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Rolling Stones songs: She Smiled Sweetly
I understood for once in my life/ And feeling good most all of the time…
Written by: Jagger/Richard Recorded: RCA Studios, Hollywood, USA, Aug. 3-7 1966; Olympic Sound Studios, London, England, Nov. 9-Dec. 6 1966 *Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012
More about ‘She Smiled Sweetly’ by The Rolling Stones
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
She Smiled Sweetly: The Rolling Stones’ Quiet Spell of Mystery and Grace
Though overshadowed by the massive success of Ruby Tuesday, She Smiled Sweetly casts its own quiet, enduring spell. With a hushed intensity, Mick Jagger’s vocals glide over the track’s unhurried rhythm, never daring to disturb its fragile atmosphere. Charlie Watts’ restrained drumming and Jack Nitzsche’s delicate piano touches add texture, while Keith Richards shoulders most of the instrumental load, giving the song its intimate feel.
Interestingly, Jagger once described the lyrics as more spiritual than romantic. The song was meant to carry a quasi-religious tone before a gender switch shifted its nuance. “This is very religious,” he said, calling it an “up-tempo shuffler”—a puzzling label for such a languid track. Yet that contradiction adds to its charm. The identity of the enigmatic woman remains cloaked in mystery, making the song one of the Rolling Stones’ most quietly haunting pieces.
She Smiled Sweetly: Jagger’s Tender Detour from the Usual Bite
She Smiled Sweetly marks a refreshing shift in Mick Jagger’s lyrical persona—a Rolling Stones song with a tender detour from the more cynical tone found in songs like Yesterday’s Papers. Gone are the barbed lines and jaded reflections. In their place is quiet romanticism, steeped in vulnerability: “She smiled sweetly / And says don’t worry.” It’s a moment of emotional sincerity that aligns the song more closely with the wistful melancholy of As Tears Go By.
There’s an intriguing ambiguity to the lyrics. Could it be an ode to Marianne Faithfull? Or was Jagger simply conjuring a mythical figure—that rare creature that “keeps her peace most every day and won’t disappear [when] my hair’s turning grey?” The truth is elusive.
Interestingly, Jagger once revealed the song originally carried the title He Smiled Sweetly, hinting at a more spiritual inspiration. “Someone—Andrew, I think (Oldham)—changed it,” he noted, adding yet another layer to its gentle mystery.
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