The Spider and the Fly

The “Spider and the Fly” was a blues song released on the Rolling Stones 1965 album Out of Our Heads and was also released on the B Side of the Single “Can’t Get No Satisfaction.” The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and takes its name from the 1829 poem by Mary Howitt. While Mick Jagger admits that the song “still holds up quite interestingly as a blues song” the band rarely played it.

Mick Jagger was on vocals and that awesome harmonica, Keith Richards on lead guitar, Brian Jones on rhythm guitar, Bill Wyman on bass and Charlie Watts on drums.

“The Spider And The Fly”

Sittin’ thinkin’ sinkin’ drinking
Wondering what I’d do when I’m through tonight
Smoking moping, maybe just hoping
Some little girl will pass on by

Don’t wanna be alone but I love my girl at home
I remember what she said

She said, “My, my, my don’t tell lies, keep fidelity in your head
My my my, don’t tell lies. When you’re done you should go to bed
Don’t say hi, like a spider to a fly
Jump right ahead and you’re dead”

Sit up, fed up, low down go round
Down to the bar at the place I’m at
Sitting drinking, superficially thinking
About the rinsed-out blonde on my left

Then I said, “Hi” like a spider to a fly
Remembering what my little girl said

She was common, flirty, she looked about thirty
I would have run away but I was on my own
She told me later she’s a machine operator
She said she liked the way I held the microphone

I said my, my, like a spider to a fly
Jump right ahead in my web

Writers: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards

Neither Purely Good nor Purely Bad