19th Nervous Breakdown – The Rolling Stones – 1966

The title encapsulates Mick Jagger’s emotional state during a 1965 US tour. In an interview with the Rolling Stones Monthly magazine, he candidly shared, “After enduring five weeks of intense performances in the United States, I found myself contemplating what felt like my nineteenth nervous breakdown.” This phrase immediately struck a chord with us as a potential song title. Subsequently, Keith and I collaborated on the song’s composition at various points throughout the remainder of the tour. Brian, Charlie, and Bill enthusiastically supported our efforts, particularly because they appreciated the alliteration in the first two words of the title.

Did You Know

The Rolling Stones’ ’19th Nervous Breakdown’ is often considered one of their most iconic songs, characterized by its distinctive guitar riff and Jagger’s energetic vocals.
Mick Jagger, the charismatic frontman of the Rolling Stones, wrote the song’s lyrics, which are said to be inspired by the pressures of fame and the turbulent 1960s.
The song’s lyrics depict the tale of a high-society woman and her descent into chaos, capturing the essence of the swinging ’60s era.
’19th Nervous Breakdown’ was released as a single in 1966 and later included in the compilation album ‘Flowers.’ It quickly became a chart-topping hit.
The music video for ’19th Nervous Breakdown’ showcases the band’s signature stage presence and Mick Jagger’s electrifying performance.

Video

Lyrics

You’re the kind of person you meet at certain dismal, dull affairs
Center of a crowd, talking much too loud, running up and down the stairs
Well, it seems to me that you have seen too much in too few years
And though you’ve tried you just can’t hide your eyes are edged with tears

You better stop, look around
Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes
Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown

When you were a child you were a treated kind but you were never brought up right
You were always spoiled with a thousand toys but still you cried all night
Your mother who neglected you owes a million dollars tax
And your father’s still perfecting ways of making sealing wax

You better stop, look around
Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes
Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown

Oh, who’s to blame
That girl’s just insane
Well, nothing I do don’t seem to work
It only seems to make the matters worse
Oh, please

You were still in school when you had that fool who really messed your mind
And after that you turned your back on treating people kind
On our first trip I tried so hard to rearrange your mind
But after awhile I realized you were disarranging mine

You better stop, look around
Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes, here it comes
Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown

Oh, who’s to blame
That girl’s just insane
Well, nothing I do don’t seem to work
It only seems to make the matters worse
Oh, please

When you were a child you were treated kind but you were never brought up right
You were always spoiled with a thousand toys but still you cried all night
Your mother who neglected you owes a million dollars tax
And you father’s still perfecting ways of making sealing wax

You better stop, look around
Here it comes
Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown
Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown
Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown
Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown
Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown
Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown