Time Waits for No One (song)
Encyclopedia
"Time Waits for No One" is a song by British rock and roll
band the Rolling Stones
from its 1974 album It's Only Rock 'n' Roll. It was the first song recorded for the album.
Credited to Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
, "Time Waits for No One" is a slower, smoother song than the ones the Stones are most well known for. The song features a distinctive groove that has been compared to the later (though earlier recorded) track "Waiting on a Friend
". It is also noted for its distinct Latin influences. The song opens with a riff
by Richards which echoes throughout the rest of the song. Drummer Charlie Watts
and Bill Wyman
keep affected jazz beats. Song contributor Ray Cooper
provides the song's distinctive driving percussions, including tambourine
, maracas
and a knocking beat that carries through the entire song like the sound of a ticking clock. Wyman also contributes an early use of synthesizer
on a Stones track. Stones recording veteran Nicky Hopkins
provides the song's swirling piano runs.
The song's most noteworthy elements, however, are Mick Taylor
's extended guitar solo and Jagger's lyrics. Taylor credits inspiration for the solo to a visit to Brazil
following the Stones' European Tour 1973
. Taylor's solo guitar piece carries the song to its notable conclusion.
Jagger's lyrics are a pastiche of complex observations and reflections. He speaks in the voice of a person learning the true meaning of life, that, as the title suggests, time waits for no one;
"Time Waits for No One" has additional importance as it is seen as one of the final strains between the original Rolling Stones members and Mick Taylor. Prior to this time, Taylor had added his own riffs and flourishes to songs by Jagger and Richards, as did all the band members. However, after the song was written, Taylor asserts that his contribution to it was of main significance. As co-writer with Mick Jagger (during a period when Keith Richards was frequently absent) Taylor mentions that he had Jagger's assurance that he would receive songwriting credit (as well as for "Till the Next Goodbye
") alongside usual credited composers Jagger and Richards, but he did not. His assurance had been such that he had mentioned it in an interview, prior to the album release with the recording, and was chagrined to find from the interviewer that no songs had credited him. It is this snub, along with the decision by the other Stones to head to Munich
and begin recording the next album instead of touring in support of It's Only Rock 'n Roll, that was a major reason for Taylor's abrupt (and unexpected) resignation from the band.
The song, though well regarded among the Stones' canon of work, has never been performed live and has only appeared on one compilation album, 1981's Sucking in the Seventies
. This is a truncated version, with a running time some two minutes shorter than the original, with Taylor's solo faded out early.
The track is also available on the compilation album, Time Waits for No One, Anthology 1971-1977, issued in 1979. This was available on vinyl only (CDC59107) and has never been released on CD.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
from its 1974 album It's Only Rock 'n' Roll. It was the first song recorded for the album.
Credited to Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, "Time Waits for No One" is a slower, smoother song than the ones the Stones are most well known for. The song features a distinctive groove that has been compared to the later (though earlier recorded) track "Waiting on a Friend
Waiting On A Friend
"Waiting on a Friend" is a song by The Rolling Stones from their 1981 album Tattoo You. Released as the album's second single, it reached #13 on the US singles chart.-History:...
". It is also noted for its distinct Latin influences. The song opens with a riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
by Richards which echoes throughout the rest of the song. Drummer Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts
Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts is an English drummer, best known as a member of The Rolling Stones. He is also the leader of a jazz band, a record producer, commercial artist, and horse breeder.-Early life:...
and Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman is an English musician best known as the bass guitarist for the English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones from 1962 until 1992. Since 1997, he has recorded and toured with his own band, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings...
keep affected jazz beats. Song contributor Ray Cooper
Ray Cooper
Ray Cooper is an English musician. He is a session and road-tour percussionist, and occasional actor, who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Elton John. Cooper is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow...
provides the song's distinctive driving percussions, including tambourine
Tambourine
The tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
, maracas
Maracás
Maracás is a town and municipality in the state of Bahia in the North-East region of Brazil.-References:...
and a knocking beat that carries through the entire song like the sound of a ticking clock. Wyman also contributes an early use of synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
on a Stones track. Stones recording veteran Nicky Hopkins
Nicky Hopkins
Nicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
provides the song's swirling piano runs.
The song's most noteworthy elements, however, are Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
's extended guitar solo and Jagger's lyrics. Taylor credits inspiration for the solo to a visit to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
following the Stones' European Tour 1973
The Rolling Stones European Tour 1973
The Rolling Stones 1973 European Tour was a concert tour of Great Britain and Continental Europe in September and October 1973 by The Rolling Stones.-History:The tour followed the release of the group's album Goats Head Soup on 31 August...
. Taylor's solo guitar piece carries the song to its notable conclusion.
Jagger's lyrics are a pastiche of complex observations and reflections. He speaks in the voice of a person learning the true meaning of life, that, as the title suggests, time waits for no one;
"Time Waits for No One" has additional importance as it is seen as one of the final strains between the original Rolling Stones members and Mick Taylor. Prior to this time, Taylor had added his own riffs and flourishes to songs by Jagger and Richards, as did all the band members. However, after the song was written, Taylor asserts that his contribution to it was of main significance. As co-writer with Mick Jagger (during a period when Keith Richards was frequently absent) Taylor mentions that he had Jagger's assurance that he would receive songwriting credit (as well as for "Till the Next Goodbye
Till the Next Goodbye
"Till the Next Goodbye" is a song by rock-and-roll band the Rolling Stones, featured on its 1974 album It's Only Rock 'n' Roll.Credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and uncredited to Mick Taylor, recording on "Till the Next Goodbye" began at Munich's Musicland Studios in November 1973...
") alongside usual credited composers Jagger and Richards, but he did not. His assurance had been such that he had mentioned it in an interview, prior to the album release with the recording, and was chagrined to find from the interviewer that no songs had credited him. It is this snub, along with the decision by the other Stones to head to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and begin recording the next album instead of touring in support of It's Only Rock 'n Roll, that was a major reason for Taylor's abrupt (and unexpected) resignation from the band.
The song, though well regarded among the Stones' canon of work, has never been performed live and has only appeared on one compilation album, 1981's Sucking in the Seventies
Sucking in the Seventies
Sucking in the Seventies is the fourth official compilation album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1981. As the successor to 1975's Made in the Shade, it covers material from 1974's It's Only Rock 'n' Roll to 1980's Emotional Rescue....
. This is a truncated version, with a running time some two minutes shorter than the original, with Taylor's solo faded out early.
The track is also available on the compilation album, Time Waits for No One, Anthology 1971-1977, issued in 1979. This was available on vinyl only (CDC59107) and has never been released on CD.