As Tears Go By was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards & Andrew Oldham.
Recorded: IBC Studios, London on Oct 26, 1965
Released: Dec 18, 1965 (USA)
Album: December's Children (And Everybody's)
Music: Key of G Major in 4/4 time at 112 bpm (♩)
Easy Chords: G, A7 C, D, D7, Em
As Tears Go By
Song Key is highlighted - Transpose to any other key
G A7 C DIntro: 4/4 ‖ | | | ‖
G A7 C D7
1. It is the eve-ning of the day
G A7 C D7
I sit and watch the child-ren play
C D7 G Em
Smil-ing fa-ces I can see But not for me
C D D7
I sit and watch as tears go by
G A7 C D7
2. My ri-ches can't buy ev’-ry-thing
G A7 C D7
I want to hear the child-ren sing
C D7 G Em
All I hear is the sound Of rain fall-ing on the ground
C D D7
I sit and and watch as tears go by
G A7 C D7 G A7 C D7Instr: ‖ | | | | | | | ‖
C D7 G Em C C D D7
‖ | | | | | | | ‖
G A7 C D7
3. It is the eve-ning of the day
G A7 C D7
I sit and watch the child-ren play
C D7 G Em
Doin’ things I used to do They think are new
C D D7
I sit and watch as tears go by
G A7 C D7 G A7 C D7Outro: ‖ | | | | | | | ‖... fade out
Written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards & Andrew Oldham and was originally recorded by Marianne Faithfull in 1964.
Written for Marianne Faithfull as Andrew Oldham, the Rolling Stones' manager wanted to write a song that would showcase Faithfull's voice and that would be different from the kind of music that the Rolling Stones were playing at the time.
Released by Marianne Faithfull as a single in the United Kingdom in 1964 which reached number nine on the UK Singles chart.
Later recorded by The Rolling Stones in 1965 and was released as a single in the United States in 1966.
The Rolling Stones' version reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and number 1 on the Canada Top Singles chart.
Often interpreted as being about a woman who is grieving the loss of a lover, but it can also be interpreted as being about a woman who is simply feeling lost and adrift in life.
Covered by many other artists, including: Nancy Sinatra, Esther Phillips, Shula Chen (Hebrew version), The Royal Guardsmen, Melanie, Katy Rose, Vitamin String Quartet, Noah Gundersen, Avenged Sevenfold.
Originally titled "As Time Goes By", but the title was changed to avoid confusion with the song from the film Casablanca.
The Rolling Stones' version of the song was produced by Andrew Oldham and was recorded at Olympic Studios in London.
