About the Song
Background
- Inspiration: “Miss You” emerged from jam sessions between Mick Jagger and keyboardist Billy Preston during rehearsals for the Rolling Stones’ 1977 El Mocambo concerts.
- Disco Influence: While Jagger and Ronnie Wood maintain the song wasn’t initially conceived as disco, the band undeniably tapped into the dance-friendly rhythms and energy of the era. Keith Richards even acknowledged it as a “damn good disco record.”
- Release: “Miss You” came out in 1978 as part of their album Some Girls, and quickly became a chart-topping smash.
Themes
- Longing and Desire: At its core, “Miss You” is a classic song about yearning for someone absent. The speaker expresses a deep sense of loneliness and the desperate need for connection.
- Urban Melancholy: The references to Central Park and aimless wandering through city streets paint a picture of urban isolation and a restless, almost feverish search for something to fill the void.
- Hedonism vs. Heartbreak: There’s a tension between the speaker’s attempts to drown out the pain of missing someone through distractions and indulgence (“Puerto Rican girls…a case of wine”) and the raw, insistent heartbreak that won’t be ignored.
Lyrics
A few points about the lyrics and how they support the themes:
- Repetition: The repetition of “I miss you,” “Oooh oooh oooh,” and “Aaah aaah aaah” emphasizes the intensity and almost obsessive nature of the longing.
- Conversational Style: The lyrics feel like a raw outpouring of emotion, a stream of consciousness from a lovesick mind.
- Conflicted Emotions: The last verse brings into sharp focus the internal conflict with lines like, “I won’t miss you child / I guess I’m lying to myself.” This captures the complex and sometimes contradictory nature of intense feelings.
Legacy
“Miss You” was a massive hit for the Rolling Stones, topping the US charts and becoming a mainstay on radio. It also marked a stylistic shift for the band, showcasing their ability to adapt and experiment with the musical trends of the time.
Video
Lyric
I’ve been holdin’ out so longI’ve been sleepin’ all aloneLord, I miss youI’ve been hanging on the phoneI’ve been sleeping all aloneI want to kiss you sometime
Ooh ooh ooh ooh oohOoh ooh ooh ooh oohOoh ooh ooh oohOoh ooh ooh ooh oohOoh ooh ooh ooh oohOoh ooh ooh ooh
Well, I’ve been haunted in my sleepYou’ve been starrin’ in my dreamsLord, I miss you, childI’ve been waitin’ in the hallBeen waitin’ on your callYour phone ringsIt’s just some friends of mine that say“Hey, what’s the matter, man?We’re gonna come around at twelveWith some Puerto Rican girls that’s just dyin’ to meet youWe’re gonna bring a case of wineHey, let’s go mess and fool aroundYou know, like we used to”
Aah aah aah aah aahAah aah aah aah aahAah aah aah aahAah aah aah aah aahAah aah aah aah aahAah aah aah aah
Oh everybody waits so longOh baby, why you wait so long?Won’t you come on, come on
I’ve been walking Central ParkSingin’ after darkPeople think I’m crazyStumbling on my feetShuffling through the streetAsking people, “What’s the matter with you, boy?”Sometimes I want to say to, to myselfSometimes I say
Ooh ooh ooh ooh oohOoh ooh ooh ooh oohOoh ooh ooh oohOoh ooh ooh ooh oohOoh ooh ooh ooh oohI won’t miss you, child
I guess I’m lying to myselfIt’s just you and no one elseLord, I won’t miss you, childYou’ve just been blottin’ out my mindFoolin’ on my timeNo, I won’t miss you, baby, yeahLord, I miss you child
Aah aah aah aah aahAah aah aah aah aahAah aah aah aahLord, I miss you, childAah aah aah aah aahAah aah aah aah aahAah aah aah aahLord, I miss you, childAah aah aah aah aahAah aah aah aah aahAah aah aah aah