Bitch (The Rolling Stones song)

Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Bitch" was recorded at London's Olympic Studios and the Rolling Stones Mobile at Stargroves during October of 1970. The "bitch" of the title does not refer to a specific woman like many believe, but rather drug addictions and associated repercussions.

This song is said to be about heroin and the addictive traits associated with it, a similar theme also featured in the Marianne Faithfull penned "Sister Morphine." (Mick Jagger has said Faithfull wrote only a small part of "Sister Morphine".) The lyrics complain about the frustration that the abstinence syndrome brings to an addict's life, while Jagger personifies heroin in such a manner that it sounds like it is a woman he is singing the song to.

This last line can refer to the ritual of the heroin injection. The song sarcastically expresses that being able to inject oneself in order to get relief, only love can be responsible for, using the expression "it's a bitch" as slang for "it's a drag".

The song is noted for its bombastic use of brass. Stones regulars Bobby Keys and Jim Price played saxophone and trumpet on the track, respectively. Percussion was performed by Stones producer Jimmy Miller. The outro solo is Richards.

The track was featured on the initial broadcast of the WKRP in Cincinnati episode "Bad Risk" (the song was substituted when it aired on syndication as of 1990).

Goo Goo Dolls covered this song on No Alternative.

Thrash metal band Exodus also released a cover of the song on their 1992 album Force of Habit.

The Dave Matthews Band performed a cover of the song during their 2008 summer tour.