Rolling Stone

About

Written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, Rolling Stone appeared as the B-side to Let Love Be Your Energy in April 2001. The track fuses pop and classic rock influences with autobiographical lyrics, hinting at the introspection that would later define Escapology. Its title nods both to The Rolling Stones and to the proverbial “rolling stone” who never settles, a metaphor that fit Williams’ restless early-thirties persona.

The song reflects on fame, youth and instability: “25 and I come alive, 21 was the time to come undone, doesn’t everyone?” It’s a self-aware lyric that foreshadows his later hit Come Undone, suggesting that the title may have originated here. Musically, it rides a tight groove of guitar, bass and understated drums, with a swagger that balances melancholy and momentum.

Being young is overrated. One day I’ll be old and understated, but before I run naked through the streets...Robbie Williams

In typical Williams fashion, the bravado masks unease. Lines such as “Spent money on drugs to suit my mood” and “I got an A in attitude” convey the exhaustion of a lifestyle lived too fast. The song closes with him drawling the word “stone” in a Mick Jagger impression, a nod to one of his early musical heroes.

Though it never appeared on an album, Rolling Stone is a concise summary of Williams at the turn of the millennium — reflective, rebellious and wryly self-critical. It remains one of the most revealing B-sides from the Sing When You’re Winning sessions.