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Rolling Stones songs: Tie You Up (The Pain of Love)
Sometimes you crave for it, cry for it/ Women will die for it…
Written by: Jagger/Richards Recorded: EMI Pathé Marconi Studios, Boulogne-Billancourt, France, Nov. 11-Dec. 16 1982; Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas, May 1983; The Hit Factory, NYC, USA, June-July 1983 Guest musicians: Chuck Leavell (organ), Moustapha Cisse, Brahms Coundoul, Martin Ditcham and Sly Dunbar (percussion) *Data taken from Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012
More about Tie You Up (The Pain of Love) by The Rolling Stones
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
The Rolling Stones and the Sting of Desire
With its biting guitars and strutting beat, Tie You Up (The Pain of Love) channels a gritty, West Coast blues vibe, echoing the spirit of Lowell Fulson—something Mick Jagger himself later acknowledged. But beneath the groove lies something darker, more provocative. The Stones don’t just flirt with danger here; they embrace the seductive pull of taboo.
The track unveils a theatrical world of sadomasochistic fantasy, where love and pain twist into one another like a whip’s lash. The lyrics paint a decadent picture: the aging belle, late to the dance, frantically applying rouge, finally ready to unleash herself. Jagger becomes both victim and participant, surrendering with relish. Could Marianne Faithfull’s spectral presence—descended from Sacher-Masoch himself—haunt the undertones of this track? Perhaps. What’s certain is that Tie You Up remains one of the Stones’ boldest, never once performed live, but always lingering in the shadows of their most daring work.
The Stones Go Full Throttle on Tie You Up
Tie You Up (The Pain of Love) isn’t just a killer track—it’s the Stones flexing their blues-rock muscles in full ‘80s swagger. Sure, the groove nods to Fulson’s Tramp, but this version’s turbocharged, with Charlie Watts locking into a tight rhythm and Ron Wood holding it down on bass (though he plays it more like a guitar, really). Ronnie’s all over this track, mixing sharp rhythm work with slick solo licks. Meanwhile, Keith’s likely grinding away on the second rhythm guitar, drenched in distortion.
Mick Jagger, as usual, owns the moment—firing off those cheeky, slightly twisted lyrics like he’s loving every line. Chuck Leavell adds color with electric piano and organ, while congas, cowbells, and a funky tom (probably a Simmons) round out the percussion. It’s raw, it’s punchy, and yeah—it rocks. And wer like it, yes we do.
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