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More about ’19th Nervous Breakdown’ by The Rolling Stones
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni By the end of their second U.S. tour in 1965, The Rolling Stones were completely wiped out in Los Angeles—so much so that Mick Jagger casually coined the phrase 19th Nervous Breakdown. Fitting, right? The band was running on fumes after a brutal year, and the words just clicked. The verses practically wrote themselves, perfectly summing up the sheer exhaustion of five guys who had been pushed to the limit.
Jagger: “We had just done five weeks hectic work in the States and I said, ‘Dunno about you blokes, but I feel about ready for my nineteenth nervous breakdown.’ We seized on it at once as a likely song title. Then Keith and I worked on the number at intervals during the rest of the tour. Brian, Charlie and Bill egged us on – especially as they liked having the first two words starting with the same letter.”
More from Mick: “Things that are happening around me – everyday life as I see it. People say I’m always singing about pills and breakdowns, therefore I must be an addict – this is ridiculous. Some people are so narrow-minded they won’t admit to themselves that this really does happen to other people besides pop stars.”
And yet more… “That’s a very Los Angeles period, I remember being in the West Coast a lot then. 19th Nervous Breakdown is a bit of a joke song, really. I mean, the idea that anyone could be offended by it really is funny. But I remember some people were. It’s very hard to put yourself back in that period now – popular songs didn’t really address anything very much. Bob Dylan was addressing it, but he wasn’t thought of as a mainstream Pop act. And anyway, no one knew what he was talking about. Basically his songs were too dense for most people….
…And so to write about anything other than the normal run-of-the-mill love clichés was considered very outre and it was never touched. Anything outside that would shock people. So songs like 19th Nervous Breakdown were slightly jarring to people. But I guess they soon got used to it. A couple years after that, things took a sort of turn and then saw an even more dark direction. But those were very innocent days, I think.”
While writing this song, Mick Jagger was dating English model Chrissie Shrimpton—a relationship that had been a rollercoaster since 1963. Things finally fell apart in 1966, thanks to rumors (okay, probably more than rumors) of Jagger’s infidelity. To make matters even messier, he had already moved on with singer Marianne Faithfull, which definitely didn’t help smooth things over with Shrimpton.
As Philip Norman’s Jagger biography tells it, things between Mick and Chrissie Shrimpton hit peak drama in December 1966. After Mick bailed on a vacation they had planned, Shrimpton was so devastated she allegedly overdosed on sleeping pills—because, you know, nothing says romance like being stood up. While the song wasn’t technically about her, the whole incident weirdly mirrored the lyrics, right down to the pill-popping breakdown.
Another layer of intrigue surrounds the song’s lyrics, particularly the line “On our first trip…” It’s been speculated that this could be a reference to Jagger and Shrimpton’s first shared experience with LSD, adding a personal and somewhat poignant touch to the narrative. While the song’s themes may not directly recount their relationship, the emotional resonance and underlying tension seem to reflect the complexities of Jagger’s life and relationships during that era.
The lyrics take a pretty brutal jab at people who have everything handed to them but still manage to be miserable. Mick Jagger, of course, made sure to point out that the song totally wasn’t about anyone in his own life—just a completely random observation.
The live performances brought chaos: fans screaming relentlessly, some attempting to storm the stage, security unable to maintain control, and violent incidents breaking out. The tension backstage and onstage was palpable, pushing the band to their limits. Brian Jones, in particular, struggled to cope with the relentless pressures of fame. His increasing reliance on various substances only compounded his difficulties, making the demands of his rock star lifestyle all the more unmanageable. The song became an apt reflection of the chaos and strain that defined that period for The Rolling Stones.
“He had been pushing himself too far, too fast and too long,” said Brian biographer Laura Jackson. Mick Jagger likely had Brian Jones’s increasingly unpredictable and troubling behavior in mind when crafting the lyrics to 19th Nervous Breakdown. However, as was often the case, the song also served as a pointed critique of women, falling into the category of what Keith Richards would later describe in Life as “anti-girl” songs, much like Stupid Girl. This time, Jagger targeted the entitled offspring of affluent families—privileged girls who have it all yet value nothing. These are the types whose mothers owe substantial sums in back taxes, reflecting a broader disdain for their frivolous lifestyles.
Still, there may be mitigating factors for the self-absorbed young woman at the center of the song, who speaks far too loudly for comfort. Her behavior may stem from a dysfunctional home life, exemplified by a father oblivious to the changing times. Stuck in the past, he remains engaged in outdated pursuits, such as manufacturing sealing wax, seemingly unaware of the world moving on without him. Through these sharp observations, Jagger paints a vivid picture of a character shaped by privilege and disconnection, delivering his critique with equal measures of wit and cynicism.
The narrator expresses a desire to help the troubled woman but finds his efforts futile: “On our first trip I tried so hard to rearrange your mind / But after a while I realized you were disarranging mine.” This line raises intriguing questions—could it be a subtle nod to the influence of hallucinogenic, consciousness-expanding drugs? The ambiguity invites speculation, reflecting the experimental and introspective spirit of the era.
19th Nervous Breakdown made its debut as a single on February 4, 1966, in the United Kingdom, featuring As Tears Go By as the B-side. It followed shortly after in the United States on February 12, paired with Sad Day. Its unique sound and energy set it apart, marking a departure from the traditional influences of Chuck Berry and blues that had shaped earlier rock.
This innovation left a lasting impression on artists of the time, including Alice Cooper, who later remarked that “19th Nervous Breakdown was a modern rock song. It didn’t sound like Chuck Berry or an old blues. It sounded like something brand new, fresh, and exciting.” The single not only showcased The Rolling Stones’ evolving artistry but also solidified their place as trailblazers in the rock genre, capturing the imagination of a generation hungry for something innovative and bold.
Musically, Bill Wyman’s distinctive bass line, which dips and grooves toward the song’s conclusion, drew its inspiration from the innovative guitar style of Bo Diddley. Specifically, Wyman was influenced by Diddley’s work on the track Diddley Daddy. This homage to one of rock and roll’s foundational artists added a layer of rhythm and energy to the song, blending the Stones’ contemporary edge with a nod to the genre’s roots. Wyman’s approach showcased his ability to infuse subtle complexity into his playing while staying true to the band’s raw and dynamic sound.
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