Memory Motel

Album: Black And Blue (1976)
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  • Hannah honey was a peachy kind of girl
    Her eyes were hazel
    And her nose were slightly curved
    We spent a lonely night at the Memory Motel
    It's on the ocean, I guess you know it well
    It took a starry to steal my breath away
    Down on the water front
    Her hair all drenched in spray
    Hannah baby was a honey of a girl
    Her eyes were hazel
    And her teeth were slightly curved
    She took my guitar and she began to play
    She sang a song to me
    Stuck right in my brain
    You're just a memory of a love
    That used to be
    You're just a memory of a love
    That used to mean so much to me
    She got a mind of her own
    And she use it well
    Well she's one of a kind
    She's got a mind
    She got a mind of her own
    And she use it mighty fine
    She drove a pick-up truck
    Painted green and blue
    The tires were wearing thin
    She turned a mile or two
    When I asked her where she headed for
    "Back up to Boston I'm singing in a bar"
    I got to fly today on down to Baton Rouge
    My nerves are shot already
    The road ain't all that smooth
    Across in Texas is the rose of San Antone
    I keep on a feeling that's gnawing in my bones
    You're just a memory of a love
    That used to mean so much to me
    You're just a memory girl
    You're just a sweet memory
    And it used to mean so much to me
    Sha la la la la
    She got a mind of her own
    And she use it well
    Mighty fine, she's one of a kind
    On the seventh day my eyes were all a glaze
    We've been ten thousand miles
    Been in fifteen states
    Every woman seemed to fade out of my mind
    I hit the bottle and hit the sack and cried
    What's all this laughter on the 22nd floor
    It's just some friends of mine
    And they're busting down the door
    Been a lonely night at the Memory Motel Writer/s: KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 20

  • Anonymous from So.plainfield,njI dont know who came up with these lyrics,but I'm pretty sure he says "Had a honey, was a peachy kind of girl", and, "Had a baby, was a peachy kind of girl, and "Across Texas is the road to San Antone".
  • Chuck Boone from La Cresecnta, Ca, Ca'Hannah' in Memory Motel is a reference to Annie Liebovitz. Annie was the tour photographer for the Stones' Tour of The Americas, and she was with the band when they rehearsed at Andy Warhol's complex near Montauk in June/July 1975. They also spent a few days upstate at an airfield in Newburgh, NY familiarizing themselves with the articulated 'lotus' stage which was set up in a hangar. It was during this time they played Brown Sugar on a flatbed truck in the streets of Manhattan to promote the tour; and Annie photographed Mick's stitched-up wrist in a local emergency room after he pushed his hand through a glass door at a restaurant. Mick, Keith, and Ronnie stayed at the Warhol complex, while Charlie, Bill, Stu, and Billie Preston stayed elsewhere. I don't recall seeing Ollie Brown there. TOTA was Ronnie's first tour with the Stones. They set their equipment up in the living room of the main house, and in the evenings ran through the songs they had rehearsed for the Tour, playing into early the next morning. I recall that Mick's 6.9 Mercedes 300SEL and Keith's blue Bentley Continental were there, and someone showed up in an AMC Pacer...an egg-shaped 2-door car with large windows. There was a curved driveway in front of the main house, and everyone took turns behind the Pacer's wheel.
  • Greg from Harrington Park, NjI can't debate the actual location of Memory Motel - if it is in Montauk or East Hampton, but it is on Montauk Highway - which may run through part of the Hamptons. Anyways, I was out there a few times when I was younger on fishing trips with my good buddy and our dads and we drove by the Memory Motel. I have pictures of it still. It was a pretty cool moment getting to see it - especially since I love that song. Also, as far as Carly Simon goes for the character I know there are rumors of Mick bedding her but I didn't know it was near or at the Memory Motel... Anyways, I had heard that song is actually about Warren Beatty? Could be wrong on that one though.
  • Ron from Santa Barbara, Ca1st off, the Memory Motel is in Montauk, Long Island; not the Hamptons, Long Island. I had a summer home in Montauk, so I know this for a fact.
    The reference 'bout Banton Rouge in the song refers to one of the first stops on the Stones Tour of American in 1975, the Stones were at Andy Warhol's place in Montauk rehearsing for the upcoming tour of America. There is another reference 'bout San Antonio, Texas... another stop on the tour.
    If you ask me, this song is about a woman Mick was with while rehearsing in Montauk, but she had to leave to go sing in a bar in Boston and he is thinking about her while he is on tour, he just can't get her out of his mind. Haven't we all been there!
    Who that woman is, only Jagger knows.
  • Matt from Washington, Dc, DcI'd interpret the song as more of a montage than a place in Montauk, as Baton Rouge is some distance from Long Island. Beautiful song. Likewise I'm unaware of any motel with 22 floors, but let the song be yours in your heart. Sometimes with Facebook, you have to accept that people are just memories of loves that used to mean so much.
  • Chris Ray from Fleming Island,fl., FlThe Stones can certainly paint a picture both lyrically and musically. Cool little video too and love the history of one of my fav spots on the Island!
  • Kim from Wappingers Falls, NyThis song is underrated...I only discovered it less than a year ago, and I wish I knew of it sooner. It's so beautiful, one of my top 5 favorite Stones songs. I love Keith's vocals, and the inflection in Mick's voice throughout the song.
  • Ashley from Quincy, IlI agree with Madeline if carly simon wrote your so vain about mick why would she ask him to sing back up?
  • Susan from Toronto, CanadaCarly Simon most likely wrote YOU'RE SO VAIN about Warren Beatty. I've read her comments where she beat around the bush to the point of almost admitting it was about Warren, but not quite.
  • Madeline from Grass Valley, CaI have never thought "You're So Vain" was about Mick Jagger - He sings background vocals! He just might be that vain...come to think of it
  • Mr. B from Doon Bish, EnglandPerfect.. What more can I say?
  • Lisa from New York, NyOne of my alltime fav stones songs - LUV MEMORY MOTEL! Another Stones gem (an underated one in my opinion) is "If I was a Dancer (Part II)" I luv Micks growling & the heavy funk/rockin it. Brings back funtimes growing up on L.I. Can't wait to visit Montauk & the "Memory" :)
    Peace. LH, NYC
  • Craig from Melbourne, AustraliaCharlies drums sound incredible on this track. IN fact, his drums sound on Black and Blue is miles ahead of anything the band recorded up to this time. You see, the Stones recorded Charlie's drums virtually the same way since Brown Sugar in 1969. That is, snar mic, overhead mic for the toms, and bass mic. Thats it! On this album, its obvious they dedided to go for a more hi-tech sound.
  • Steve from Birmingham, AlMusic fans have always hotly debated whether "You're So Vain" was written about Mick Jagger or Warren Beatty, and Carly kept her mouth pointedly shut about the verdict. Until a dinner party last year. She told a group of friends the correct answer to that question and immediately convinced them to swear secrecy. Now, all she will say is the cong is about "...a man whose name contains an A, an E, and an R." So there we go, right back where we started from.
  • Nick from East Hampton, NyThe Memory IS in "The Hamptons, Long Island." Montauk is the eastern most hamlet of East Hampton.
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaIt's so shocking when Mick's voice changes to Keith's in this song. Anyway, I dislike/hate You're So Vain. If it's about Mick Jagger, I have more reason to hate it. From this song it sounds like they are both pretty vain.
  • Helene from Orlando, FlGreat song. I miss Long Island and the beach. This song "feels" like Montauk.
  • Justin from New York, NyThe song was written about the Memory Motel out in Montauk on Long Island. The Stones stayed at Andy Warhol's estate out there around the time they were writing material for Black and Blue. They visited the bar at the Memory a few times, and incorporated it into the song.

    It's also widely reported that "Hannah Honey" is Carly Simon - as legend has it that Mick bedded her at the Memory.
  • Jay from Charlotte, Nci always thought it was written at the 'Memory Motel' out in the Hamptons, Long Island. There is a hotel by that name and they had stayed there.
  • Dhrupad from Guwahati, Indiaa very unlike stones song....itmeans precisely wot it says.
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