Something Happened to Me Yesterday

Between the Buttons (USA version)
Side 2, Track 5
"Something Happened to Me Yesterday" – 4:55



Wikipedia:

"Something Happened to Me Yesterday" is a closing track to English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones' 1967 album Between the Buttons.

Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Something Happened to Me Yesterday" is called by Matthew Greenwald in his review of the song "one [of] the most accurate songs about LSD."[1] Writing with a "combination of social commentary, personal insight, and a strong sense of comedy," the lyrics paint a hazy picture of an LSD trip from the perspective of the following day;


“ Someone says there's something more to pay, For sins that you committed yesterday. It's really rather drippy but something oh so trippy. Something happened to me yesterday ”

“ He don't know if it's right or wrong. Maybe he should tell someone. He's not sure just what it was, Or if it's against the law ”


On the song, Jagger said at the time of its release, "I leave it to the individual imagination as to what happened."[2] The most distinct portion of the song is the ending, where Jagger, using spoken word, gives this send off:


“ Well thank you very much and now I think it's time for us all to go. So from all of us to all of you, not forgetting the boys in the band and our producer Reg Thorpe, we'd like to say God bless. So if you're out tonight, don't forget, if you're on your bike, wear white. Evening all. ”


This "send off" prompted many in the newly emerging counter-culture music press to speculate about a possible breakup of The Stones. On the ending, Jagger said, "The ending is something I remember hearing on the BBC as the bombs dropped."[2]

Recorded in August and November of 1966, "Something Happened to Me Yesterday" is notable as it is the first song by the Rolling Stones to feature Richards on lead vocals, and one of the few to feature both Jagger and Richards sharing lead vocals together. With Charlie Watts on drums and Bill Wyman on bass, Richards also performs the song's electric and acoustic guitars. The song also displays Brian Jones' rich musical abilities, with the guitarist performing trombone, trumpet, violin, and various other brasses. Ian Stewart performs the songs' pianos.[2]

"Something Happened to Me Yesterday" has never been performed live.

There should be a law that says you're allowed to do any drugs you want as long as you never sing about them.

And thus we reach the end of this album, one of the most challenging experiences of my life – not on a high note, but on an ironic old-timey sing-along about LSD. That sums up the artistic pretensions of this album, along with its many, many failings.