This is a song by The Rolling Stones from their 1971 album Sticky Fingers, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The Sticky Fingers album had very elaborate packaging. Designed by Andy Warhol, the cover photo was a close up of a man's jeans with a real zipper on it. It was also the first time the tongue logo was used.
This started as a song for Keith Richards' newborn son Marlon. It was 1969 and Keith regretted that he had to leave his son to go on tour. Mick Jagger rewrote Keith's lyrics, keeping only the line "Wild horses couldn't drag me away." His rewrite was based on his relationship with Marianne Faithfull, which was disintegrating.
Mick Jagger's girlfriend at the time, the singer Marianne Faithfull, claims "Wild horses couldn't drag me away" was the first thing she said to Mick after she pulled out of a drug-induced coma in 1969. There are other theories as to Mick's muse for this song, however. Jagger's longtime girlfriend Jerry Hall in The Observer Magazine April 29, 2007, said: "'Wild Horses' is my favorite Stones song. It's so beautiful. I don't mind that it was written for Bianca." (Not likely, since Jagger didn't meet his future wife Bianca until 1970, which was after the song was recorded.)
Lyrics
Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless lady you know who I am
You know I can't let you slide through my hands
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away
I watched you suffer a dull aching pain
Now you've decided to show me the same
No sweeping exit or offstage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away
I know I've dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom but I don't have much time
Faith has been broken tears must be cried
Let's do some living after we die
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses we'll ride them some day
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses we'll ride them some day
Songwriters: Keith Richards / Mick Jagger
Wild Horses lyrics © Abkco Music, Inc