Sir Mick Jagger releases new tracks including Skepta collaboration, England Lost

Sir Mick Jagger has teamed up with grime artist Skepta for a track which was inspired by the “changing political situation” in the UK.

The Rolling Stones frontman treated fans to England Lost and Gotta Get A Grip on Thursday – a day after his 74th birthday.

He said he penned the songs in April but was desperate to release them as he “didn't want to wait until next year” as he feared they “might lose any impact and mean nothing”.

Sharing the tracks on Twitter, he posted: “I started writing these two songs a few weeks back and wanted to get them out to you straight away.”

Speaking about England Lost which features a rap from Skepta he said: “It's about a feeling that we are in a difficult moment in our history.

“It's about the unknowability about where you are and the feeling of insecurity. That's how I was feeling when I was writing.”

Of Gotta Get a Grip, which sees him refer to the world as being upside down, he said: “The message I suppose is – despite all those things that are happening, you gotta get on with your own life, be yourself and attempt to create your own destiny.”

The release comes days after Skepta teased a collaboration with Jagger when he shared a picture on Instagram of the pair “in the studio”.

Speaking to Zane Lowe on Beats 1 about working with the Konnichiwa artist Jagger said: “He really wants to get the best out of himself. He's quite serious in some ways, but funny.”