Did Everybody Pay Their Dues?

In an illuminating 2013 article by the Wall Street Journal's Marc Mayers, Rolling Stones rhythm guitarist and co-writer Keith Richards tells the story of "Street Fighting Man" -- how it began in 1966 as a melody based on the French police siren, but stalled because he could not find the right "texture." By the time the Stones recorded "Street Fighting Man" in March, April and May of 1968 (it was released in August of that year), the song had undergone a complete lyric re-write. Read the WSJ interview here. Original Mick Jagger lyrics below:

Did Everybody Pay Their Dues?

Chief to scorn his friends

Make love to his relations

He beats his wife

And makes her life

A total wet vacation

Now did everybody pay their dues?

Now did end up with tribal blues?

All the braves and the squaws

And the maids and the whores

Did everybody pay their dues?

He is the tribal chief

His name is called Disorder

His flesh and blood he tears it up

And actually fries his mama

Now did everybody pay their dues?

Now did any of them try to refuse?

All the braves and the squaws

And the maids and the whores

Did everybody pay their dues?

See all the children know he’s lying

What’s all the fuss?

To be grown up

Is to be good at dying

Now did everybody pay their dues?

Now did any of them try to refuse?

All the braves and the squaws

And the maids and the whores

Did everybody pay their dues?