Winston "Delano" Stewart was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1947. While stil… Read Full Bio ↴Winston "Delano" Stewart was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1947. While still in his teens he recorded several ska tracks with Harris "B.B." Seaton for the legendary Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, as part of the duo Winston & Bibby. In the late '60s Stewart and Seaton recruited a third singer, Maurice Roberts, and formed the Gaylads, one of Jamaica's finest three-part harmony trios. Led by Seaton's excellent songwriting, the Gaylads scored several rocksteady hits with Studio One before switching to Sonia Pottinger's label, where they recorded the gorgeous "Joy in the Morning." Stewart left the group in 1968, but continued to record briefly for Pottinger as a solo artist. Relocating to the United States in 1969, Delano Stewart departed the music business for other endeavors, leaving behind a small but impressive legacy.

Wherever I Lay My Hat
Delano Stewart Lyrics

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By the look in your eye I can tell you're gonna cry, is it over me?
If it is, save your tears for I'm not worth it, you see.
For I'm the kind of guy who is always on the roam,
Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home.

You had a romance, did you break it by chance over me?
If it's so I'd like for you to know that I'm not worth it, you see.
For I'm the type of guy who is always on the roam,

Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home,

You keep telling your friends that I'm your man.
What do I have to do to make you understand?
For I'm the kind of guy that gives girl the eye, everybody knows.
But I love them and I leave them, break their hearts and deceive them
everywhere I go.

I'm the type of guy who is always on the roam,
Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home.

Overall Meaning

In Delano Stewart's song "Wherever I Lay My Hat," the singer is speaking to a woman who appears to be upset about their relationship. He believes that she may be crying over him, but he goes on to suggest that she should not waste her tears because he is not worth it. He then explains that he is the type of guy who is always on the move and cannot be tied down, stating that wherever he lays his hat is his home.

The lyrics suggest that the singer is not committed to any relationship, as he is consistently moving from place to place. Though he acknowledges that he breaks hearts and deceives women everywhere he goes, he cannot seem to change his ways. He also seems to be frustrated with the woman's continued insistence that he is her man, as he implies that he is uninterested in commitment.

Line by Line Meaning

By the look in your eye I can tell you're gonna cry, is it over me?
I can see the sadness in your eyes, are you upset because of me?

If it is, save your tears for I'm not worth it, you see.
Even if it's about me, you shouldn't cry for someone like me, trust me.

For I'm the kind of guy who is always on the roam,
I'm someone who endlessly travels and has no permanent home or relationship.

Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home.
Wherever I decide to stay for a little while, that's my temporary home, but I won't stay for long.

You had a romance, did you break it by chance over me?
Did our time together ruin your previous relationship by accident?

If it's so I'd like for you to know that I'm not worth it, you see.
If that's what happened, I want you to know that you shouldn't feel bad about it because I'm not worth it anyways.

You keep telling your friends that I'm your man.
You tell others that we're in a serious relationship.

What do I have to do to make you understand?
What can I do to make you realize the truth about our relationship?

For I'm the kind of guy that gives girl the eye, everybody knows.
I have a reputation for flirting with and seducing women, it's common knowledge.

But I love them and I leave them, break their hearts and deceive them everywhere I go.
I may show affection, but it's only temporary, and oftentimes I hurt and mislead the women I'm with.

I'm the type of guy who is always on the roam,
I'm the type of person who never stays in one place or relationship for too long.

Wherever I Lay My Hat That's My Home.
Wherever I go and whoever I'm with, that's my temporary home, but it never lasts forever.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barrett Strong, Marvin Gaye, Marvin P Gaye, Norman Whitfield, Norman J. Whitfield

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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