Respectable

Album: Some Girls (1978)
Charted: 23
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a commentary on how The Stones were now accepted by high society, which previously shunned them. Mick Jagger said of the track: "I was banging out three chords incredibly loud on the electric guitar, which isn't always a wonderful idea but was great fun here. This is a Punk meets Chuck Berry number. The lyric carries no fantastically deep message, but I think it might have had something to do with Bianca." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • Keith Richards fought to keep this an uptempo rocker, over Mick Jagger's objections. Richards played the guitar solo in the song.
  • The lyrics contain a reference to a visit to the White House by Bianca, Jagger's wife at the time, to meet President Ford's son.
  • Mick Jagger wrote this pretty much by himself. He had the song laid out the way he wanted it when they started the session to record it.

Comments: 3

  • Paul from Boston, MaApparently Bianca f--ked Jack Ford at the White House. No wonder Betty drank.
  • Craig from Melbourne, AustraliaThis song proved that the Stones could out punk the punks.
  • Ace from Kansas City, MoMaybe my favorite Stones song, definitely in my top five. Great drive from Charlie and Bill, and not only do Keith and Ronnie burn up their fingers trading licks, Mick also joins in on electric guitar. All three also play electric guitar on "When The Whip Comes Down". Woody joked at the time that the album took longer than usual to record because he had to teach Mick how to play again.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Tommy James

Tommy JamesSongwriter Interviews

"Mony Mony," "Crimson and Clover," "Draggin' The Line"... the hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"They're Playing My Song

Armed with a childhood spent devouring books, Mike Scott's heart was stolen by the punk rock scene of 1977. Not surprisingly, he would go on to become the most literate of rockers.