Featured on the Beggars' Banquet album, “Street Fighting Man” was in part inspired by the riots on the Left Bank in Paris of 1968. “Sleepy London Town” was Jagger commenting how Paris upheaval and the U.S. presence in Vietnam, made London seem sleepy in comparison. Ironically, the song came about after Jagger witnessed a massive anti-war protest in Grosvenor Square.

Indeed, most of us remember 1968 as a most turbulent year with assassinations, war, and civil unrest. Like the Beatles' “Revolution,” from the same year, the song conveys a certain ambivalence as to whether one should revolt or opt for peaceful change.

Per usual Jagger was on lead vocals with both he and Richards on backing. Richards created the layered guitar parts by distorting his acoustic through a cassette recorder; he also played bass (the only electric instrument on the track).

Brian Jones performs the song’s distinctive sitar and also tambora. Watts played a small practice drum kit miked to sound gargantuan while
Nicky Hopkins is on piano. Shehnai is performed on the track by Dave Mason.

The song was banned on some Chicago radio stations, its release coming within a week of the riots at the Democratic National Convention.