Between the Buttons, released in 1967, was the seventh Rolling Stones album and the second (following the previous year’s Aftermath) to feature only songs written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
As was the custom back then, a separate American version was released, swapping out two tracks for two songs released in England as a double-A single: ‘Let’s Spend the Night Together’ and ‘Ruby Tuesday.’ While I generally hate the concept of different UK and U.S. releases, there’s no question that the addition of those two songs make the American version of this album a bona fide masterpiece.
The Stones played both ‘Ruby Tuesday’ and this song on the Ed Sullivan Show, where they were famously asked to change the lyrics to “let’s spend some time together.” In this clip of the segment, you can see Mick Jagger roll his eyes during the first chorus.
My-My-My-My
[Verse 1]
Don’t you worry about what’s on your mind, oh my
I’m in no hurry, I can take my time, oh my
I’m going red and my tongue’s getting tied (tongue’s getting tied)
I’m off my head and my mouth’s getting dry
I’m high, but I try, try, try, oh my
[Chorus]
Let’s spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let’s spend the night together now
My-my-my-my, oh my
[Verse 2]
I feel so strong that I can’t disguise, oh my
(Let’s spend the night together)
But I just can’t apologize, oh no
(Let’s spend the night together)
Don’t hang me up and don’t let me down (don’t let me down)
We could have fun just groovin’ around, ’round and ’round
And oh my, my
[Chorus]
Let’s spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let’s spend the night together
[Interlude]
Let’s spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
[Bridge]
You know I’m smiling, baby
You need some guiding, baby
I’m just deciding, baby; now
I need you more than ever
Let’s spend the night together
Let’s spend the night together now
Oh m-my-my-my-my-my-my
[Verse 3]
This doesn’t happen to me every day, oh my
(Let’s spend the night together)
No excuses offered anyway, oh my
(Let’s spend the night together)
I’ll satisfy your every need (your every need)
And now I know you will satisfy me
Oh m-my-my-my-my-my
[Chorus]
Let’s spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let’s spend the night together now
[Outro]
Oh m-my-my-my-my-my-my
(Let’s spend the night together)
Now I need you, need you more than ever, woman
(Let’s spend the night together)
I’ll satisfy your every need, woman
(Let’s spend the night together)
Now I know, I know you’ll satisfy me, whoa, my-my
(Let’s spend the night together)
I beg you, baby, oh my-my-my-my-my-my
(Let’s spend the night together)
A-come on, now, oh baby, my-my-my-my
(Let’s spend the night together)
Such a puritanical country! Why couldn’t the line be interpreted as going out on a date?