Stewart's music career began in 1962 when he took up busking with a harmonica. In 1963, he joined The Dimensions as a harmonica player and vocalist. In 1964, Stewart joined Long John Baldry and the All Stars before moving to the Jeff Beck Group in 1967. Joining Faces in 1969, he also maintained a solo career releasing his debut album that year. Stewart's early albums were a fusion of rock, folk music, soul music, and R&B. His third album, 1971's Every Picture Tells a Story, was his breakthrough, topping the charts in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, as did its ballad "Maggie May". His 1972 follow-up album, Never a Dull Moment, also reached number one in the UK and Australia, while going top three in the US and Canada. Its single, "You Wear It Well", topped the chart in the UK and was a moderate hit elsewhere.
After Stewart had a handful more UK top ten hits, the Faces broke up in 1975. Stewart's next few hit singles were ballads with "Sailing", off the 1975 UK and Australian number-one album, Atlantic Crossing, becoming a hit in the UK and the Netherlands (number one), Germany (number four) and other countries, but barely charting in North America. A Night on the Town (1976), his fifth straight chart-topper in the UK, began a three-album run of going number one or top three in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia with each release. That album's "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" spent almost two months at number one in the US and Canada, and made the top five in other countries. Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977) contained the hit "You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)" as well as the rocker "Hot Legs". Blondes Have More Fun (1978) and its disco-tinged "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" both went to number one in Canada, Australia and the US, with "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" also hitting number one in the UK and the top ten in other countries. Stewart's albums regularly hit the upper rungs of the charts in the Netherlands throughout the 70s and in Sweden from 1975 onward.
After a disco and new wave period in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Stewart's music turned to a soft rock/middle-of-the-road style, with most of his albums reaching the top ten in the UK, Germany and Sweden, but faring less well in the US. The single "Rhythm of My Heart" was a top five hit in the UK, US and other countries, with its source album, 1991's Vagabond Heart, becoming, at number ten in the US and number two in the UK, his highest-charting album in a decade. In 1993, he collaborated with Bryan Adams and Sting on the power ballad "All for Love", which went to number one in many countries. In the early 2000s, he released a series of successful albums interpreting the Great American Songbook.
In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked him the 17th most successful artist on the "Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists". A Grammy and Brit Award recipient, he was voted at No. 33 in Q Magazine's list of the Top 100 Greatest Singers of all time. As a solo artist, Stewart was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and he was inducted a second time into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 as a member of Faces.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Stewart
Studio albums
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down (1969)
Gasoline Alley (1970)
Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)
Never a Dull Moment (1972)
Smiler (1974)
Atlantic Crossing (1975)
A Night on the Town (1976)
Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977)
Blondes Have More Fun (1978)
Foolish Behaviour (1980)
Tonight I'm Yours (1981)
Body Wishes (1983)
Camouflage (1984)
Every Beat of My Heart (1986)
Out of Order (1988)
Vagabond Heart (1991)
A Spanner in the Works (1995)
When We Were the New Boys (1998)
Human (2001)
It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook (2002)
As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II (2003)
Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III (2004)
Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Volume IV (2005)
Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time (2006)
Soulbook (2009)
Once in a Blue Moon: The Lost Album (2010)
Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V (2010)
Merry Christmas, Baby (2012)
Time (2013)
Another Country (2015)
Blood Red Roses (2018)
The Tears of Hercules (2021)
Maggie May
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's late September and I really should be back at school
I know I keep you amused, but I feel I'm being used
Oh, Maggie, I couldn't have tried any more
You led me away from home
Just to save you from being alone
You stole my heart and that's what really hurts
The mornin' sun when it's in your face really shows your age
But that don't worry me none, in my eyes, you're everything
I laughed at all of your jokes, my love, you didn't need to coax
Oh, Maggie, I couldn't have tried any more
You led me away from home
Just to save you from being alone
You stole my soul, and that's a pain I can do without
All I needed was a friend to lend a guiding hand
But you turned into a lover, and mother, what a lover, you wore me out
All you did was wreck my bed, and in the morning, kick me in the head
Oh, Maggie, I couldn't have tried any more
You led me away from home
'Cause you didn't wanna be alone
You stole my heart, I couldn't leave you if I tried
I suppose I could collect my books and get on back to school
Or steal my daddy's cue and make a living out of playin' pool
Or find myself a rock and roll band that needs a helpin' hand
Oh, Maggie, I wished I'd never seen your face
You made a first-class fool out of me
But I'm as blind as a fool can be
You stole my heart, but I love you anyway
Maggie, I wished I'd never seen your face
I'll get on back home one of these days
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The lyrics of Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" tell the story of a young man who meets a seductive older woman named Maggie and becomes infatuated with her. The song's opening lyrics, "Wake up, Maggie, I think I got somethin' to say to you / It's late September and I really should be back at school," suggest that the singer is trying to end the relationship because it's time for him to go back to school. He feels like he's being used by Maggie and that she led him away from home just to save herself from being alone.
The singer's feelings are conflicting, however, as he admits that he loves Maggie and can't deny that she's stolen his heart. The line "You stole my soul, and that's a pain I can do without" suggests that he's aware of how much pain Maggie's caused him, but he's still drawn to her. The singer is frustrated that Maggie has turned from being a friend who once "lend a guiding hand" to a lover who's "wore him out" and only "wrecked his bed."
Overall, "Maggie May" is a classic rock song that tells a story of youthful infatuation and heartbreak. Through its powerful lyrics and upbeat melody, the song captures the complexity of human emotions and the pain of losing someone who you love.
* "Maggie May" was released in 1971 and was a huge hit, reaching number one on the US charts for five weeks.
* The song was initially the B-side to "Reason to Believe," but DJs began playing "Maggie May" instead and it quickly became more popular.
* The song was inspired by Rod Stewart's own relationship with an older woman named Susannah Boffey, who he met at a folk club in London.
* The opening riff of the song was inspired by an old British folk tune called "Henry Martin."
* The song was the first single from Rod Stewart's third solo album, "Every Picture Tells a Story," which was also a huge commercial success.
* The album's cover art, which depicts Rod Stewart holding a large guitar, was shot by photographer David Montgomery in front of the Saracen's Head pub in the town of Beaconsfield, England.
* "Maggie May" is considered one of Rod Stewart's signature songs and has been covered by numerous artists over the years.
* The song's success helped establish Stewart's career as one of the most popular and influential rock musicians of the 1970s.
* "Maggie May" was named one of Rolling Stone magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.
* The song's chorus, which features the line "You stole my heart, I couldn't leave you if I tried," has become one of the most famous pop culture references to the idea of being unable to break free from a toxic or damaging relationship.
Chords: G, D, C, G, D, C, Gmaj7, D, Cmaj7, Gmaj7, D, Cmaj7, Gmaj7, D, Cmaj7, Gmaj7.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up, Maggie, I think I got somethin' to say to you
Rod is trying to get Maggie's attention as he has something important to say to her.
It's late September and I really should be back at school
Rod feels that he should be back at school as it's late September.
I know I keep you amused, but I feel I'm being used
Although Rod is keeping Maggie amused, he feels like she's using him.
Oh, Maggie, I couldn't have tried any more
Rod has tried his best in his relationship with Maggie.
You led me away from home
Maggie has led Rod away from home.
Just to save you from being alone
Maggie has led Rod away from home to avoid being alone.
You stole my heart and that's what really hurts
Maggie has stolen Rod's heart, which hurts him deeply.
The mornin' sun when it's in your face really shows your age
Rod is pointing out that the morning sun can reveal a person's age.
But that don't worry me none, in my eyes, you're everything
Although Rod sees that the morning sun reveals Maggie's age, it doesn't change how he feels about her.
I laughed at all of your jokes, my love, you didn't need to coax
Rod enjoyed Maggie's jokes and didn't need any encouragement to laugh.
You stole my soul, and that's a pain I can do without
Maggie has also stolen Rod's soul, which is a source of pain for him.
All I needed was a friend to lend a guiding hand
Rod initially only needed a friend to help guide him.
But you turned into a lover, and mother, what a lover, you wore me out
However, Maggie has turned into Rod's lover, and he feels like she's worn him out.
All you did was wreck my bed, and in the morning, kick me in the head
Maggie has caused trouble in Rod's bed, and even kicked him in the head in the morning.
'Cause you didn't wanna be alone
Maggie has led Rod away from home because she didn't want to be alone.
You stole my heart, I couldn't leave you if I tried
Maggie has stolen Rod's heart, and he feels that he couldn't leave her even if he tried.
I suppose I could collect my books and get on back to school
Rod is considering going back to school and collecting his books.
Or steal my daddy's cue and make a living out of playin' pool
Rod is also considering making a living out of playing pool with his father's cue.
Or find myself a rock and roll band that needs a helpin' hand
Another option Rod is considering is joining a rock and roll band that needs help.
But I'm as blind as a fool can be
Despite all of Maggie's faults, Rod is still in love with her.
Maggie, I wished I'd never seen your face
Rod regrets ever meeting Maggie.
I'll get on back home one of these days
Rod plans on returning home eventually.
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Sound effect of the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Martin Quittenton, Roderick Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind