In December 1968, the British rock band The Rolling Stones released their seventh studio album, Beggars Banquet. The words and music of almost all the songs included in it were written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The only exception was the track Prodigal Son . He is a cover version of a song by Reverend Robert Wilkins, who has been called one of the most underrated blues players in the history of the genre.
The story behind of Prodigal Son
Back in 1929, Wilkins, who was then working as a barnyard clerk and train station porter, recorded a song called That’s No Way to Get Along. Initially, it was a typical delta blues song about the wanderings of a poor guy, created under the influence of the work of the now forgotten musician Aaron Taylor.
A few decades later, Robert, who devoted himself to the church service, remade it into Prodigal Son. The song acquired notes characteristic of gospels and religious overtones (we will not retell the biblical parable of the prodigal son). A new version of the composition was released in 1964 by Piedmont Records.
In The Rolling Stones, the offer to perform Prodigal Son came from Keith Richards, who was familiar with Wilkins’ work. Since the band members initially saw themselves as a blues band, the song more than suited them in style.
As mentioned above, the track recorded by them was included in the Beggars Banquet album. Interestingly, in the first pressing of the record, Richards and Jagger were erroneously listed as the authors of all the songs. Subsequently, the inaccuracy was corrected, and Wilkins received royalties.
Interesting Facts
- In 1928, Robert Wilkins recorded the Rolling Stone song.
Lyrics of Prodigal Son by The Rolling Stones
Well a poor boy took his father’s bread and started down the road
Started down the road
Took all he had and started down the road
Going out in this world, where God only knows
And that’ll be the way to get along
Well poor boy spent all he had, famine come in the land
Famine come in the land
Spent all he had and famine come in the land
Said, “I believe I’ll go and hire me to some man”
And that’ll be the way I’ll get along
Well, man said, “I’ll give you a job for to feed my swine
For to feed my swine
I’ll give you a job for to feed my swine”
Boy stood there and hung his head and cried
Cause that is no way to get along
Said, “I believe I’ll ride, believe I’ll go back home
Believe I’ll go back home
Believe I’ll ride, believe I’ll go back home
Or down the road as far as I can go”
And that’ll be the way to get along
Well, father said, “See my son coming home to me
coming home to me”
Father ran and fell down on his knees
Said, “Sing and praise, Lord have mercy on me”
Mercy
Oh poor boy stood there, hung his head and cried
Hung his head and cry
Poor boy stood and hung his head and cried
Said, “Father will you look at me as a child?”
Yeah
Well father said, “Eldest son, kill the fatted calf,
Call the family round
Kill that calf and call the family round
My son was lost but now he is found
Cause that’s the way for us to get along”
hey
Prodigal Son Lyrics by The Rolling Stones Alternate
Eh, the poor fellow took bread from his father and went on his way,
Set off on the road
Took everything he had and hit the road
Went into the world, God knows where
So he will continue to live
Eh, the poor man spent everything he had and began to starve
Started starving
Spent everything I had and started to starve
He said, “I think I’ll go and hire someone.
This is how I will continue to live.”
Eh, someone told him: “I will give you a job, you will herd pigs,
You will herd pigs.
I’ll give you a job, you’ll herd the pigs.”
The guy stood, hung his head and cried,
‘Cause you can’t live like this
He said: “Shouldn’t I go, but shouldn’t I return home.
Why don’t I go back home.
Why don’t I go, can’t I go back home.
Or should I not go farther where my eyes look.
This is how life goes on
And the father said: “I see my son is coming back to me,
Comes home to me.”
Father ran, fell to his knees
And said, “Sing and praise the Lord, He had pity on me”
took pity
Oh, the poor fellow stood with his head hanging and crying,
He hung his head and cried
The poor man stood with his head hanging down and wept.
He said, “Father, will you accept me as your child?”
Yes
And the father said: “Elder son, kill the well-fed calf,
Call the whole family
Kill the calf and call the family
My son was lost but now he is found
After all, this is how we should live.”
Hey
