When Legends Meet: The Rolling Stones & Taylor Swift’s Haunting Duet of “As Tears Go By” in Chicago

By the time the final notes faded into the rafters of the United Center that June night in 2013, the audience had witnessed not just a concert, but a moment suspended in time—where old souls met new spirits, and rock history brushed gently against pop’s brightest star.

It was the third night of The Rolling Stones’ 50 & Counting Tour in Chicago, a city already humming with the electricity of legends in motion. For fans of the band—many of whom had grown up with Let It Bleed spinning on vinyl—each tour date was a pilgrimage, a reunion with the gods of rock. But on June 3, 2013, something unexpected happened.

As Mick Jagger stood center stage, the spotlight dimmed, and the opening chords of “As Tears Go By” rang out—mournful, tender, timeless. Then, from the shadows, emerged Taylor Swift.

Yes, that Taylor Swift.

A Bridge Between Generations

At the time, Taylor Swift was just 23 years old, a crossover darling who had conquered both country radio and the pop charts. She was the voice of a new generation—one that may have known the Rolling Stones more from t-shirts than turntables. But on that stage in Chicago, she was more than a guest. She was a symbol. A bridge between the heartache of the 1960s and the confessions of the 2010s.

“As Tears Go By” was one of the first songs ever penned by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Originally written in 1964 and recorded by Marianne Faithfull, it was a departure from the bluesy swagger that defined the Stones’ early sound—a soft, string-laden ballad about innocence fading and time slipping through fingers. When the Stones finally recorded it themselves in 1965, it became a quiet anthem of melancholy youth.

Fast forward nearly five decades, and that very ballad would become the centerpiece of a once-in-a-lifetime duet.

A Moment of Pure Musical Alchemy

Dressed in a short, shimmering black dress, Taylor walked toward Jagger with a reverence that was palpable. She didn’t come to steal the spotlight—she came to share it. What followed was a hauntingly beautiful performance that seemed to float above the crowd.

Jagger, in his element, still every bit the showman, softened his swagger to match the intimacy of the moment. Taylor, with her crystalline voice, carried the verses with a vulnerability that added new meaning to the lyrics. She wasn’t just singing someone else’s song—she was living it.

They didn’t overdo it. No wild vocal runs, no dramatics. Just two artists from different worlds meeting in the middle of a song older than one of them, yet still raw with emotion.

The audience was stunned. Phones rose into the air, but even through the shaky recordings, you can hear the silence—thousands holding their breath as music did what music does best: connect souls across time.

Why It Mattered

This wasn’t the first time The Rolling Stones had invited guest stars to share their stage during the 50 & Counting tour. Nor was it the first time Swift had shown her admiration for the legends that came before her. But this duet was different.

It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t fast. It didn’t need fireworks or fanfare.

It was gentle. It was honest. It was real.

And in a world where the music industry often pits generations against each other—”old school” versus “new wave”—this moment whispered a simple truth: good music transcends age. It defies genre. It speaks to everyone who has ever grown up too fast or remembered too slowly.

Legacy in a Song

Today, fans still return to the YouTube video of that night in Chicago, replaying it like a favorite old movie. The performance has aged gracefully—like the Stones themselves. It stands as a reminder that collaboration isn’t about trend-chasing or shock value. It’s about listening, learning, and honoring the song.

“As Tears Go By” has been sung by many. But when Taylor Swift sang it with Mick Jagger that night, it felt like a torch was being passed—not to replace the old flame, but to keep it burning brighter.

Watch the Performance Again

If you haven’t seen it yet—or even if you have—you owe it to yourself to experience the magic once more:

🎥 Watch The Rolling Stones & Taylor Swift – “As Tears Go By” (Live in Chicago, 2013):

Because sometimes, the most powerful moments in music aren’t the ones that roar.

They’re the ones that weep—softly, gracefully—as tears go by.