About the song
In the realm of rock and roll, few bands have achieved the legendary status of The Rolling Stones. With their electrifying stage presence, rebellious attitude, and timeless music, they have left an indelible mark on the genre. Their 1978 song “Shattered” stands as a testament to their enduring legacy, showcasing their ability to seamlessly blend punk rock grit with their signature blues-infused sound.
Shattered emerges from the opening notes with a raw energy that is both captivating and unsettling. Mick Jagger’s vocals, delivered in a spoken-word style, paint a vivid picture of urban decay and societal disillusionment. The lyrics, infused with a sense of urgency and desperation, capture the angst and frustration of a generation grappling with economic hardship and social unrest.
Keith Richards’ guitar riffs provide the backbone of the song, driving the relentless rhythm and amplifying the sense of chaos. The interplay between Richards’ guitar and Ronnie Wood’s bass creates a thick, distorted sound that perfectly complements Jagger’s gritty vocals. Charlie Watts’ drumming, as always, is impeccable, providing a solid foundation for the song’s explosive energy.
Shattered is not just a song about societal ills; it is also a reflection of the band’s own evolution. By the late 1970s, The Rolling Stones were no longer the young rebels they once were. They had experienced the highs and lows of fame, and their music had matured accordingly. Shattered reflects this maturity, while still retaining the band’s raw energy and rebellious spirit.
The song’s release in 1978 coincided with the rise of punk rock, a genre that challenged the established norms of rock and roll. Shattered, with its aggressive sound and anti-establishment lyrics, can be seen as a bridge between the classic rock of The Rolling Stones and the burgeoning punk scene.
Shattered has remained a staple in The Rolling Stones’ live repertoire, and its influence can be heard in the music of countless punk and rock bands that followed. It is a song that captures the zeitgeist of a troubled era, and it continues to resonate with listeners today.
Shattered is more than just a rock song; it is a cultural touchstone. It is a reminder of a time when rock and roll was a force for social change, and it continues to inspire generations of musicians and fans alike.
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Lyrics
Uh huh shattered, uh huh shattered
Love and hope and sex and dreams
Are still surviving on the street
Look at me, I’m in tatters
I been shattered
Shattered
Friends are so alarming
And my lover’s never charming
Life’s just a cocktail party on the street
Big Apple, people dressed in plastic bags, directing traffic
(Shadoobie, shattered)
Some kind of fashion
(Shadoobie, shattered)
Laughter, joy, and loneliness and sex and sex and sex and sex
Look at me, I’m in tatters
I been shattered
Shattered
All this chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter about
Shmatta, shmatta, shmatta, I can’t give it away on 7th Avenue
This town’s been wearing tatters, uh huh (Shadoobie, shattered)
Work and work for love and sex
Ain’t you hungry for success, success, success, success
Does it matter? (Shattered)
Does it matter?
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 that town the best
Pride and joy and dirty dreams and still surviving on the street (shattered)
And look at me, I’m in tatters, yeah (shattered)
I’m in tatters, what does it matter (shattered)
Does it matter, uh-huh (shattered)
Does it matter? Uh-huh
I’m shattered
Mm-mm, I’m shattered
Huh shadoobie, shattered
Huh shadoobie, shattered
Shadoobie, shattered, shattered
Don’t you know the crime rate’s going up, up, up, up, up? (Shadoobie, shattered)
To live in this town you must be tough, tough, tough, tough, tough, tough, tough (Shadoobie, shattered) (Shadoobie, shattered, shattered)
We’ve got rats on the west side, bed bugs uptown (Shadoobie, shattered)
What a mess, this town’s in tatters, I’ve been shattered (Shadoobie, shattered)
My brain’s been battered, splattered all over Manhattan (Shadoobie, shattered)
Shadoobie, shattered, shattered
What I say?
Shadoobie, shattered
Shadoobie, shattered
Shadoobie, shattered
This town’s full of money grabbers (Shadoobie, shattered)
Go ahead, bite the Big Apple, don’t mind the maggots, uh-huh (Shadoobie, shattered) (Shadoobie, shattered)
Shadoobie, my brain’s been battered
(Shadoobie, shattered, shattered)
My friends they come around, they flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter
(Shadoobie, shattered) (Shadoobie, shattered)
Pile it up, pile it up, pile it high on the platter
(Shadoobie, shattered, shattered)