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There is only one thing in this world that I can’t understand, that’s a girl/ I keep a-readin’ the things you said, like a bad dream in my head…
Also known as: ‘Sad Ol’ Day’ Written by: Jagger/Richard Recorded: RCA Studios, Hollywood, USA, Dec. 3-8 1965 Guest musicians: Jack Nitzsche (piano) *Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012
A dreadful start of a day for the character in the song, who has a painful awakening. He remembers the argument he has had with his girlfriend, who has finally left him. Where has she gone? He phones her to find out, but she is not there. The moral of this story of a breakup—yet another in the Stones’ catalog—is that There is only one thing in this world/That I can’t understand, that’s a girl. As another song about the emotional ups and downs of women, and how this is a source of stress and despair for their partners, “Sad Day” would certainly not have been out of place on Aftermath.
And as a folk-rock number enhanced with Baroque arrangements, it would have fitted in musically too. Recorded at the same session as “Mother’s Little Helper”, “Take It or Leave It” and “Goin’ Home”, it was left out of the final selection for the album. Indeed, it can only be assumed that neither the Stones nor Oldham were overly taken with it, as it was not included on any LP until the compilation No Stone Unturned in 1973. Although it was chosen as the B-side of the US single “19th Nervous Breakdown” it failed to set the world alight.
