When the Whip Comes Down

Composers: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Recording date: October-December 1977 & March-April 1978         Recording location: Pathé Marconi Studios, Paris, France & Atlantic Studios, New York, USA 
Producers: The Glimmer Twins        Chief engineer: Chris Kimsey
Performed onstage: 1978-79, 1981-82, 1997-99, 2002-03, 2012-13, 2015-16

Line-up:

Drums: Charlie Watts
Bass: Bill Wyman
Electric guitars: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards & Ron Wood (incl. solo)
Pedal steel guitar: Ron Wood
Lead vocal: Mick Jagger
Background vocals: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards & Ron Wood
 

Yeah, mama and papa told me I was crazy to stay
I was gay in New York, which is a fag in L.A.
So I saved my money and I took the plane
Wherever I go, they just treat me the same

When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down

Yeah

Yeah I go to 53rd Street and they spit in my face
But I'm learning the ropes, yeah, I'm learning a trade
The East River truckers are churning with trash
I've got so much money but I spend it so fast

When the whip comes down - yeah
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down

When the shit hits the fan, I'll be sitting on the can
When the whip comes down

Yeah, some call me garbage when I'm sweeping up the street
But I never roll and I never cheat
And I'm filling a need, yeah, I'm plugging a hole
My mama's so glad I ain't on the dole

When the whip comes down - yes
When the whip comes down

Yeah, when the shit hits the fan, I'll be sitting on the can
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down

When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down

Yeah, go ahead, sugar
 
Yes...

When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
Yeah I'll be running this town

I'll tell you
When the shit hits the fan, baby, I'll be sitting on the can
When the whip comes down

Yeah
Oooh!

Why baby, why, why baby
I'll tell you
I'll be running this town
Check it out, check it out, check it out, check it out, check it out, check it out, check it out, check it out

Yeah, when the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
Yeah, when the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
When the whip comes down
 

 
TrackTalk

When the Whip Comes Down I did the riff. Mick wrote it and I looked around and said, shit, he's finally written a rock-and-roll song. By himself!
- Keith Richards, Life (2010)


(T)here is one song that's a straight gay song - When the Whip Comes Down - but I have no idea why I wrote it. It's strange - the Rolling Stones have always attracted a lot of men (laughs). That sounds funny, but they're not all gay. And, of course, I have a lot of gay friends, but I suppose everyone does in New York City, and what's that have to do with the price of eggs?... I sure hope the radio stations will play When the Whip Comes Down.
- Mick Jagger, 1978


I don't know why I wrote it. Maybe I came out of the closet (laughs). It's about an imaginary person who comes from L.A. to New York and becomes a garbage collector.
- Mick Jagger, 1978


There was a lot of clubs, a lot of mixed clubs and so on at that time, that was the first time there had been mixed gay and straight dance nights. Normally it had been very segregated and then you started to get these mixed nights where you find yourself line dancing and that sort of thing. It was very amusing, trying to do these dances I've never been able to do very well (laughs) but I tried. That was really funny.
- Mick Jagger, 2011


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