Sister Morphine; Marianne Faithfull 1969

'Sister Morphine'
Faithfull/Jagger/Richards
'"Sister Morphine" was an attempt.. [to] make art out of a pop song! Peole tend to assume that "Sister Morphine" comes from an incident in my life, that it is a parable of a junkie's last hours. But at the time I wrote it I'd only taken smack once. I was still far from becoming a junkie. "Sister Morphine" was in my head - my feelings about what it might be like to be an addict.. By 1972, when it came out on [The Rolling Stones'album] 'Sticky Fingers', I was the character in the song. You have to be very careful what you write because it's a gateway, and whatever it is you've summoned up may come through..' 'Faithfull, an autobiography', 1994, Marianne Faithfull
Here I lie in my hospital bed,
Tell me, Sister Morphine, when are you coming round again.
Oh, I don't think I can wait that long,
Oh, you see I'm not that strong.
The scream of the ambulance is sounding in my ears.
Tell me, Sister Morphine, how long have I been lying here ?
What am I doing in this place ?
Why does the doctor have no face ?
Oh, I can't crawl across the floor.
Can't you see, Sister Morphine, I'm just trying to score.
Well, it just goes to show things are not what they seem.
Please, Sister Morphine, turn my nightmare into dreams.
Oh, can't you see I'm fading fast
And that this shot will be my last.
Sweet Cousin Cocaine, lay your cool hands on my head.
Hey, Sister Morphine, you'd better make up my bed
For you know and I know in the morning I'll be dead,
And you can sit around and you can watch the clean white sheets stained red.

[@ruthdixon7807]

it took mick jagger twenty years to admit that marianne had helped write the words and to add her name to the credits on the stones' version.

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

Him and Keith wrote the lyrics according to the sticky fingers album

[@jaimeespinoza6523]

​@@user-cs6up8eq7s, she wrote this song.

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

@@jaimeespinoza6523 wrong

[@crasherxtreme]

​@@jaimeespinoza6523 she co-wrote the song with Mick and Keith

[@kkfimanager4202]

Just discovered this thread. Marianne's autobiography states she wrote the lyrics, Mick wrote the music. I tend to believe her. Especially since Mick to finally allow her name on the credits. But that's the cut throat music bix for ya. It can drive a person to DRUGS!

[@clivewiddall3430]

Such an under rated singer.

[@anaalvarezbarthe5148]

Only Marianne Faithfull can sing this.

[@itiswhatitaintanditaintwha1427]

Oh I don't know, Mick did pretty well too.

[@billwhite9703]

I can. So there. 😛

[@christopher2399]

I was just saying to myself.... Only Mick could sing this song. Just because Maryam was a junkie doesn't make her better.

[@anaalvarezbarthe5148]

For sure Mick does it pretty well but I'm talking about the strength of her voice and the way she says every word.

[@jameswhiteley5686]

Mick gave it a go but I agree

[@sharinganchidori100]

Actually grew up listening to the Rolling Stones version for most of my 25 years of life until I found this and found out she put this out 2 years before the stones did 😮. I love this version though as much and her voice is so beautiful 🖤

[@Mirabella76]

They recorded it in about the same time though. Stones just released it two years later. Mick produced her version anyway.

[@fergusmurphy3269]

The Stones recorded their own version as part of the "Beggars Banquet" sessions. I think it's floating around KZbin as "alternate" or "rare" or "1968" version. They re-recorded it for Sticky Fingers.

[@desolatesurfer8651]

Agreed. Mick tried to sing it exactly like this version.

[@kurtkurt8938]

​@@desolatesurfer8651 mick was a poser Marianne lived it as well

[@susannebuchholz72]

Yes,her voice is absolutely great!❣️👏🏻

[@marluxeduval1996]

big fan love her voice in this song so real

[@whube1]

Jesus Sets me free from Morphin, staying in prison for it. Fled to India for nearly three years, then JESUS cam and set me free! Thanks and praise to HIM,!

[@johannahidalgo7738]

👍👍👍🤪 been there and out for 35 years…. Good job!❤❤❤

[@briandovey6241]

Broken English, fantastic album!

[@Bobjb999]

Marianne Faithfull played the parts of Lilith and a moon goddess in Kenneth Anger's "Lucifer Rising." Anger took her to Egypt to film, early 1970s. K.ANGER QUOTE: "I said to Marianne Faithfull, don't bring any drugs [to Egypt] because they'll execute you. She was addicted to heroin and had the nerve to carry some in her makeup box under the face powder..If she'd been arrested or discovered, we all would've been shot - that was the penalty then." Yikes.

[@Mirabella76]

She never cared about people around. She traded her own son for drugs. She was mean to Mick visiting him in jail when he took all the blame for HER drugs. Very selfish. Good she got rid of addiction but I do wonder, if she ever changed.

[@moondancer9066]

@@Mirabella76 People don't change very often

[@sergemetivier4566]

Jhgy

[@markohl3287]

Sweet sister ray

[@danemcgee1901]

God i love this woman. When I heard "Something Better", I was hooked. I fell in love. Love at first hear

[@martyncooper7150]

I am on morphine for arthritis and was recommended this track by an old hippy. Thanks for posting it.

[@oleandreasjensen5263]

Hi mate, Have you heard the 1989 live consert version of Marianne Faithfull from "Blazing Away"? Its an awesome perfomance, playing Sister Morphnine. You can search for it here on You Tube or download from Spotify. Highly recommended : )

[@martyncooper7150]

@@oleandreasjensen5263 thanks for the tip - checking it out now!

[@marclayne9261]

I am a 100% disabled Veteran....extreme combat....the VA has denied all pain meds...my confidential source, inside VA...told me why...the DEA told VA to deny all pain meds...

[@janebute6203]

@@marclayne9261 I have arthritis with chronic pain and my MD said she can't prescribe morphine in Obio due to regulations.

[@carlodave9]

Get yourself a Dream Machine and you're all set.

[@Rossion64]

The finest version.

[@fergusmurphy3269]

I love the combination of Jack Nitzsche's churchy Hammond organ and Ry Cooder's slide guitar. Nitzsche played piano on the Stones version, which is also great, but a different vibe.

[@moondancer9066]

I agree.

[@spareroomdemos2006]

This is a good version but it does not come close to the Rolling Stones

[@clivewiddall3430]

@@spareroomdemos2006 she co wrote it

[@omnirath]

This version is breathtaking, her voice, Cooder, Jagger, Nitzsche amazing

[@crasherxtreme]

Cooder is not on this version

[@omnirath]

@@crasherxtreme cooder is both on the single and the stones version.

[@crasherxtreme]

@@omnirath ok. I stand corrected. Thanks.

[@maplelafe7671]

She sounds like sheep man !! 🤣

[@robertbell4427]

Music is a time machine... takes me back to when.......

[@andymarx3836]

Amazing beautiful voice a ❤😊

[@JayJay-wg5ex]

perfect song about pain

[@novemberspirits3330]

She's awesome

[@plazticage3229]

Beautiful

[@lillyk2315]

GREAT VERSION.....

[@peterschmitz6446]

Didnˋt know this Version. Great Song from Marianne. Ooooooh, those Memories of Days of Yore.

[@Fitzpatrick021]

I desperately need a fix while I'm listening this song:)

[@amalaletajohnson8745]

first step, stop calling it a fix, start saying “I desperately need to make it worse.”

[@nottavictim5]

Said no junkie ever

[@glenndouglas8822]

Fitzpatrick sounds like old bill.

[@mikemurphey6361]

Happy Birthday, glad you made it

[@skipwaldent8465]

Wow, I wonder why I never knew about this version ? Anyways, it's beautiful. 🌹

[@Diosprometheus]

In the United Kingdom. Decca records withdrew the song after about 500 copies had been sold due to complains about the title and it was not played on radio stations in most countries where it was not withdrawn because of the title..

[@desolatesurfer8651]

Why did The Rolling Stones give me no money/credit for this song? Cant you see im not that strong?

[@marvinbnaylor]

Best version.

[@robertmackenzie2808]

No way, sticky fingers version with Mick Taylor is superior

[@veli-mattisokero371]

No Mick Taylor in there. Ry Cooder playing slide guitar in this version and also the Sticky Fingers one.

[@crasherxtreme]

​@@veli-mattisokero371 yes Ry Cooder on slide. But this was the Mick Taylor years. The best years. Sticky Fingers and Let it Bleed.

[@lionelbeaulaton7610]

sublime

[@fb4708]

Everyone covered everyones songs. Some did it bad, some did it good. But the sixties didn't die. I was born in 86 and I get 9lder people saying I was born in the wrong generation. The sixties will always live on.

[@kaitlynamira3916]

Her vocals are so different from her work in 1965 to this song in 1969.

[@Mrariesdave]

I suspect that the tube they stuck down her throat when she was in that coma from the barbiturate overdose in Australia in 1969 at age 22 damaged her cords permanently.

[@moondancer9066]

@@Mrariesdave Possibly

[@BacknMetro]

Her voice became even worse than this. Broken English. Wow what a difference.

[@ChocolateMALK]

Because she was a heroin addict

[@ronchapman6525]

I had no idea she wrote this song, I always assumed it was Jagger/Richards.

[@Mirabella76]

It was Jagger, Richards and her. She added some lines.

[@nimim.markomikkila1673]

@@Mirabella76 According to Keef´s book it was Mick & Marianne who wrote this, but everything was always credited to Jagger/Richards in the Stones until the 80´s, I think...

[@moondancer9066]

She's the one who knows about this kind of thing.

[@AndriyValdensius-wi8gw]

Marianne Faithful was at rock bottom in the 70s due to heroin. She spent time on the streets of London.

[@richardharding6119]

True this is her true experience and feelings put into the voice Today she is at peace in a rest home R 😢

[@MJones-hi9cr]

'more talent and guts than all that you could count up in your hands. Marianne Faithful, thank you. Thanks too to RollerGirlMeli.

[@TheMarcio2014]

Beauty song.

[@Mr1974cedro]

Feel so bad... so real...

[@aubreystanley1124]

I wish her, Janis Joplin, and Amy Winehouse could have performed together.

[@Renklaf1]

Holy shite, how'd you come up with that! What a beautiful thought. Good on-yah, all the best.

[@Jonalisa754]

Amen sister❤

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

​@@Renklaf1you mean how did they come up with an insult to Janis Joplin and Marianne faithfull by mentioning a hack like winehouse in the same sentence

[@user-cs6up8eq7s]

​@@Jonalisa754winehouse was a hack Marianne faithfull and Janis Joplin wasn't big difference

[@luciab09.]

queen

[@user-hr1xr9nb5y]

Очень искренно, так не сфальшивишь.

[@siiviocesar8695]

Boa versão,talvez a melhor.

[@rayrichards3097]

Ml summer nights Marianne faithful

[@moondancer9066]

Wow this song was 42 years old b4 it got to KZbin

I love her version. I have the original London promo 45.

[@ChaliQ1]

The stones dropped a verse That' probably why they said she din't write it. Fuckin Assholes

[@sandierzen7300]

Cool !

[@colinjones3078]

I'm laying in my hospital bed, need a real pain killer. Not anymore paracetamol, my liver hurts

[@glennhopkins2643]

Incredibly depressing song

[@GuitarmanIIII]

yep good one!!!

[@plazticage3229]

Agree

[@pamelab6046]

❤♥️❤️

[@mitseraffej5812]

One of my older brothers who is now in his 70s was a junky and I suspect still is. He spent a good part of his 20s in prison for his antics, but to this day he still thinks his drug dealer junky days were the best years of his life. Now he is just a bitter, twisted and resentful old man.

[@remkoification]

dit is een super plaat gezongen door een keeltje die klinkt als zijde kippenve,l maar ja komt dan ook uit dr hart ook perfect timing marianne faithful

[@wnd3099]

Toen had ze al veel meegemaakt...the Stones mochten het uitbrengen maar Marianne niet. Dat terwijl zij deze song geschreven had samen met Mick....

[@stevemcneill7154]

Coming round again

[@user-gb2nk1pf4f]

nice

[@ilk2102]

Magnigifique

[@mikehughes7854]

Love her and this song but the sound boys need to change their Meds

[@oneyounglover]

[@adamturner1563]

Superior. In every way

[@ekadudka4248]

I never enter in anyones world.

[@stevekallaugher2325]

It took 25 years for a court to make those selfish sods to admit that she wrote this, too. I hope it cost them a lot. Next up: When are you going to credit Ry Cooder, whose slide makes both versions? I expect that from Mick, but Keith: Shame on you for not giving a guitarist his due.

[@deeannesmith]

i wouldn't say the stones ever hid ry cooder's participation on this track. he is credited on the album sleeve. just like jack nitschze, who plays piano on the track. what more can a studio musician on a record date expect? there are many fine side musicians on many rolling stones tracks. nicky hopkins,(now there is a guy who doesn't get enough credit), bobby keys, jim price, billy preston, sonny rollins. they all got credited on the sleeve, just like ry. its not like ry's playing the open g style that people claim keith lifted from him on this track. as you note, he is playing slide. his credit seems appropriate.

[@sreuther2921]

Steve Kallaugher I do believe it was for her own good. She'd have simply shot that money up her arm. Even Marianne admits this.

[@johhnypissoff]

"The ultimate humiliation, my name expunged even from my own song! I suspected this was a devious way to fleece me of my royalties, so I wrote an indignant letter to Allen Klein and went to see him. Things turned out to be less dire than I had imagined. Allen explained to me that the omission of my name had nothing to do with a fiendish plot, really! He showed me a letter wrtitten by Mick and Keith early in 1969 saying I should get a third of the royalties. It turned out they had not credited me because at the time 'Sister Morphine' had been written I was still contracted to Gerry Bron, and none of us wanted to see him get the royalties. So the arrangement was that I would get royalties , but no credit. In any case, that song did well by me. I lived on the money of 'Sister Morphine' for several lean years." - Marianne Faithfull

[@roberthensley9640]

@@johhnypissoff thanks for that clarification from the artist herself

[@cindyspowart555]

@@sreuther2921 : But, it's okay for male artists to get their royalties and do as they please, including, yes, shooting the money up their arm?

[@user-bx6zr6my4d]

Zing u im taking to m8🎉 love foget this

[@ItDontComeEasy]

Unfortunately, I can't experience Morphine, I'm Alergic. I can however enjoy favorable sisters thereof... Been here accordingly...

[@LucioRozendo]

Sister Morphine Aqui eu deitada em minha cama de hospital Conte me, Irmã Morfina, quando você vem rondar de novo Oh, eu não acho que eu posso espera tanto Oh, você pode ver que eu não sou forte Os gritos da ambulância estão soando em minhas orelhas Conte-me Irmã Morfina, como tem vivido aqui? O que eu estou fazendo neste lugar? Porque o médico não tem rosto? Oh, eu não posso rastejar através do chão Você não pode ver Irmã Morfina, eu estou somente tentando contar Bem, somente indo para mostrar coisas que eles não veem. Por favor, Irmã Morfina, transforme meus pesadelos em sonhos Oh, você não pode ver eu estou desaparecendo rápido E que esse tiro será meu último. Doce primo Cocaína, coloque suas mãos legais em minha cabeça Hey, Irmã Morfina, é melhor você fazer minha cama Porque você sabe e eu sei que pela manhã eu estarei morta E você pode sentar por aí e você pode assistir a folhas brancas limpar mancha vermelha Sister Morphine Here I lie in my hospital bed, Tell me, Sister Morphine, when are you coming round again. Oh, I don't think I can wait that long, Oh, you see I'm not that strong. The scream of the ambulance is sounding in my ears. Tell me, Sister Morphine, how long have I been lying here ? What am I doing in this place ? Why does the doctor have no face ? Oh, I can't crawl across the floor. Can't you see, Sister Morphine, I'm just trying to score. Well, it just goes to show things are not what they seem. Please, Sister Morphine, turn my nightmare into dreams. Oh, can't you see I'm fading fast And that this shot will be my last. Sweet Cousin Cocaine, lay your cool hands on my head. Hey, Sister Morphine, you'd better make up my bed For you know and I know in the morning I'll be dead, And you can sit around and you can watch the clean white sheets stain red.

[@antoniojoselima3947]

🇵🇹🇵🇹

[@janebute6203]

Does anyone know, did Nicky Hopkin do the piano work?

[@toddlittle9095]

no it was Jack Nitzsche on the Marianne version

[@raymundotuda8823]

THE most trágicas versión is with Jagger singin in PAIN AND THE requint of Taylor. THE best.

[@user-ve5it1hu4u]

20 years recovering addict don't ever do it

[@mauriss7503]

Eh eh sister morphine

[@free..to..air..]

Her voice and style is heavily reminiscent of Parisian torch singers of the 50's ...tho the content of her songs are keenly unsentimental and lack the French propensity for descent into the maudlin

[@ivica75768]

Great song for end of life,off course for people who love drugs

[@JayJay-wg5ex]

Or for anyone who feels pain

[@dagnabbit6187]

@@JayJay-wg5ex I am not a druggie but I have had the drip for a horrible urinary track infection. I don’t care how tough you are , you are still only human. The United States where I live has an ass backwards draconian attitude about narcotics and no that is not an endorsement of recreational use ,and abuse . Just for goodness sakes why can’t our society be rational about things . Once I was cured I said goodbye to that Sister Morphine !

[@JayJay-wg5ex]

@@dagnabbit6187 Yes, we are only human. Pain management is very untapped but key to our lives, everyone. How to handle strong pain be it physical or psychological should be one of the basic survival skills we learn but people just ignore it and deny it and misinterpret it which leads to all kinds of problems. It's nice to know someone understands, through Marianne's music.

[@Mrariesdave]

@@JayJay-wg5ex And us addicts were born with Chronic Endorphin Deficiency Syndrome. Thirty years abstinent and I know I am not the average human.

[@jonnyjaywick]

Neil Young should have covered thi

[@spareroomdemos2006]

Sometimes holding the root bass note works but not on this song

[@markmitchell1300]

Jaggers ok

[@mtpockets7352]

Is that Janis s half sister?

[@etee08]

She's actually from a high society family and a real "baroness"

[@eziodallago5466]

Qui giaccio nel mio letto d'ospedale, Dimmi, sorella Morphine, quando verrai di nuovo. Oh, non credo di poter aspettare così a lungo, Oh, vedi che non sono così forte. L'urlo dell'ambulanza risuona nelle mie orecchie. Dimmi, sorella Morphine, da quanto tempo sto qui sdraiata? Cosa ci faccio in questo posto? Perché il dottore non ha la faccia? Oh, non posso strisciare sul pavimento. Non vedi, sorella Morphine, sto solo cercando di segnare. Bene, questo dimostra solo che le cose non sono come sembrano. Per favore, sorella Morphine, trasforma il mio incubo in sogni. Oh, non vedi che sto svanendo velocemente E che questo scatto sarà il mio ultimo. Dolce cugino cocaina, poni le tue mani fredde sulla mia testa. Ehi, sorella Morphine, faresti meglio a rifare il mio letto Perché tu lo sai e io so che domattina sarò morto, E puoi sederti e guardare le lenzuola bianche pulite macchiate di rosso.

[@TheJubanne1]

Guarda che puoi tradurre morphine con morfina 😃

[@eziodallago5466]

@@TheJubanne1 INGLESISMO!!ezio!!

[@patriciathewisher2315]

I don't believe him. He's a liar. Turn it up really loud Marianne.