It’s Time to Get Stoned: Five Rocking ‘n Rolling Songs For Libertarians

It could easily be said that The Rolling Stones are one of the greatest rock ‘n roll bands of the 1960’s and ’70s. For their time, they were the definition of pure rock music both in form and image.

There are several songs within the band’s vast catalog spanning almost seven decades that fit within the libertarian lifestyle and our frustrations with the current state of the political climate.

So without further ado, let’s get stoned. Here’s a list of five songs by The Rolling Stones that lovers of liberty will appreciate.

1. “I’m Free”

This song should pull on the heartstrings of any libertarian as it’s theme revolves around being free to do whatever you want whenever you want to do it. Voluntary exchange is at the heart of the libertarian political philosophy, and this song is all about doing what floats your boat as long as you don’t sink someone else’s.

2. “Time is On My Side”

This song speaks of a woman who wants to run around on her man, and he tells her to go out and have her fun because he knows that he has the goods and that it is only a matter of time before she comes running back to him. As Mick Jagger says in the song, “Go ahead, baby, go ahead, go ahead and light up the town. And baby, do anything your heart desires. Remember, I’ll always be around. And I know, I know like I told you so many times before.
You’re gonna come back. Yeah you’re going to come back, baby. Knockin’, yeah knockin’ right on my door.”

The same could be said about those in the world today who have an infatuation with the economic ideas of Karl Marx. They can try to run from the invisible hand of the marketplace all they like, but sooner or later, they will come running back to Capitalism if they wish to thrive once again.

3. “I Just Want to Make Love to You”

This Blues classic was originally written and recorded by Willie Dixion, which The Stones recorded as the second track on their premiere album. This song talks about a man who doesn’t want to do anything but make sweet love to his lady all day. Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll, man! That’s what we are – a bunch of wild sexual deviants who want society to go to hell in a handbasket because we want to decriminalize sex work, and say it’s none of the government’s business who consenting adults sleep with, right? That has been a familiar criticism libertarians receive from extreme social Conservatives and Theocrats, so why not have a little fun with it?

4. “Satisfaction”

Perhaps one of the band’s most popular tunes most accurately describes the frustration we feel in the liberty movement. Like the man in the song, it seems like we “Can’t Get No Satisfaction” no matter how hard we try in the current state of American politics. One could say that could be attributed to a number of factors that are too numerous to be discussed here. But as I mentioned before, whenever you get down, remember liberty will win the day because time is on our side.

5. “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”

Pardon my Captain Obvious moment, but the title says it all with this one. Both big ‘L’ and small ‘l’ libertarians can likely feel the pain in these lyrics. It’s very hard to be right when so many are wrong and don’t see their error. “We can’t always get what we want.” However, the liberty movement sure has what America needs.

The Rolling Stones legacy has undoubtedly left its mark on rock ‘n roll music and popular culture with some of the best music in the genre. Maybe we all need to relax and put on one of these classics and get a little “Stoned.” Fighting for liberty is a serious business, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun along the way.