It is the evening of the day
I sit and watch the children play
Smiling faces I can see
But not for me
I sit and watch
As tears go by
My riches can't buy everything
I want to hear the children sing
All I hear is the sound
Of rain falling on the ground
I sit and watch
As tears go by
It is the evening of the day
I sit and watch the children play
Doin' things I used to do
They think are new
I sit and watch
As tears go by
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)
This story starts with Michael and Keith of the Stones writing a pop song after being forced to by their manager Andrew. Considering the fact that the song was too pop for a blues band, they ditched it and Andrew chose Marianne, a 17 year old whom he met at a party to sing and release it and the song became an instant hit in 1964.
Marianne's version was a perfect pop song for the summer of '64 - upbeat, chirpy, lively and joyful... Though the song's lyrics were more sombre in nature thus making it melancholic. What else could we expect from a 17 yr old who hadn't really lived and endured the bed of thorn roses called Life? Needless to say, the song was a big hit eventually leading Michael and Keith to perform it in their 1965 album as they were now progressing towards a more rhythm and blues outfit with the occasional ballad.
Stones' version was obviously still 'under aged' for the song as Michael was then 21 but the accompanying music - a 12-string guitar played by Big Jim Sullivan and an intricate string arrangement by Mike Leander, being much more mature and emoting well, carried the song. Michael's charming british accent helped as well. Moving on, Michael and Marianne got into a relationship and then they broke up after a few years but by then she was completely addicted to all the vices of the era.
Marianne went through divorces, drug addictions, a miscarriage, illnesses, homeless experiences, broke scenes, suicide attempts, relationships, depression etc. She did have a comeback in the music industry to a lukewarm response. She finally made peace with her past and reached full circle when she performed the same song which catapulted her into that life of excess. This version, in 1987 - 22 years from when she debuted it, is a much more haunting, sombre, experienced, intelligent, honest and retrospective version as the song was meant to be written and sung. She had indeed lived, braved and endured the bed of thorn roses called Life! She still performs to this day...
~ The End ~
Niranjan Joseph
Writing Influences:
#ish
Marianne Faithfull - As Tears Go By (1965): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhPPJ5dolxU
The Rolling Stones - As Tears Go By {1965}: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLm_vVUhH5s
Marianne Faithfull - As Tears Go By [1987]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_pcKtAcuuU
Wikipedia
P.S.: I put it through the acid test - my 9 year old nephew and he sampled all the three versions (God bless his kind heart for putting up with me) and he liked Marianne's 1987 version but confirmed the Stones' version to be the best. "More melodic", he said, I've got to agree with him here. It was their song to begin with...
Further Reading:
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas! http://srialakhniranjan.blogspot.in/2011/09/but-its-all-right-now.html
