Advice On Relationships From The Rolling Stones

I am always looking for advice on relationships and I recently found a fascinating source. In the autumn of 1963 I saw The Rolling Stones, at the Odeon Theatre in Manchester, on their first UK concert tour as a support act for American stars.

They were young (I was only 15), rough and definitely different. Although I went to see The Everly Brothers, I have had a love of their music ever since and Urmila has had a passion for it. She used to occasionally sing for a Dutch Stones Cover Band and she retains a detailed love and knowledge of their work.

The Band

Other than for their music the Stones are not known for their advice on relationships but are known as men and for their relationships with women. Mick Jagger, who will be 70 in 2013, retains a swagger and a sexuality which is undeniable. Yes, he's a 'bad' boy and yes, many women love him, we have all heard of Marianne Faithfull (My first move was to get a Rolling Stone as a boyfriend. I slept with three and decided the lead singer was the best bet.), Bianca Jagger (My marriage ended on my wedding day), Jerry Hall and L'Wren Scott, and been jealous, at some level, of his 'achievements'.

Wikipedia said about him,

His performance style has been said to have opened up definitions of gendered masculinity and so laid the foundations for self-invention and sexual plasticity which are now an integral part of contemporary youth culture.

When you listen to their songs and the songs they sang you begin to see an interesting trend, they have a knack of giving advice on relationships. They may not be known for their fidelity but they do know about woman and how to treat them, or not to treat them.

With Urmila's help, I have gathered some songs to help us men understand ourselves and find the right advice on relationships.

Have fun...

10 Stones Songs With Advice On Relationships

1. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

I can't get no satisfaction,
I can't get no girly action.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can't get no, I can't get no.

This is the cry of the young man who thinks he's a stud and finds the reality is a little different. The girls just seem to avoid him and he gets so frustrated.

The problem is that he is 'trying'. Instead of just being himself, enjoying life and communicating, he is being what he thinks a girl wants in a guy.

That doesn't work, the girls run a mile, wanting a guy to be himself. Women can see insincerity in a man a mile off, no matter what the man does to hide it.

2. (Are You) Already Over Me

In the first flush of ecstasy
As you lay naked next to me
While our love put the dawn to flight
I just ignore all those warning lights

Having actually made it the guy realises that there's nothing there that can develop. Both were following their drives and not looking at what they need as people.

Many relationships are forged in the flush of passion without ant attempt by either side to actually understand the other. Lust is amazing but, as I think most of us realise, it doesn't last.

You need to be capable of being of being friends and companions. Life throws everything at couples and you need a strong basis to weather the storms.

3. I Wanna Be Your Man

I wanna be your lover, baby
I wanna be your man
Tell me that you love me, baby
Tell me you understand

Often the man just won't accept that the relationship is not right and not going to grow. He starts trying to persuade the woman, trying to make her understand how great it all can be. He needs advice on relationships.

My wife said to me before we became a couple, I can make my own mind up, thank you. Pleading gets you nowhere with a woman, she senses weakness and uncertainty, bad things for a woman to see.

A man needs to be strong and certain in himself. He needs to be grounded and happy to be himself.

4. You Can't Always Get What You Want

You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes well you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need

This is a great song and reveals a truth that people don't always like. What you want and what you need are frequently not the same.

We all think we know what we want in life and we all think that's what is going to make things great. How many times do we learn a lesson we didn't expect from a relationship, a lesson about ourselves, a lesson we needed to learn to be able to move on.

We should never be looking for a partner to fill a void in our lives but we should look for someone to to complement us and help us to soar.

5. Jump On Top Of Me

I've been working so hard, And feelin' no pain
Sure got pains in my head, My legs feel limp
Don't want to hear no noise, Don't want to hear you cuss
I need peace of mind, Don't you make no fuss

Once two people have got together and the first flush of passion has gone then things can fall apart quickly if they don't take time to understand support each other and get advice on relationships. The stereotype of the nagging wife is something men often see in their women.

The man thinks he works so hard that he deserves to be left alone when he gets home. He then thinks he can just turn her on to satisfy his needs. This view is liable to lead to an early separation.

Women need attention from their men and the men need some peace from the world. Negotiating this conundrum is crucial in any relationship. It can only be done with care and understanding.

6. Too Tight

I got your messages
And how can I resist
But if you come around
Don't slap the cuffs upon my wrist

This speaks to one of the biggest fears that men have, that their woman will tie him down and try to change him. This is a possibility, I saw it happen in a close friend of mine.

The woman thinks it's time for the man to take on his responsibilities and mature a bit while the man wants to continue to have fun with his mates and pretend to be young. Neither side is going to make it work

A bit of clarity can do wonders for this situation. Discussion and agreement on where things are and what is needed are the only solutions.

7. Under My Thumb

It's down to me, oh yeah
The way she talks when she's spoken to
Down to me, the change has come,
She's under my thumb

The man's solution can be to take control himself and dictate how the woman should behave and be. This leads to domination and sometimes abuse.

The man thinks he is in charge in the relationship and that it's up to him decide matters. Whether he does this consciously or not it is a situation that does nothing for either party.

No side can win and both are bound for disaster. No one is in charge in a relationship and no-one has the right to dominate. It's about two people.

8. Try A Little Harder

Give her lovin' that's a little stronger If you with your baby when the day turns to night,
you gotta give her lovin' make her feel all right, it's all right
It's all right. Try one more time. It's all right

What happens when the relationship has been successful and then starts to no work well? What happens when the woman becomes disengaged from the man? get advice on relationships? Try a little harder?!

The man just thinks he has to push for a little while and it will be OK. He tries persuasion, more sex, a few flowers, to no avail. What's happening? Why won't it work.

Generally the man has lost touch with himself and fails to realise that he has lost his way. It's not that the woman needs persuasion, it's that the man needs to get back to who and how he was. In any situation like this we should always start by looking at ourselves before we try harder!

9. That's How Strong My Love Is

I'll be the ocean so deep and wide
I'll dry the tears when you cry
I'll be the breeze when the storm is gone
To dry your eyes and keep you warm

When it does work, however, the man is the strength that holds the woman safe. The man is grounded and can take anything that whirls around him. The man is the security that the woman can trust.

The man needs to do nothing but be himself, focused, grounded and certain.

Generally in this situation the woman finds her own power and strength and together they rock the world.

10. I'm Gonna Drive

I need open spaces to clear my head
Need a clearer view on the road ahead
Need to fill my tank, check the oil
Fix the air conditioner or I'm gonna boil

Whether it's working or not sometimes the man just needs to be on his own and think of nothing. He can jump in his car, drive and clear his mind of everything. Men need to re-fresh themselves like this and need to be on their own to do it.