Sweet Black Angel

Album: Exile on Main St. (1972)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is about Angela Davis, a black radical who was arrested, but eventually acquitted, of aiding a courtroom escape in 1970 in which four people died. She was the vice-presidential candidate on the US Communist party ticket in 1980.
  • The lyrics are a parody of black stereotypes. Mick Jagger sang like Buckwheat from The Little Rascals to make his statement of support for Angela Davis. Potentially inflammatory lyrics like "Ten little nigga," did not cause much controversy because it was so clearly a parody.
  • The working title was "Bent Green Needles."
  • This was recorded at Stargroves, The Stones' mobile recording studio, during the Sticky Fingers sessions.
  • Richard Didymus Washington played marimbas on this track. Showing up as "Amyl Nitrate" on the credits, Washington was a percussionist working with Dr. John. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 4

  • Gary Seven from U.s.a.Is Mick Jagger an idiot?
  • Lydia from Cushing, OkahomaI read what was printed about the song sweet black angel but...i still didn't get the full understanding of what the song was talking about.
  • Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiOh my... Is it just me or is the whole first album of the double album Exile FILLED with obscene words?
  • Bertrand from Paris, FranceUnderrated, very nice Stones song.
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