The Rolling Stones are back with their first new song in eight years. Thursday, the rock legends surprise-released the bluesy “Living in a Ghost Town,” which has eerily timely echoes of our current lives under self-isolation or quarantine.
“Life was so beautiful, then we all got locked down,” Jagger sings. “Feel a like ghost living in a ghost town. … So much time to lose just staring at my phone.” “Ghost Town” marks the band’s first original song since 2012, when it released two new tracks “Doom and Gloom” and “One More Shot” as part of greatest-hits album “GRRR!”
Despite its pandemic parallels, members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards say “Ghost Town” was written early last year for their upcoming, still-untitled album produced by longtime collaborator Don Was. (Their last album of original material, “A Bigger Bang,” was released in 2005.)
“Living in a Ghost Town” is available now as a digital download and via streaming services.
The song begins with the lyrics, “I’m a ghost, livin’ in a ghost town/ You can look for me, but I can’t be found/ You can search for me, I had to go underground/ Life was so beautiful, then we all got locked down.” This is the band’s first new music since “Doom and Gloom” and “One More Shot” in 2012. Those tracks were part of a greatest hits album — titled “GRRR!” — that commemorated the group’s 50th anniversary.
In addition, The Rolling Stones’ official online store is accepting pre-orders for a CD version of the single that’s due out on May 29, and limited-edition 10-inch vinyl versions pressed on either orange or purple vinyl that will be released on June 26.
