I’m sure this has been asked before - but did the Stones ever play Time Waits for No One live? I don’t think so, but hope to be proven wrong.
It’s such a great song - musically, lyrically - and would be number one on my dream list of songs I’d love to see them add to the set list. Wishful thinking I’m sure, but who knows.

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DEmerson

I’m sure this has been asked before - but did the Stones ever play Time Waits for No One live?

Doesn't look like - [TimeIsOnOurSide.com] .

Never performed live.Get Mick T on board again and let's do it

Wow. Says a lot.

A song like this would probably be the best song ever written/recorded for most bands and a staple in concert.

Taylor has played it live on a number of occasions. Seems whomever he was playing with pushed for it because he never sings it.

One of my favorite covers of the song featuring MT.

[www.youtube.com]

[www.youtube.com]

Such a sublime song...that they have never picked it for a live performance remains one of the biggest mysteries through the Stones’ concert history, at least for me.

They should have played it live for the 50 & Counting and 14 On Fire tours, allowing Taylor to take the lead guitar. Highlight of the show guaranteed and must have caused a huge sensation. A missed opportunity.

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^{Such a sublime song}

Star-crossed in pleasure
The stream flows on by
As we're sated in leisure
We watch it fly

	And Time waits for no one, and it won't wait for me
	And Time waits for no one, and it won't wait for me

Time can tear down a building
Or destroy a woman's face
Hours are like diamonds
Don't let them waste

	Time waits for no man, and it won't wait for me
	Time waits for no one, and it won't wait for thee

Drink in your summer
Gather your corn
The dreams of the nighttime
Will vanish by dawn

	But Time waits for no one, and it won't wait for me
	Time waits for no one, and it won't wait for me

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021-07-14 18:30 by schillid.

There has always been the rumour that the played it in San Antonio 1975. But since there is no recording available, we can't be sure. Freezer (RIP) once said he taped it but refused to share the tape. He may has started the rumour but I'm not sure.

Short while ago, 1-2 years, there was someone on social media who was there and he couldn't remember if they played it or not. He didn't seem to be into the setlist issue, so I don't think he would have realised they played a rarity there (IF they did).

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falo01
There has always been the rumour that the played it in San Antonio 1975. But since there is no recording available, we can't be sure. Freezer (RIP) once said he taped it but refused to share the tape. He may has started the rumour but I'm not sure.

Short while ago, 1-2 years, there was someone on social media who was there and he couldn't remember if they played it or not. He didn't seem to be into the setlist issue, so I don't think he would have realised they played a rarity there (IF they did).

Looks like they most likely didn’t play it in San Antonio in 1975.

[www.setlist.fm]

I adore the song, really. So much Mick Taylor in there, and Jagger's vocals are wonderfull there as well.

However, I do not think that the song would work in a stadium.

A small club gig, sure, but not in a stadium. I'm afraid that the song is too fragile for a stadium, and people would not be patient enough to listen to the solo's.

In fact it's too delicate, too beautiful for a stadium, in my opinion.

Mick Taylor did some live interpretations that did not sound very inspired, imo.

[www.youtube.com]

Sounds nice. His ascending and desending licks not as haunting as studio but nice live,

Mick Taylor and Band - Time waits for no one 1986

Maybe they would have done it on the1975 tour if Taylor had not quit.Maybe as a replacement for You Can’t Always Get What You Want

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treaclefingers
Wow. Says a lot.

A song like this would probably be the best song ever written/recorded for most bands and a staple in concert.

There's lots of Stones songs that haven't been played live that I would like to hear. I don't believe songs like Out of Time or What To Do have ever been played live?

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DGA35

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treaclefingers
Wow. Says a lot.

A song like this would probably be the best song ever written/recorded for most bands and a staple in concert.

There's lots of Stones songs that haven't been played live that I would like to hear. I don't believe songs like Out of Time or What To Do have ever been played live?

For sure...Out of Time gets mentioned a lot. I don't think Slave has, would love to hear that.

And Dance...I heard a recording of Ronnie doing it in a club and Mick jumping in and joining as a surprise guest.

It may be one of MT's uncredited compositions. It was around the time he left. However, I have no idea and speculating. It is an amazingly beautiful and melodic song that is so approppo at this stage in their career. It would take MT to make it magic. Probably why they don't attempt it.

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PhillyFAN
It may be one of MT's uncredited compositions. It was around the time he left. However, I have no idea and speculating. It is an amazingly beautiful and melodic song that is so approppo at this stage in their career. It would take MT to make it magic. Probably why they don't attempt it.

Respectfully disagree.
It's primarily the vocals (and lyrics) that make the song amazingly beautiful and melodic.

It would take MJ really getting into it to make it magical, which I have no doubt he could.
Especially live.. say on a "B" stage..

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treaclefingers

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DGA35

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treaclefingers
Wow. Says a lot.

A song like this would probably be the best song ever written/recorded for most bands and a staple in concert.

There's lots of Stones songs that haven't been played live that I would like to hear. I don't believe songs like Out of Time or What To Do have ever been played live?

For sure...Out of Time gets mentioned a lot. I don't think Slave has, would love to hear that.

And Dance...I heard a recording of Ronnie doing it in a club and Mick jumping in and joining as a surprise guest.

They've definitely played Dance, it's on the Four Flicks theater show disc, in Paris. AMAZING set list on that show.

I thought I heard the reason they don't do Time Waits For No One is because Taylor wrote a significant amount of it and didn't get songwriting credit. Was that a real story or just my imagination running away with me?

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rollingrichard
I adore the song, really. So much Mick Taylor in there, and Jagger's vocals are wonderfull there as well.

However, I do not think that the song would work in a stadium.

A small club gig, sure, but not in a stadium. I'm afraid that the song is too fragile for a stadium, and people would not be patient enough to listen to the solo's.

In fact it's too delicate, too beautiful for a stadium, in my opinion.

I can understand the points you make. I had been dying to hear She’s A Rainbow performed live for years and years, and when my wish finally came true in Edinburgh 2018, I was delighted but at the same time somewhat disappointed by the song’s delivery. It lacked much of the delicacy and frail beauty the original studio version was tinged with. Put it simply, it doesn’t work live, especially in a big stadium setting.
That being said, in case of TWFNO, I’d say it’s a different animal. It’s a beautiful ballad, no less so than She’s A Rainbow — but Taylor’s mesmerizing as well as enchanting guitar work, reminiscent of Carlos Santana here, coupled with the dramatic ascending chord progression towards the end, elevates this song to a whole new level, ballad-cum-guitar rock, so to speak. I could get a picture of a stadium full of crowds being fascinated by its beauty and dynamism going together.

Mick Taylor closes his first solo album with the ascending lick from Times Waits For No One at the end of Spanish/A Minor

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rollingrichard
I adore the song, really. So much Mick Taylor in there, and Jagger's vocals are wonderfull there as well.

However, I do not think that the song would work in a stadium.

A small club gig, sure, but not in a stadium. I'm afraid that the song is too fragile for a stadium, and people would not be patient enough to listen to the solo's.

In fact it's too delicate, too beautiful for a stadium, in my opinion
.

They have done Moonlight Mile and people were in awe

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RisingStone
Such a sublime song...that they have never picked it for a live performance remains one of the biggest mysteries through the Stones’ concert history, at least for me.

They should have played it live for the 50 & Counting and 14 On Fire tours, allowing Taylor to take the lead guitar. Highlight of the show guaranteed and must have caused a huge sensation. A missed opportunity.

They could barely play Silver Train yet alone CYHMK and quite a few others.

By no means have the 1994 onward Rolling Stones been capable of playing those songs yet alone Time Waits For No One.

Mystery solved: they can't.

One of their greatest songs ever (music and lyrics). It'a pity they never tried a live rendition of it like they did with Fingerprint file during the 1975 US tour.

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GasLightStreet

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RisingStone
Such a sublime song...that they have never picked it for a live performance remains one of the biggest mysteries through the Stones’ concert history, at least for me.

They should have played it live for the 50 & Counting and 14 On Fire tours, allowing Taylor to take the lead guitar. Highlight of the show guaranteed and must have caused a huge sensation. A missed opportunity.

They could barely play Silver Train yet alone CYHMK and quite a few others.

By no means have the 1994 onward Rolling Stones been capable of playing those songs yet alone Time Waits For No One.

Mystery solved: they can't.

Why 1994 onward?
Do you mean, they could have been capable of playing TWFNO and “those songs” in 89-90 during the Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle tours for example? Your reasoning is vague to me.

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More Hot Rocks

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rollingrichard
I adore the song, really. So much Mick Taylor in there, and Jagger's vocals are wonderfull there as well.

However, I do not think that the song would work in a stadium.

A small club gig, sure, but not in a stadium. I'm afraid that the song is too fragile for a stadium, and people would not be patient enough to listen to the solo's.

In fact it's too delicate, too beautiful for a stadium, in my opinion
.

They have done Moonlight Mile and people were in awe

Those are two very different songs (no extended solos on MM, for instance), though, and MM is the superior one, imo.

However, I can't see why it would be hard to do TWFNO live. It's easier to play than MM.

For next live shows ...

Bring Mick Taylor back into band
and just do like a two hour version
of Time Waits For No One for entire show ....

Save worrying about set list ... back up singers ... intos etc etc



ROCKMAN

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DandelionPowderman

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More Hot Rocks

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rollingrichard
I adore the song, really. So much Mick Taylor in there, and Jagger's vocals are wonderfull there as well.

However, I do not think that the song would work in a stadium.

A small club gig, sure, but not in a stadium. I'm afraid that the song is too fragile for a stadium, and people would not be patient enough to listen to the solo's.

In fact it's too delicate, too beautiful for a stadium, in my opinion
.

They have done Moonlight Mile and people were in awe

Those are two very different songs (no extended solos on MM, for instance), though, and MM is the superior one, imo.

However, I can't see why it would be hard to do TWFNO live. It's easier to play than MM.

Exactly. It is a fantastic song, but indeed not very hard to play, including the solo. That said, when Taylor returned to the live Stones in 2012 his playing was just very disappointing. It appeared like he was totally unrehearsed, barely knowing the songs he played.

Concerning the studio version -bear in mind that Taylor plays the incredible solo, but that all the other guitars, including acoustics, multiple electrics and the electric lead guitar during the turn-arounds at the end of the verses are Keith.

Mathijs