In 1968, Mick Jagger wrote a “bedroom song” he had no faith in. In 2026, it has been streamed over 260,000,000 times

Mick Jagger began “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” as a simple acoustic song, describing it as a “bedroom song”. Its eventual scale and enduring popularity illustrate how his songwriting developed beyond the Rolling Stones’ early reliance on blues covers.

Jagger said the recording was difficult because drummer Charlie Watts could not find the right groove, so producer Jimmy Miller played drums. The band also added the London Bach Choir, initially seen as an amusing choice; the song has since been streamed more than 260 million times.