Rolling Stones songs: High and Dry
*Click for MORE ROLLING STONES SONGS 1962-PRESENT

Anything I wished for I only had to ask her/ I think she found out it was money I was after…

Written by: Jagger/Richard
Recorded: RCA Studios, Hollywood, USA, March 6-9 1966
*Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012

From the The Rolling Stones – All the Songs book:
As the title suggests, “High and Dry” is another song about breaking up. Its
chief delight, one might say, is the cynicism displayed by the rejected lover.
I think she found it was [her] money I was after, sings Jagger, before
adding: It’s lucky that I didn’t have any love towards her/Next time I’ll make
sure that the girl’ll be much poorer.
Musically, “High and Dry” is without doubt the fruit of the Rolling
Stones’ travels to the heart of the United States. Keith Richards in particular
developed an interest in the country music traditions. This song was the first
proper incursion by the London group into hillbilly, with Mick Jagger
affecting the characteristic accent of the country-and-western singer and
Brian Jones playing a very low-down harmonica.

Barely back from their second tour to Australia and New Zealand (February
18 to March 1, 1966), the Rolling Stones lost no time in returning to
Hollywood and the RCA team to lay down “High and Dry” during their
second session at the studios, between March 6 and 9, 1966. In this track,
Mick and his deluxe jug band present the very first Stones composition
influenced by hillbilly and bluegrass. Keith launches into the intro on a 6-
string acoustic (his Gibson Hummingbird?) and can also be heard playing a
12-string acoustic, probably his Harmony 1270 (overdubbed). Brian
accompanies him throughout with a very good harmonica part and highly
successful solo (1:34). Charlie confines himself to bass drum and hi-hat.
Bill supports him with a pumping bass line that is not up to his usual
standards of accuracy as far as the notes are concerned, giving rise to a
suspicion that he is not totally in his element in this number. Mick can be
imagined singing “High and Dry” leaning on the bar of a saloon with a
Stetson on his head, cowboy boots on his feet, and a Jack Daniel’s in his
hand. In this number the Stones do country Leadbelly-style, and to great
effect