Undercover of the Night
The Rolling Stones
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Hear the screams of Center 42 Loud enough to bust your brains out The opposition's tongue is cut in two Keep off the street 'cause you're in danger One hundred thousand disparus Lost in the jails in South America Cuddle up baby, cuddle up tight Cuddle up baby, keep it all out of sight Undercover, keep it all out of sight Undercover of the night The sex police are out there on the streets Make sure the pass laws are not broken The race militia has got itchy fingers All the way from New York back to Africa Cuddle up baby, keep it all out of sight Cuddle up baby, keep it all out of sight Cuddle up baby, keep it all out of sight Undercover, undercover, undercover Keep it all out of sight Undercover of the night All the young men, they've been rounded up And sent to camps back in the jungle And people whisper people double-talk And once proud fathers act so humble All the young girls they have got the blues They're heading on back to Center 42 Undercover, all out of sight Undercover, all out of sight Undercover, all out of sight, undercover Keep it all out of sight, undercover of the night Down in the bars the girls are painted blue Done up in lace, done up in rubber The John's are jerky little G.I. Joe's On R&R from Cuba and Russia The smell of sex, the smell of suicide All these dream things I can't keep inside Undercover all out of sight Undercover of the night Undercover of the night Undercover of the night Undercover, undercover Undercover of the night
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
21 facts about this song
Album Origin"Undercover of the Night" is the lead single from The Rolling Stones' 17th British and 19th American studio album, "Undercover."
|
Release DateThe song was released in November 1983.
|
Music Video"Undercover of the Night" was known for its music video, which was directed by Julien Temple. The video presented a stark and graphic portrayal of political and social chaos.
|
Subject MatterThe song's lyrics express political dissent and discuss the violence and corruption of a South American regime, which was a departure from the band's usual topics.
|
Chart Rankings"Undercover of the Night" peaked at No.9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, it reached No. 11 on the singles chart.
|
Musical StyleThe song is notable for its dance-influenced sounds and its use of dub effects. This was in line with the band's experimentation with different styles in the 1980s.
|
ControversyDue to its political content and the explicit violence in the music video, the song sparked controversy upon its release.
|
Debut Performance"Undercover of the Night" was performed for the first time during the band's concert at the Carrier Dome, Syracuse, in November 1981 and was included in the 1982 European Tour setlist.
|
Band Members' OpinionsDespite mixed opinions from fans and critics, both Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have expressed disappointment in the song in various interviews, stating they believed it could have been worked a lot better.
|
Co-Writers"Undercover of the Night" was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the band's leading songwriting duo also known as the "Glimmer Twins."
|
Limited Live PerformancesThe Rolling Stones have rarely performed "Undercover of the Night" live since the mid-'80s, adding to its uniqueness within their repertoire.
|
Release and Commercial Success"Undercover of the Night" was released as the lead single from The Rolling Stones' 1983 album "Undercover." It reached the number nine spot in the UK Singles Chart and number eleven in the US Billboard Hot 100.
|
Lyrical ThemeThe lyrics are heavily politically influenced, which is unusual for the band. The song chronicles the violence and political unrest in Central and South America during that period, more specifically referencing the death squads in places like El Salvador and Chile.
|
Music Video ControversyThe music video for "Undercover of the Night," directed by Julien Temple, received substantial controversy due to its violent portrayal and political undertones. It depicted scenes of kidnapping, interrogation, and gunfighting. Part of it was filmed in Mexico City, intending to portray the reality in Central and South American countries.
|
Collaboration"Undercover of the Night" marks a significant collaboration between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, despite their strained personal relationships during the era.
|
Signature SoundThe song is noted for its slick production values, showing an embrace of the more contemporary sound of the time, and a departure from the raw rock sound The Rolling Stones were known for.
|
Rare Live PerformancesDespite being a successful single, "Undercover of the Night" was rarely performed live by the band. It was only included in the setlists for tours in the mid-to-late '80s and made occasional appearances in live shows in the 2000s.
|
Multiple MixesThe song was mixed multiple times, with various edits appearing on different versions of the 7" and 12" singles. A dub-oriented remix was even commissioned which further emphasized the song's dance and new wave elements.
|
Famous QuotesAccording to Keith Richards, Mick Jagger told him after writing the lyrics for "Undercover of the Night": "It's funny, it sounds really tough and hard, but when you really come down to the reality of what I'm singing about, it's really quite sad."
|
Song CreditAs with many Rolling Stones originals, "Undercover of the Night" is listed as being written by Mick Jagger/Keith Richards, although Jagger was the primary writer.
|
Album ReceptionDespite its commercial success, the "Undercover" album divided both fans and critics alike; some praised the band's new sound and political commentary, while others felt that it strayed too far from the Stones' roots. Regardless, "Undercover of the Night" remains one of the standout tracks from this period in their career.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Undercover of the Night Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/28177556/The+Rolling+Stones/Undercover+of+the+Night>.
Discuss the Undercover of the Night Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In