"Beast of Burden" Quotes
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Source: "Beast of Burden"
Speaker: The Rolling Stones
I'll never be your beast of burden.
Context
This line is from the song "Beast of Burden" by The Rolling Stones, from the album Some Girls (1978).
Despite some rumors, this song is not in fact about a pizza burning. On the surface, it's Mick Jagger singing about the billions of women in his life. However, the real scoop is that the basis of this song was written by guitarist Keith Richard after he bounced back from a long battle with heroin. Richards has been quoted as saying that the song was his way of telling Mick, "Okay, I'm back, so let's share a bit more of the power, share the weight, brother."
Where you've heard it
You might've heard this soulful chorus on the ninth season of American Idol when it was covered by Lee Dewyze. Most recently, it was included in the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack. Huh—in that case, shouldn't the line be changed to "I want to be your beast of burden"?
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
Not a chance that this is pretentious. It's the Stones we're talking about here, man.