| "Rough Justice" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byThe Rolling Stones | ||||
| from the albumA Bigger Bang | ||||
| A-side | "Streets of Love" (double A-side) | |||
| Released | August 22, 2005 (2005-08-22) | |||
| Recorded | June 2005 | |||
| Studio | La Fourchette, France | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 3:12 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Songwriter | Jagger–Richards | |||
| Producers | ||||
| The Rolling Stones singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Rough Justice" is a song by the Englishrock bandthe Rolling Stones that was released as a double A-side single with "Streets of Love" from their 2005 albumA Bigger Bang. It is the opening track from the album. The single was released on 22 August 2005, prior to the album.
Written byJagger–Richards, "Rough Justice" was a heavily collaborative effort like many of the lead singer and guitarist's latter-day compositions. On the writing, Richards said in 2005, "That came to me in my sleep. It's almost like 'Satisfaction'. Yeah, I almost sort of woke up and said, 'Where's my guitar?' Sometimes you do dream ariff, you know? I had to get up, and it's really hard to get me up. Once I go down, I go down, you know? But, I mean, it's only a song that could get me up and start running around the room, 'Where's my guitar, where did I put my guitar, before I forget it?' I don't often remember dreams, only when they're musical."
A straight ahead rocker, but sets the scene of a long time, up and down, love affair between the singer and the subject:
One time you were my baby chicken, Now you've grown into a fox; Once upon a time I was your little rooster, But now I'm just one of your cocks.
It's rough justice, oh yeah, We never thought it risky; It's rough justice, But you know I'll never break your heart; You're feeling loose and lusty, So if you really want me, Yeah, it's rough justice; And you know I'll never break your heart.
Recording began at La Fourchette, Posé sur Cisse, France in June 2005. With Jagger on lead vocals, Richards plays electric rhythm (including the riff).Ronnie Wood plays the song's distinct electricslide guitar, including the song's opening intro and solo.Charlie Watts plays drums. Additional musicians are includedDarryl Jones on bass whileChuck Leavell on play the song's piano.
"Rough Justice" was released as adouble A-side with "Streets of Love" on 22 August 2005. It charted at number 15 on theUK Singles Chart. In the US, the song peaked at number 25 on theMainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 5 on theAdult Alternative Songs chart.
Music criticRobert Christgau applauded the song as "a strikingly ironic/acerbic expression of both Jagger's musical gift and his romantic limitations".[1]
The song has been performed heavily by the Stones on theirA Bigger Bang Tour and is featured on their latest concert DVD release,The Biggest Bang. It was also one of the three songs played by the Stones during the halftime show forSuper Bowl XL although the word "cocks" was censored on theABC broadcast.
It was included in their greatest hits albumGRRR!.
Credits adapted from album liner notes.[2]
The Rolling Stones
Additional musicians
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[3] | 15 |
| USBillboardHeritage Rock[4] | 1 |
| USMainstream Rock (Billboard)[5] | 25 |
| USAdult Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[6] | 5 |
