"Streetfighing Man": lyrics, political stance of song?

[darkstar]

The "rock and roll co-opted by ads" thread got me thinking.

First don't know the lyrics. Think I understand the verses when I hear song, but have never been sure of the chorus. What is Jagger singing?

In addition, what is he "saying"? Is he saying that his job as rock star is a-political? (As I thought for the first time hearing just a week or so back.) Or is it the rallying cry I always thought it was? Or is it something more nuanced than either of these?

[mitchum]

1. It's the hard-nosed realist Jagger acknowledging the ridiculousness...

of the notion that a pop star can really be an agent of revolutionary change. Also, most agit-prop really sucks as art (that's why this song is so good)

[htuttle]

2. Legend has it that the song is about Tariq Ali

Here's a recap from NY Press:

Tariq Ali is editor of London’s New Left Review, a filmmaker and novelist, and has written more than a dozen books on world history and politics, including 1968 and After: Inside the Revolution (1978) and the 1987 Street Fighting Years: An Autobiography of the Sixties. He was prominently involved in 60s antiwar and radical politics; Jagger, a personal friend, is said to have written "Street Fighting Man" in his honor.
http://www.nypress.com/15/15/news&columns/publishing.cfm

[NWHarkness]

3. Nuanced

One interpretation of the song, which I find very credible, is that the stance of the song is not one of a participant, but an observer, of the turbulent events of 1968 in Chicago and Paris. The singer is reflective, both excited about the events, but chagrined that he himself is not an active party to them, living instead in a "sleepy" town where the political environment is one of "compromise solution". You might say he suffers from riot envy.


Ev’rywhere I hear the sound of marching, charging feet, boy
’cause summer’s here and the time is right for fighting in the street, boy
But what can a poor boy do
Except to sing for a rock ’n’ roll band
’cause in sleepy london town
There’s just no place for a street fighting man
No

Hey! think the time is right for a palace revolution
But where I live the game to play is compromise solution
Well, then what can a poor boy do
Except to sing for a rock ’n’ roll band
’cause in sleepy london town
There’s no place for a street fighting man
No

Hey! said my name is called disturbance
I’ll shout and scream, I’ll kill the king, I’ll rail at all his servants
Well, what can a poor boy do
Except to sing for a rock ’n’ roll band
’cause in sleepy london town
There’s no place for a street fighting man
No

[darkstar]

4. Thanks for the replies, all

and the lyrics, NWHarkness. Could never make out the "'cause in sleepy london town" part.

All very intersing, IMO, especially the bit about the filmaker.