The Rolling Stones – Angie

About The Song

“Angie” is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones, released as the lead single from their 1973 album Goats Head Soup on August 20, 1973, through Rolling Stones Records. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the track was produced by Jimmy Miller. Recording took place between November and December 1972 at Dynamic Sound Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, with additional sessions at Island Studios in London from May to June 1973. Andy Johns engineered the initial sessions, and the song features a distinctive piano part by Nicky Hopkins and string arrangements by Nicky Harrison.

The single was a commercial success, debuting at No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 8, 1973, and reaching No. 1 on October 20, 1973, for one week, charting for 15 weeks total. It ranked No. 85 on Billboard’s 1973 year-end chart and No. 69 on Cash Box’s year-end chart. In the UK, it peaked at No. 5 on the Official Singles Chart, charting for 10 weeks. Internationally, it topped charts in Australia, Canada, Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland, all for five weeks each, and reached No. 2 in Germany, New Zealand, and South Africa, No. 4 in Spain, No. 8 in Austria, and No. 9 in Ireland. Certifications include 2× Platinum in Australia (140,000 units), Gold in France (700,000 units), Gold in Italy (25,000 units since 2009), Platinum in Spain (60,000 units), Silver in the UK (250,000 units), and Gold in the US (1,000,000 units). The album Goats Head Soup hit No. 1 in the US and UK.

The song’s origins trace to Keith Richards, who wrote the core melody and title while in a Swiss detox clinic in 1972. In his 2010 memoir Life, Richards stated he chose the name “Angie” randomly, unaware his daughter, born during this period, would be named Angela. He composed it in an afternoon, regaining dexterity post-treatment, as noted in a 1993 interview for Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones. Jagger contributed lyrics, possibly influenced by his breakup with Marianne Faithfull, according to a 2010 NME article. Speculation about other inspirations includes David Bowie’s then-wife Angela, actress Angie Dickinson, or Richards’ daughter, though Richards denied specific dedicatees. An early version, featured in the 2012 documentary Crossfire Hurricane, lacked strings, which were added later in London.

Production details include a “ghost vocal” from Jagger’s guide track, faintly audible in the final mix, as noted by AllMusic. The song’s length led some radio stations to edit out the coda and second instrumental section, shortening it to three minutes. Cash Box praised Jagger’s delivery for emphasizing key lines, while Record World called it a “tender ballad.” Two promotional videos were shot, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. The song was a staple in the band’s live sets, debuting on their 1973 European tour in Vienna and featured on albums like Stripped (1995), Live Licks (2004), and Havana Moon (2016). Covers include Womack & Womack’s 1983 version on Love Wars, Stereophonics’ 1999 B-side, and La Ley’s 1992 Latin American single. In 2005, Germany’s Christian Democratic Union used it without permission for Angela Merkel’s campaign, surprising the band, who later said they would not have approved, per a Blimey.pro report.

Video

Lyric

Angie, Angie, when will those clouds all disappear?
Angie, Angie, where will it lead us from here?
With no loving in our souls and no money in our coats
You can’t say we’re satisfied
But Angie, Angie, they can’t say we never tried

Angie, you’re beautiful, but ain’t it time we said goodbye?
Angie, I still love you, remember all those nights we cried?
All the dreams we held so close seemed to all go up in smoke
Let me whisper in your ear:
Angie, Angie, where will it lead us from here?

Oh, Angie, don’t you weep, all your kisses still taste sweet
I hate that sadness in your eyes
But Angie, Angie, ain’t it time we said goodbye?

With no loving in our souls and no money in our coats
You can’t say we’re satisfied
But Angie, I still love you, baby
Everywhere I look I see your eyes
There ain’t a woman that comes close to you
Come on baby, dry your eyes

But Angie, Angie, ain’t it good to be alive?
Angie, Angie, they can’t say we never tried