Blinded By Rainbows

Composers: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Recording date: September, November 1993-April 1994
Recording locations: Sandymount Studios, Ron Wood's home, St. Kildare, Ireland; Windmill Lane
Recording, Dublin, Ireland; & A&M Recording Studios, Los Angeles, USA
Producers: Don Was & The Glimmer Twins        Chief engineer: Don Smith
     Never performed onstage

Probable line-up:

Drums: Charlie Watts
Bass: Darryl Jones
Acoustic guitar: Keith Richards
Rhythm (tremolo) electric guitar: Mick Jagger
Lead electric guitar: Ron Wood
Lead vocal: Mick Jagger
Background vocals: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Harpsichord:  Chuck Leavell or Benmont Tench
Organ: Benmont Tench
Piano: Benmont Tench
Percussion: Lenny Castro
 

Did you ever feel the pain
That He felt upon the cross?
Did you ever feel the knife
Tearing flesh that's oh so soft?

Did you ever touch the night?
Did you ever count the cost?
Do you hide away the fear?
Put down paradise as lost?

Yeah, you're blinded by rainbows
Watching the wind blow
Blinded by rainbows

Do you dream at night? Do you sleep at night?
I doubt it

Did you ever feel the blast
As the Semtex bomb goes off?
Do you ever hear the screams
As the limbs are all torn off?

Did you ever kiss the child
Who just saw his father shot?
Do you ever shed a tear
As the war drags on and on?

Do you ever touch the night
Or is it just another job?
Do you fear the final hours?
Put down paradise as lost?

Yeah, you're blinded by rainbows
And faces in windows
Blinded by rainbows

Do you dream at night? Do you sleep at night?
I doubt it

Mmm yeah

Do you ever fear the night?
Could it be the war is lost?
Do you fear the final hour?
Do you kneel before the cross?

Mmm, you're blinded by rainbows
And watching the wind blow
Blinded by rainbows

Do you dream at night? Do you scream at night?
Do you smell the fear? Is your conscience clear?
Are you caked in sweat?  Are your clothes all wet?
Do you see the light? Is the end in sight?
See the face of Christ, enter paradise?
I doubt it
 

 

TrackTalk

That is Mick's song, totally.

- Keith Richards, June 1994


I was writing it at the end of the Wandering Spirit album. I was sort of halfway through with it, and I thought, Well, this would be better suited to the Rolling Stones' next album. It was all kind of in my head, rather than written down. But you know, it's pretty strong. I think it's good to have one like that on the record, it shakes you up a bit. Otherwise all the songs are about girls and cars and immaturity.

- Mick Jagger, 1994


It's just a folk-influenced ballad.

- Mick Jagger, May 1994


It's just a bit like a Staples Singers kind of sound, a little bit... I was trying to take that song a little bit in that direction. Didn't quite go the way I was expecting, but I think it worked out all right.

- Mick Jagger, June 1994


I think (the harpsichord) might have been (my idea). Because at the time, I just thought it was... I guess Lady Jane came somewhere around the back and hit me. There was just something about the melody that suggested it. Sometimes you listen to a song and it says trombone or it says harpsichord. You don't know why; you just suddenly hear this part singing away, and you say, What about trying this? And it kind of fit.

- Keith Richards, June 1994


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