Shattered
'Shattered' is the third single from the band's 1978 album 'Some Girls'. The song is seen as a reflection of American lifestyles and life in 1970s-era New York City, but also influences from the English punk movement can be heard. It also foreshadowed the upcoming Rap movement as Jagger's performance is as much narrative as it is melodic. Some consider the song to be the group's "art music" masterpiece, stylistically consistent with the early punk rock music scene but without being excessively vulgar or negative.
Recorded from October to December 1977, 'Shattered' features lyrics by Mick Jagger on a guitar riff by Keith Richards. Jagger commented in a Rolling Stone interview that he wrote the lyrics in the back of a New York cab. Only released as a single in the US and Canada in 1979, 'Shattered' climbed to #31 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The band memorably performed the song live for an episode of Saturday Night Live during which Jagger apparently licked Ronnie Wood's lips and tore his shirt off.
Live versions of the track were captured during their 1981 tour of America and the 2006 A Bigger Bang Tour [respectively released on the 1982 live album 'Still Life' and 'Shine A Light'].
On the B-side is 'Everything Is Turning To Gold', a non-album track which would only be available on the 'Sucking In The Seventies' compilation in 1981.
'Shattered' was only released and distributed in picture sleeves in the US and Canada.
19 editions worldwide include 'Shattered' on the 7" format.
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards / Ron Wood]
I don't care if your love grows cold
Found love in someone else's home
Don't like standin' in the snow
Everything's turning to gold
Everything's turning to gold
Everything's turning to gold
You used to know me long ago
Was so lost and way down low.
Now that the love juice starts to flow,
Now that the love juice starts to flow,
Everything's turning to gold
Everything's turning to gold
Everything's turning, everything's turning
Everything's turning, everything's turning to gold
I'm tired, I'm tired of doing what I'm told.
Things are moving way too slow.
I got no problems, I got no problems, child.
It ain't my business, it ain't my business, ain't my style.
Now that the love juice starts to flow,
Now that the love juice starts to flow.
Keith Richards: electric guitar
Ron Wood: electric guitar
Bill Wyman: bass
Charlie Watts: drums
Mel Collins: sax
Produced by the 'Glimmer Twins'
Sound & mix engineer: Chris Kimsey
Keith Richards: electric guitar solos, background vocals
Ron Wood: lead electric and pedal steel guitars, bass, drums, background vocals
Charlie Watts: drums
Simon Kirke: congas
Ian Stewart: piano
Ian McLagan: organ
| charts | peak | release date | 7" single | B-side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
31 | November 19, 1978 | RS-19310 | Everything Is Turning To Gold
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards / Ron Wood] |
[Mick Jagger / Keith Richards]
Uh-huh, shattered
Shattered, shattered
Love and hope and sex and dreams
Are still surviving on the street
Look at me, I'm in tatters!
I'm a shattered
Shattered
Friends are so alarming
My lover's never charming
Life's just a cocktail party on the street
Big Apple
People dressed in plastic bags
Directing traffic
Some kind of fashion
Shattered
Laughter, joy, and loneliness and sex and sex and sex and sex
Look at me, I'm in tatters
I'm a shattered
Shattered
All this chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter 'bout
Shmatta, shmatta, shmatta -- I can't give it away on 7th Avenue
This town's been wearing tatters (shattered, shattered)
Work and work for love and sex
Ain't you hungry for success, success, success, success
Shattered
Ahhh, look at me, I'm a shattered
I'm a shattered
Look at me- I'm a shattered, yeah
Pride and joy and greed and sex
That's what makes our town the best
Pride and joy and dirty dreams and still surviving on the street
And look at me, I'm in tatters, yeah
I've been battered, what does it matter
Does it matter, uh-huh
Does it matter, uh-huh, I'm a shattered
Don't you know the crime rate is going up, up, up, up, up
To live in this town you must be tough, tough, tough, tough, tough!
You got rats on the west side
Bed bugs uptown
What a mess this town's in tatters I've been shattered
My brain's been battered, splattered all over Manhattan
Uh-huh, this town's full of money grabbers
Go ahead, bite the Big Apple, don't mind the maggots, huh
Shadoobie, my brain's been battered
My friends they come around they
Flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter
Pile it up, pile it high on the platter
Covers
- Costello, Elvis and Richard Hell
1978 Cassette: Elvis Costello & Some Of His Friends.
Probably live. Boot. October 18, 1978.
- Gold, Adam and John Mahoney 1994 Cassette: V/A: Undercover Of The Net.
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