Brand New Set of Rules

Brand New Set of Rules, Mick Jagger, Goddess in the Doorway, 2001

Goddess In The Doorway, I think is Mick Jagger’s best solo album (I think that right now, but I may change my mind). Ok, none of his solo albums are exactly earth-shattering, but they’re not as bad as Keith Richards says they are either. I like Goddess because it has a very contemorary sound, circa 2001. It’s nice to hear Mick sing something new that doesn’t sound like every Rolling Stones song ever written. Although She’s The Boss was very contemporary by 1985 standards and right now it sounds as dated as Jane Fonda’s leg warmers. At some point in the mid-seventies scholars stopped paying attention to who Mick’s songs were about and why. Truth is, poor Jerry Hall never inspired the quality of songs that Marianne Faithfull did.  (Never mind, songs about Jerry Hall are Bryan Ferry’s forte, anyway.) For those of us still scrutinizing the lyric sheets, the songs on Goddess were written during and after the final collapse of Mick and Jerry’s longtime relationship. Underneath the trendy production, these are some of Mick’s most personal songs.  It’s yet more proof that Mick has matured as a singer and songwriter.  Brand New Set of rules seems to be about his children. This theory is supported by the fact that he recruited his daughters Elizabeth and Georgia May (then aged 17 and 9)  to provide backing vocals.

“Brand New Set Of Rules”

I will be kind won’t be so cruel
I will be sweet I will be true
The pains of love you’ll quickly learn
Are soon to heat and quick to burn

I got a brand new set of rules
Because I am your brand new fool
I got a brand new set of rules
I got to learn

You’ll be so proud so proud of me
You’ll see the change so plain to see
Because of you a brand new start
Because of you a change of heart

I got a brand new set of rules
It’s just like I was back in school
I got a brand new set of rules
I got to learn

I’m going to change just mark my words
You can’t believe all that you heard
All of those lies all of those rumours
That your friends told you

And if I’m left upon the shelf
Cause you belong to someone else
I’ve got my brand new set of rules
Because I am nobody’s fool

I’ve got a brand new set of rules
I’ve got to learn
I’ve got to learn
I’ve got to learn