Why Keith Richards Gave Away A Rolling Stones Classic

“Wild Horses” most likely springs to mind when you think of legendary Rolling Stones tunes. Since it first reached listeners in 1971, the iconic line, “wild horses couldn’t drag me away,” has become ingrained in pop culture. But you might be surprised to hear that this heartfelt ballad had a convoluted journey before making it into the Sticky Fingers CD.

From Keith’s Guitar to a Personal Farewell

The song actually started in 1969 as a deeply personal reflection from guitarist Keith Richards. At the time, he was struggling with the thought of leaving his newborn son, Marlon, to go out on tour. The melancholy tone of the song came from those tough emotions.

In his autobiography Life, Richards recalled how easily it all came together:

“‘Wild Horses’ almost wrote itself. It was really a lot to do with, once again, messing around with the tunings.”

His playing on a twelve-string guitar helped give the track its haunting, bittersweet sound.

Jagger Adds His Heartbreak

The lyrics got a new direction thanks to Mick Jagger, who pulled inspiration from his own painful breakup with singer Marianne Faithfull. While many have guessed the song is about her, Jagger once explained in the 1993 Jump Back liner notes:

“I remember we sat around originally doing this with Gram Parsons… Everyone always says this was written about Marianne but I don’t think it was; that was all well over by then. But I was definitely very inside this piece emotionally.”

Before It Was The Stones’ Hit… It Was Someone Else’s

Here’s a twist: The Rolling Stones weren’t the first to release “Wild Horses.” Keith Richards, being close friends with country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons, actually gave the song to Parsons’ band, The Flying Burrito Brothers. They recorded it in 1970 — a full year before the Stones released their version.

In the 2004 documentary Gram Parsons: Fallen Angel, Pamela Des Barres shared how honored Parsons felt:

“He was so proud. The Stones never gave their songs away. It meant a lot.”

A Song About Distance, Loss, and Connection

“Wild Horses” spoke to a common theme, whether it was the pain of being far from home, the loss of a loved one, or leaving a child behind. Richards subsequently claimed that it perfectly encapsulated the sensation of not wanting to travel, which he and Jagger both knew all too well.

There is more to “Wild Horses” than just a song. It’s a tale of camaraderie, passion, and creative giving — evidence that even rock stars have a tender side.