Thought it was an interesting tidbit in "Life" - "Skydog" was Duane Allman's nickname and Jagger saw it on something at Mussle Shoals. He thought Skydog sounded cool - he was right.

Jag put it into "Brown Sugar".

Isn't the lyric 'Scarred Old Slaver'? That at least makes sense.

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24FPS
Isn't the lyric 'Scarred Old Slaver'? That at least makes sense.

A slaver wouldn't be scarred. His slaves would be scarred.

In Keith's book,Jim Dickinson says the line is Skydog slaver.Even though it's widely written down as scarred old slaver.

I'm sure it's "scarred old slaver". Or at least that's the way Mick wrote it I'm sure. It was written in the Australian outback while Mick was filming Ned Kelly. Nothing to remind him of Duane Allman out there.

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Tumblin_Dice_07
I'm sure it's "scarred old slaver". Or at least that's the way Mick wrote it I'm sure. It was written in the Australian outback while Mick was filming Ned Kelly. Nothing to remind him of Duane Allman out there.

Well according to Keith and Jim Dickinson it was written at Muscle Shoals.

I'm surprised how many here haven't read Keith's book.

Anyway, the music was written in Australia; Mick apparently changed the lyrics up during each take in Muscle Shoals. Dickinson's account of the session is one of many good reasons to check out the book.

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sweetcharmedlife

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Tumblin_Dice_07
I'm sure it's "scarred old slaver". Or at least that's the way Mick wrote it I'm sure. It was written in the Australian outback while Mick was filming Ned Kelly. Nothing to remind him of Duane Allman out there.

Well according to Keith and Jim Dickinson it was written at Muscle Shoals.

Yeah yeah yeah according to.........

Jagger has stated many times that he wrote the song in the Australian outback while filming Ned Kelly. Keith even admits that the riffs in "Brown Sugar" are Micks and the song is basically all Micks. Now maybe Keith and Dickenson were referring to changes or edits Jagger made during the Muscle Shoals sessions or something like that. But I wouldn't take their account for the gospel truth. And I don't believe Mick wrote the "skydog slaver" lyric either. I'd have to hear it from Jagger before I would believe that.

Maybe he changed "scarred old" to "skydog" during that particular take because of the picture of Allman in studio, and maybe he didn't, but I certainly don't believe that was the original lyric.

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Glam Descendant
I'm surprised how many here haven't read Keith's book.

Anyway, the music was written in Australia; Mick apparently changed the lyrics up during each take in Muscle Shoals. Dickinson's account of the session is one of many good reasons to check out the book.

I really enjoyed the book but was surprised at some factual errors. Like Keith claiming that "Satisfaction" and "Rocks Off" were played in open G. I could understand the confusion on "Rocks Off" but "Satisfaction"???? I mean come on, that was written long before Keith got into open G and would be tough to play in open G anyhow. Unless he played that funky '71 English tour version in open G, then I don't think it's ever been done live in open G tuning.

See, the way this kind of thing works is....we all thought it was "scarred old slaver". None of us had any reason to think differently. There is no reason to make a nonsensical attempt to prove that you somehow know the lyric, for absolute certain, is "scarred old slaver". Most of us know where Mick supposedly wrote the song. too. So, saying something like, "I'm sure it's scarred old slaver" is really quite silly, because you are working with the exact information we all have had for decades that led us to our initial beliefs.

Now, someone who was actually in the studio when Jagger was putting down the vocal track, says it's "Skydog slaver". This is an interesting bit of info. It is interesting because the person who said it is affiliated with the Stones and actually played on Wild Horses; which, as we all know, was also recorded in Muscle Shoals.

For some reason, it bothers people that Dickinson has become the authority on this matter. But, unless someone else who was there can specifically refute his claim, his story should probably be taken seriously, doncha think? I mean, all we are capable of doing is spouting theories based on our extremely limited knowledge; Dickinson was there.

Mick has said that there have been many instances in which incorrect lyrics have been published in officially released Rolling Stones sheet music.

Okay. So what the hell sense does 'Skydog Slaver' mean?

In this version, I can hear Mick singing "SKYDOG SLAVER" ,am I right ?







I am a Frenchie ,as Mick affectionately called them in the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1977 .

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SwayStones
In this version, I can hear Mick singing "SKYDOG SLAVER" ,am I right ?

Well, I can't help myself (or my ears) but I hear it as "scarred old" slaver.

What do our native speaker experts of the English language make of it?

In the clip shot backstage at MSG, 27 or 28 November 1969 (so before Muscle Shoals), Jagger sings BS to Ike and Tina. If memory serves, he sings 'scarred old slaver'. What does he sing at Altamont?

Mathijs

<I'm surprised how many here haven't read Keith's book.> <Glam Descendant>


I popped in a local bookstore last week and ran through the Taylor related pages. Basically Keith made the same comments as Jagger,Perks and Charlie.

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24FPS
Okay. So what the hell sense does 'Skydog Slaver' mean?

Maybe, in his mind's eye, Mick was picturing a 19th century Southern Gentleman slave owner who looked a little like Duane Allman

At least one has to say it indeed sounds very much like "scarred old slaver" when Keith (?) quite slowly recites the first lines in @#$%& Blues over slo'-mo' (?) backstage-footage. Been a while since I last saw the movie, so I can't seem to remember the exact circumstances. Near the end, perhaps?

"Skydog slaver"...? A bit far-fetched, I'd say.

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24FPS
Okay. So what the hell sense does 'Skydog Slaver' mean?

It's in Keith's book - Skydog was Duane Allman's nickname. Mick saw it at Mussle Shoals and liked the way it sounded. Per Jim Dickinson: Mick put the lyric in BS. Didn't I write this in the initial post?

"No Anchovies, Please"

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Elmo Lewis
Didn't I write this in the initial post?

Yes, you did

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Keep On Rolling

could somebody please just ask Mick Jagger what the words are?

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dead.flowers

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SwayStones
In this version, I can hear Mick singing "SKYDOG SLAVER" ,am I right ?

Well, I can't help myself (or my ears) but I hear it as "scarred old" slaver.

What do our native speaker experts of the English language make of it?

Yes, I would like to know as weel but you could be right,dead.flowers because actually - I mus have been very tired when I posted this morning - I mixed "scarred" ( like cicatrice ) and "scared" ( to be afraid )



I am a Frenchie ,as Mick affectionately called them in the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1977 .

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24FPS
Okay. So what the hell sense does 'Skydog Slaver' mean?

Just sounds cool, kinda like some of the words to Casino Boogie.

"No Anchovies, Please"

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Elmo Lewis

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24FPS
Okay. So what the hell sense does 'Skydog Slaver' mean?

It's in Keith's book - Skydog was Duane Allman's nickname. Mick saw it at Mussle Shoals and liked the way it sounded. Per Jim Dickinson: Mick put the lyric in BS. Didn't I write this in the initial post?

yes,you wrote it in the initial post,we got that. now what is being discussed is:

1.the term "skydog slaver" makes absolutely no sense in any version of the english language used on the planet earth.

2.keith says alot of stupid shit so why should we believe this as gospel?jim dickinson,oh,hell that settles it then...good lord.

3.the words are "scarred old slaver" which makes perfect sense and paints a picture in your mind,which is why its a great lyric.

4.mick slurred his words together back then making it sometimes sound as though he was saying something he wasn't.if you listen enough times though the actual words will jump out at you.
what i'm saying is you get alot of "scuse me while i kiss this guy" moments.
stu started the stones? skydog slaver?....yeah,cant believe i missed this book....

Just repeating what Dickinson said. Hell, listen to the song and make your own judgements. It's 'skydog' from now on for me.

Have a drink of Jack Daniels on me.

Scarred old slaver makes sense in the context of the song (and Brown Sugar isn't one of those with semi-nonsense words like Casino Boogie). Maybe that's what was written originally, but the "Skydog" joke occurred to Mick in the studio and that's what he sang on that occasion?

Doesn't Dickinson claim that it was he who reminded Mick that he ought to be singing his original "hear him whip the women" when Mick had changed it to something a bit less unpleasant on one of the takes? Mick's still trying to avoid singing that line to this day. So maybe "Skydog" was a one-off alteration?

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Turdontherun
At least one has to say it indeed sounds very much like "scarred old slaver" when Keith (?) quite slowly recites the first lines in @#$%& Blues over slo'-mo' (?) backstage-footage. Been a while since I last saw the movie, so I can't seem to remember the exact circumstances. Near the end, perhaps?

"Skydog slaver"...? A bit far-fetched, I'd say.

i haven't seen that movie in years either but thats a good catch.if i remember right he recites it very slowly.anyone have a copy close by to check it ?

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Green Lady
Scarred old slaver makes sense in the context of the song (and Brown Sugar isn't one of those with semi-nonsense words like Casino Boogie). Maybe that's what was written originally, but the "Skydog" joke occurred to Mick in the studio and that's what he sang on that occasion?

Doesn't Dickinson claim that it was he who reminded Mick that he ought to be singing his original "hear him whip the women" when Mick had changed it to something a bit less unpleasant on one of the takes? Mick's still trying to avoid singing that line to this day. So maybe "Skydog" was a one-off alteration?

I'd go along with this explanation. I really doubt it was ever written as 'skydog slaver' but there is always the chance that he sang it on a one off occasion. I, like many here live in England, and to English ears on Sticky Fingers it is 'scarred old slaver' Jaggers inflection wouldn't sound like it does if he sang 'skydog slaver'...it's also nonsensical in English terms and at the time of writing Brown Sugar Jagger took his lyrics very seriously.

1. Jagger sings 'scarred old slaver' to Ike Turner, MSG 27/28-11-69
2. Jagger sings 'scarred old slaver'during the 1970 tour
3. Jagger sings 'scarred old slaver' during the 1971 TOTP's show
4. Jagger sings 'scarred old slaver' during the 1972 tour
5. Richards recited 'scarrrrrrred ooooold slave-ur' in CS Blues

I do not think Skydog Slaver is a winner here.

Mathijs

Exctract from Keith's book :
'' Here's one last observation from Jim on that in some ways historic recording session, since we're still playing those same songs: Jim Dickinson: They started running down "Brown Sugar" the first night, but they didn't get a take. I watched Mick write the lyrics. It took him maybe forty-five minutes; it was disgusting. He wrote it down as fast as he could move his hand. I'd never seen anything like it. He had one of those yellow legal pads, and he'd write a verse a page, just write a verse and then turn the page, and when he had three pages filled, they started to cut it. It was amazing! If you listen to the lyrics, he says, "Skydog slaver" (though it's always written "scarred old slaver"). What does that mean? Skydog is what they called Duane Allman in Muscle Shoals, because he was high all the time. And Jagger heard somebody say it and he thought it was a cool word so he used it. He was writing about literally being in the South. It was amazing to watch him do it. The same thing happened with "Wild Horses." Keith had "Wild Horses" written as a lullaby. It was about Marlon, about not wanting to leave home because he'd just had a son. And Jagger rewrote it, and it's, perceptibly, about Marianne Faithfull, and Jagger was like a high school kid about it and he wrote the song about her. He took a little more time with it, but not much more, maybe an hour. The way he did it, Keith had some words and then he grunted and he groaned. And somebody asked Mick, do you understand that? And Jagger looked at him and said, of course. It was like he was translating, you know? They were unbelievable, the raw vocals. They both stood at the microphone together with the fifth of bourbon, passing it back and forth, and sang the lead and the harmony into one microphone on all three songs, pretty much as quick as they could do it on the last night. ''