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Rolling Stones songs: Oh No, Not You Again
It’s been a month of Sundays/ Since we last had spoke/ So much water, you get dollars/ I fell out of the boat…
Written by: Jagger/Richards Recorded: Studio France, West Indies, Nov- 2004; Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles, USA, March 7-9 and June 6-28 2005 *Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012
Mick Jagger: vocals, rhythm guitar Keith Richards: rhythm and lead guitar, bass Charlie Watts: drums Ron Wood: rhythm guitar Guest musicians: Darryl Jones (bass)
More about Oh No, Not You Again by The Rolling Stones
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
A Troubled Spark of Inspiration
Keith Richards once said that some riffs find him rather than the other way around, and Oh No, Not You Again certainly feels like one of those fugitive ideas born in the hazy confusion of half-sleep. The music arrived in that drifting state, but the lyrics were pulled straight from real experience—memories of a woman whose beauty, confidence, and irresistible charm once caught the narrator completely off guard. Mick Jagger sings the line “How could I resist?” with a teasing wink, a reminder of how easily desire can blur judgment. Yet the story refuses to remain nostalgic. When this woman reappears later in life, now with daughters of her own, the narrator sees every flaw magnified. The charm has faded, replaced by irritation and sarcastic dismissal. What emerges is a portrait painted with cutting humor, equal parts self-mockery and the notoriously wicked edge the Stones often deployed.
The Song’s Path Through the Public
Despite its energy and the undeniable bite in its delivery, Oh No, Not You Again was never granted the spotlight of a single. Instead Biggest Mistake took that honor, even though American rock radio embraced the song with enthusiasm. Thanks to steady airplay, the track climbed to No. 34 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart in December 2005, carving out its own success. The song’s life extended far beyond the studio: it became a recurring presence throughout the 2005–2006 A Bigger Bang tour, performed across North America and Europe to consistently strong reactions from audiences. Critics pointed out similarities to the Stones’ early-’70s punchier style, but those comparisons only underlined the band’s ability to channel their vintage fire decades later. Its public debut was memorable as well—played during a surprise mini-concert at the Juilliard School in New York City, where journalists heard it for the first time.
Inside the Studio
The recording of Oh No, Not You Again unfolds like a textbook example of late-era Stones chemistry. Charlie Watts kicks it off with a crisp snare break—clean, simple, unmistakably his. Mick enters with a distorted rhythm guitar part, soon joined by Keith Richards, whose volume in the mix feels intentionally raw, as if daring the track to stay upright. Ronnie Wood’s bottleneck even makes a ghostly scrape at the very end of the track, and Keith takes the solo, offering a blast of Chuck Berry-infused swagger. Meanwhile, Charlie pounds his drums with garage-band grit, supported by Darryl Jones on a muscular, rhythmic bass line—although the liner notes also credit Keith with bass, leaving a curious mystery. Whatever the exact blend, the track crackles with controlled chaos.
A Song That Lives In Performance
Though not hailed as a masterpiece Oh No, Not You Again earned its place through sheer force of personality. It may not reinvent the Stones’ formula, but it captures the band doing what they do best: leaning into humor, grit, and unfiltered rock ’n’ roll bravado. Charlie Watts once joked that the song’s title should have been the album title as well—a playful nod to the band’s endless return to the studio after decades together. Ultimately, the track endures not because it breaks boundaries, but because it feels alive: a burst of energy from musicians who refuse to grow complacent.
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