“There’s no time to lose, ” I heard her say/
Catch your dreams before they slip away.

Mick—a renowned playboy—has seemed to have met his match in Ruby. Ruby seems to be a tough nut to crack. Ruby doesn’t like to talk about the past as it’s irrelevant.  And she has big dreams about the future that she is anxious to obtain. Ruby changes so often that it seems as if you almost don’t even know her. But that intrigues Jagger more.

Is it possible that Ruby is even more free-spirited than the legendary Jagger? Perhaps. Ultimately, Ruby leaves–of course. He will miss her…or what he thinks he knows about her.

“Ruby Tuesday” is a fantastic character because she is described so specifically that you know she must have been based on a real person. That is fascinating. As is Ruby. The music is great, especially the choice of a recorder. Sometimes a recorder can be a real easy thing to screw up. Most of the time it is just annoying but here it is perfect. They also use an upright bass to fill out one of their signature (and underrated) songs.

The Rolling Stones “Ruby Tuesday” often gets overlooked because the name is a bit silly. But that is the point. He knows her name is “Ruby” but other than that he knows nothing about her.  She changes all the time; did he ever know her? The lyrics, music and arraignment are quietly complex. Just like Ruby.

Ruby Tuesday Lyrics

She would never say where she came from.
Yesterday don’t matter if it’s gone.
While the sun is bright,
Or in the darkest night,
No one knows, she comes and goes.

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday.
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day.
Still I’m gonna miss you.

Don’t question why she needs to be so free.
She’ll tell you it’s the only way to be.
She just can’t be chained
To a life where nothing’s gained,
Or nothing’s lost, at such a cost.

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday.
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day.
Still I’m gonna miss you

“There’s no time to lose, ” I heard her say.
“Catch your dreams before they slip away”.
Dying all the time.
Lose your dreams and you will lose your mind.
Ain’t life unkind?

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday.
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day.
Still I’m gonna miss you.

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday.
Who could hang a name on you?
When you change with every new day.
Still I’m gonna miss you.

written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards