Start Me Up Quotes

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Source: Start Me Up

Speaker: The Rolling Stones

If you start me up I'll never stop.

Context

This line is from the song "Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones from the album Tattoo You (1981).

This line is repeated several times at the beginning of the song, where the speaker assures his audience, presumably a woman he's romancing, that once he gets started, he won't stop. The whole song is wrapped in layers of sexual metaphors that suggest the Rolling Stones might benefit from sexual harassment counseling and the understanding that no means no at any point in the proceedings.

Where you've heard it

Despite its origins as a Mick Jagger sexy song, "Start Me Up" has become a top song for sports training. Jagger performed a PG version of the song at Super Bowl XL in 2006. It's also been featured in advertising for several companies, including Microsoft and Omega.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

If you're not Mick Jagger, we suggest you don't use this line on your date, because you'll probably sound like kind of a jerk. If, on the other hand, you're an Olympic athlete, go ahead and use it to pump yourself up and intimidate your competitors. Either way, you won't sound pretentious.