Since its release in 1978 on the Rolling Stones' Some Girls, the meaning of "Beast of Burden" has often been misinterpreted among fans. Some think it's about a woman, others think it's about Keith Richards telling Mick Jagger he'd never be a "beast of burden" during a period of the guitarist's intense drug abuse.
The latter is only partially right. In the late '70s, the future of the Rolling Stones in the '80s was uncertain because of Richards' use of drugs. But, as Richards revealed to Harper's Bazaar, this song represented the iconic songwriting duo linking during a dark period for the band.
"Those who say it's about one woman in particular, they've got it all wrong. We were trying to write for a slightly broader audience than just Anita Pallenberg or Marianne Faithfull. Although that's not to say they didn't have some influence in there somewhere. I mean, what's close by is close by! I've always felt it's one of my best soul songs. It was another strict collaboration between Mick and me. I think I had the first verse—'I'll never be your beast of burden'—along with the hook, and we were still working very much in our traditional way: Here's the idea, here's the song, now run away and fill it in! Some of the theories surrounding it are very intriguing, but they're about as divorced from reality as can be. I find it quite amusing that there are people in the world who spend a lot of their time trying to decode something that is, at the end of the day, completely undecodable. I mean, even I've forgotten the code!"
Sometimes a good song is just that—a good song. And thankfully, Mick and Keith were able to connect on "Beast of Burden" to create one of the Rolling Stones' greatest soul ballads of their middle years.
