Maggie May
- Rod Stewart Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wake up, Maggie, I think I got somethin' to say to you
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

Overall Meaning

In Rod Stewart’s 1971 hit song “Maggie May,” the singer laments his love affair with an older woman named Maggie. The song starts with the singer addressing Maggie, exhorting her to wake up because he has something important to say to her. The singer then acknowledges that he should be in school, but he has been spending time with Maggie instead. He also confesses that he feels used in the relationship, which implies that Maggie may have led him on. The chorus reveals that Maggie lured him away from home just because she didn’t want to be alone, and that she stole his heart but also bruised it deeply.


The second verse focuses more on Maggie's insecurities about getting old, while the singer does not care about it at all, and she makes his heart skip a beat. He adores her and makes her smile, but he knows deep down that he's in trouble by giving in too much. He reflects on how he thought they were just friends, but she made him into a lover and stole his soul. In the third verse, the singer acknowledges that he is as much to blame for their love affair as Maggie is, especially since he laughed at all her jokes and let her kiss him. He also realized that Maggie wears him out and he is tired of blindly following her, and being kicked out of her bed. Lastly, in the final verse, the singer wishes that he had never met Maggie, wants to leave her and go back home, but still confesses his love for her.


Line by Line Meaning

Wake up, Maggie, I think I got somethin' to say to you
I have something important to tell you, Maggie. Please wake up and listen.


It's late September and I really should be back at school
It's already September, and I should be studying at school at this time.


I know I keep you amused, but I feel I'm being used
I know you're happy with me, but I feel like you're only using me for your entertainment.


Oh, Maggie, I couldn't have tried any more
I tried my best, Maggie. I really did.


You led me away from home
You took me away from my house and my family.


Just to save you from being alone
You did it because you didn't want to be alone.


You stole my heart and that's what really hurts
You took my heart, and it hurts me so much.


The mornin' sun when it's in your face really shows your age
When the morning sun shines on your face, it reveals how old you are.


But that don't worry me none, in my eyes, you're everything
But I'm not bothered by it. To me, you're perfect in every way.


I laughed at all of your jokes, my love, you didn't need to coax
I always laughed at your jokes, my dear. You never had to force me to do so.


You stole my soul, and that's a pain I can do without
You took my soul away from me, and that's a pain I don't want to experience.


All I needed was a friend to lend a guiding hand
All I wanted was a friend to help and guide me.


But you turned into a lover, and mother, what a lover, you wore me out
But you became my lover, and my goodness, what a lover you were. You exhausted me.


All you did was wreck my bed, and in the morning, kick me in the head
All you did was mess up my bed, and in the morning, kick me in the head.


'Cause you didn't wanna be alone
You did it because you didn't want to be by yourself.


You stole my heart, I couldn't leave you if I tried
You have taken my heart, and even if I wanted to, I can't leave you.


I suppose I could collect my books and get on back to school
I guess I should just take my books and go back to school.


Or steal my daddy's cue and make a living out of playin' pool
Or maybe I'll take my father's cue and make a living by playing pool.


Or find myself a rock and roll band that needs a helpin' hand
Or I could join a rock and roll band that requires some assistance.


Oh, Maggie, I wished I'd never seen your face
Oh, Maggie, I really regret having met you.


You made a first-class fool out of me
You made me look like a complete fool.


But I'm as blind as a fool can be
But I'm so foolish that I can't see it.


You stole my heart, but I love you anyway
You took my heart, but I still love you regardless.


I'll get on back home one of these days
One day, I'll go back home.


Ooh, ooh, ooh
A musical interlude in the song.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Martin Quittenton, Roderick Stewart

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@mftubeyou

Probably the greatest live performance ever of Maggie May. Rod's singing, J'Anna's mandolin, Ronnie's guitar, the crowd singing every word, although most of them weren't even born at the time, it's all there. What makes it even more special is that he's back in London, playing Albert Hall, looking at Ronnie and sings about going back home (in a genius passage of Gasoline Alley). They grow up together in London, if you didn't know. Totally awesome.

@luiscustodio4517

Very interesting comment, dude👍🏻
For those who didn't know, mr. Roderick and Ronnie are friends since, after & before R.Stones convert in a world wide famous rock and roll band
🔥 🎼 🎸

@bogdanklimek8084

@Lars Bergström l8

@bogdanklimek8084

O

@scernik

YES it is.............. who is the bassist?

@jodijohnson3488

The MTV Unplugged version is better, but this is a lovely and joyous version.

@pebu1001

Thank God that he is still around.

@juanmanuelpadron8006

I'm 53 and I'm spanish.I also have been lucky to assist to many,many concerts of the most famous bands and musicians,not just rock or pop,even ethnical,fusion and jazz.John Mayal,Chet Baker,Prince,Paco de Lucía,Leonel Hampton,Ray Charles,ELO,The Rolling Stones,The Boss,and many more.
But I have to say that I will always consider that One Night Only is the best ever.The atmosphere,the band,Rod's strengh and voice,that was something only happens one in a lifetime.And above all,look with your own eyes what friendship truly is.Rod and Ron,Ron and Rod,I can't find the words to describe what happend on stage.One of the best nights of my life.Now I can rest in peace.

@johnnydeppisarapistjohnnyd8962

-Come over
an see The

Audio
Recording
Where Amber
Heard Almost Died

@patrickmckeegan5345

Everyone in that room was having fun. I played the crap out of this album when it came out. Rod's music is the soundtrack for my life. Takes me back to a simpler time.

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