AlWhere was the Stone's Love in Vain recorded ?
  • Luna Loud from Royal Woods, MichiganBeautiful.
  • Baghead Kelly from AustraliaThe first thing to note is the Stones turned it from a 4/4 beat to a 6/8 waltz, the same treatment that The Animals rendered "The House Of The Rising Sun" a few years prior. The second thing to note is Robert Johnson (a genius in his own right) lifted the tune from Leroy Carr's "In the Evening, When the Sun Goes Down" which predates "Love In Vain".
  • Jeff from MinneapolisMy cd for Stripped and Let it Bleed does not give Johnson a songwriting credit, seems odd.
  • Barry from New York, NcIt's a pretty sad song I suppose. A guy is following his love to the train station. She gets on board and the train leaves forever. That is definitely Love in vain!!
  • Christy from Morristown, TnThis song is brilliant and it is The Stones best cover, ever. The vocals and the mandolin, in particular, are incredible!
  • James from Bronx, NyAwesome song. Live version is GREAT
  • Demian from Buenos Aires, ArgentinaThe Stones in the '60s and '70s recorded this song, the best version is "madisson square garden 1972". The stones recorded other songs of Robert Jonson like Stop Breaking Down, in Exile on Main Street. Wonderfull version.
  • Benjamin from Milwaukie (oak Grove), OrIs it true the Dixie Chicks got the idea for adding the mandolin for their version of Fleetwood Mac's 1975 hit "Landslide" by listening to the Stones' version of "Love in Vain"?
  • R from Montreal, Qc, CanadaI agree the version on Ya Ya's Out is incredible specially with Taylor's solo.
    The one on Let It Bleed gives a great respect to R Johnson.
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaI'm the exact opposite of you Stefanie!
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI've never heard this version, but I love Johnson's version. It's incredible I think!
  • Keith from Front Royal, VaI think they improved it immensely.
  • Sammy from New York, NyIt's tough for me to say which version is better between Johnson's and the Stones'. I must give Johnson credit for originally composing the song, but I think the Stones' version has more of an emotional impact on me. The music combined with Mick Jagger's passionate wails are deeply poignant.
  • Xx from Whakatane, Hong KongThe best Stones cover ever. Again, the version on Get Yer Ya-Yas out is really good.
  • Nick from San Francisco, CaJohnson's version is rougher, but better I think. I like the Stones' version, though.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Alice Cooper

Alice CooperFact or Fiction

How well do you know this shock-rock harbinger who's been publicly executed hundreds of times?

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.