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)
Didn't I
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our time together was tinged with love and regret
Oh my girl, my sweet, sweet little girl
Didn't I try to tell ya
That life was for living
Oh, didn't I?
And wasn't I the guy who said
Oh, wasn't it?
And didn't I try to tell ya
That stuff's gonna kill ya
Oh, didn't I?
But you thought it was cool
And I was just an old fool
Oh, look at ya
You left home for the city with Hollywood stars in your eyes
Now your mother God bless her cries herself to sleep every night
Oh my girl, my sweet, innocent girl
Didn't I search the streets
For the biggest pimps and cheats
Oh, didn't I?
And didn't I try to guide ya
To a baptism of fire
Oh, didn't I?
And didn't I try to warn ya
Bout that folk in California
Oh, didn't I?
But you said daddy, please, don't worry
I got friends out there who love me
Now look at ya
Oh baby come back home, we can work this out
There is not blame
I wanna hold you close and stroke your hair
And share your pain, yeah
Didn't I do the best for you
Try to make you stay in school
Didn't I?
Once I was your hero
But I went from 10 to 0
Oh, didn't I?
For a roll on the dice
To really pay the ultimate price
Oh, didn't ya?
Now I stand by your bedside
Watching you fight for your life
Where's the innocence? (where's the innocence?)
Where's the future? (where's the future?)
Where's the beauty? (uuh)
Where's the promise?
There are times to remember
And times that I wish to forget
The song "Didn't I" by Rod Stewart is a poignant and heartfelt message from a father to his daughter, expressing his regrets about their relationship and how he tried to guide her in life. The lyrics touch on the theme of a child leaving home and making poor choices, causing pain to both parties. The chorus sets the tone of the song with the repeated question, "Didn't I?", expressing the father's frustration that he wasn't able to prevent his daughter from making mistakes.
The first verse reflects on the bittersweet moments shared between father and daughter, alternating between nostalgia and anguish. It is clear that the father still loves his daughter and wants her to return home, but he also feels powerless to help her. He reflects on how he tried to teach her about life and avoid negative influences, but she didn't listen. In the second verse, the father talks about how his daughter left home for the city, pursuing her dreams of fame and fortune. He admits that he tried to find her and protect her, but ultimately she ignored his warnings and ended up in trouble. The song ends with the father pleading with his daughter to come home so they can work things out and be a family again.
Overall, "Didn't I" is a touching and emotional song that many listeners can relate to. It captures the pain and frustration of a parent watching their child make mistakes and suffer the consequences, while also highlighting the enduring love that persists through difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
There are times to remember and times that I wish to forget
Sometimes, there are moments in our past that we cherish to reminisce, but other times, we don't want to recall them.
Our time together was tinged with love and regret
When we were together, it was ambiguous, both loving and regretful.
Oh my girl, my sweet, sweet little girl
I regard you as my girl, dear and precious to me on many levels.
Didn't I try to tell ya
That life was for living
Oh, didn't I?
I informed you that the purpose of life was to experience it fully, didn't I?
And wasn't I the guy who said
Stay away from that tribe
Oh, wasn't it?
I once said to you, 'avoid those people,' wasn't it?
And didn't I try to tell ya
That stuff's gonna kill ya
Oh, didn't I?
I endeavored to make you realize that substance abuse would lead to your peril, didn't I?
But you thought it was cool
And I was just an old fool
Oh, look at ya
You considered it fascinating, but I was merely an outdated simpleton, but look at the current state you are in.
You left home for the city with Hollywood stars in your eyes
Now your mother God bless her cries herself to sleep every night
Oh my girl, my sweet, innocent girl
You departed from home with the desire to live among the glamour of Hollywood. Now, your mother, who wishes you well, sobs uncontrollably every night. Oh, my girl, dear and virtuous to me.
Didn't I search the streets
For the biggest pimps and cheats
Oh, didn't I?
Didn't I scout around for the most notorious sex traffickers and swindlers on the street, didn't I?
And didn't I try to guide ya
To a baptism of fire
Oh, didn't I?
I attempted to offer enlightenment in the manner of an austere live-wire to you, didn't I?
And didn't I try to warn ya
Bout that folk in California
Oh, didn't I?
I tried to caution you about those individuals in California, didn't I?
But you said daddy, please, don't worry
I got friends out there who love me
Now look at ya
You pleaded with me not to fret since you had friends who adored you; now, look at the circumstance you are in.
Oh baby come back home, we can work this out
There is not blame
I wanna hold you close and stroke your hair
And share your pain, yeah
Beloved, return to our abode, we can resolve whatever has happened, and there is no blame. I desire to embrace you and caress your hair while we both suffer sorrow, yeah.
Didn't I do the best for you
Try to make you stay in school
Didn't I?
I did my utmost to make things better for you and convinced you to stop dropping out of school, didn't I?
Once I was your hero
But I went from 10 to 0
Oh, didn't I?
Previously, I was your idol, but I suddenly appeared to decline drastically in your sight, didn't I?
For a roll on the dice
To really pay the ultimate price
Oh, didn't ya?
Was it not foolish of you to make a significant gamble and eventually pay the supreme price?
Now I stand by your bedside
Watching you fight for your life
Now, I am situated next to your bed, observing you fighting for your life.
Where's the innocence? (where's the innocence?)
Where's the future? (where's the future?)
Where's the beauty? (uuh)
Where's the promise?
Where has the naivety vanished to? Where is the prospect of tomorrow? Where is the magnificence? Where is the assurance?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rod Stewart, Kevin Savigar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@1UTVolFan
Mr. Stewart,
While I feel you will never see this, I'll at least feel a cathartic release in setting these words free from my heart. ....
This song is probably an older song, but I heard it for the first time about a week ago.
Sitting in my driveway with a carload of groceries, I had to bow my head as the teardrops streamed from my eyes after the gut punch of your performance of this song.
Spot on!
About 4 months ago, my 26 year old daughter made the decision to estrange herself from me. We shared laughs, music, songs, sun, hiking, scary movies and much, much more.
She had a better than average youth. But, through the "help" of counseling, she figured out a way to rewrite her upbringing and learned how to hate me. We haven't spoken since.
So, this song epitomizes our relationship now.
Acutely left to wonder what happened, why it happened and the guilt of a crime I didn't commit has ripped my heart completely in half.
But, hearing "Didnt I" gives me a seed of strength I feel might grow. Hopefully it will grow into something that will be beautiful part of my life. But for now, it's still hard to see through these tears.
Finally, Thanks to EVERYONE that had a hand in writing, producing and performing this song.
Fan forever.
@1UTVolFan
Mr. Stewart,
While I feel you will never see this, I'll at least feel a cathartic release in setting these words free from my heart. ....
This song is probably an older song, but I heard it for the first time about a week ago.
Sitting in my driveway with a carload of groceries, I had to bow my head as the teardrops streamed from my eyes after the gut punch of your performance of this song.
Spot on!
About 4 months ago, my 26 year old daughter made the decision to estrange herself from me. We shared laughs, music, songs, sun, hiking, scary movies and much, much more.
She had a better than average youth. But, through the "help" of counseling, she figured out a way to rewrite her upbringing and learned how to hate me. We haven't spoken since.
So, this song epitomizes our relationship now.
Acutely left to wonder what happened, why it happened and the guilt of a crime I didn't commit has ripped my heart completely in half.
But, hearing "Didnt I" gives me a seed of strength I feel might grow. Hopefully it will grow into something that will be beautiful part of my life. But for now, it's still hard to see through these tears.
Finally, Thanks to EVERYONE that had a hand in writing, producing and performing this song.
Fan forever.
@srenfrederiksen
👍 I have had the same experience and I can relate to your feelings and sorrow. But it's good and important to believe in the future 🌞
@savedbygrace2280
I'm so sorry to hear this... That is heartbreaking.
@hyenaedits3460
I do not understand why this song is played in so many department stores. It's so depressing. Not a bad song but not something I want to hear on a casual shopping trip let alone on a daily basis standing behind a register.
@deyahsteelmusic
For a man who not only grew up listening too this guy but also left home for the city and caused his parents over 10 year's off pure pain this song is the truth I just sent it too my mum and told her I loved her xxxxx
@khfan4life365
I think my aunt could relate to this song. Her daughter (my cousin) got hooked on drugs during and after high school. By the grace of God and my cousin’s determination, she has been clean for eight years and has a happy life with her daughter (the main reason she quit), baby son, and husband. She and her husband (who also recovered) now counsel recovering addicts. There is hope. You can recover. It’s not easy and the road to recovery is tough, but never give up. Life is worth living.
@stephendaparma3303
💪🏻👍🏻❤️
@yuyulimaster
I cried !!! Everybody is getting trough a different situations. Thats why we need to be nice w people. Powerful song and videoclip. Welcome back master Sir Rod !
@christinewharton1051
i cried too
@bpit9289
This song hits home and along with it it both tears and regrets. Tears for what we have lost and regrets for what , as a father, I could not change. Smiles for a child’s younger years and sadness for how it so quickly slipped away. Hope that things would change and we would have our baby back thru constant interventions to a life now so empty filled with love and regret from the moment she passed.
We lost our beautiful little girl to this scourge of addiction at the age of 25 and this song hits home as the love and memory of that child never abates. I too sought to end her troubles by the silence of those who would corrupt her. Although silence was obtained from some there were many others to fill those shoes, and they did
As a father we would kill or die for our children . But it now becomes painfully true that even our greatest efforts to heal the ones we love sometimes can not work. Several clinics , rehabs , vacations and time spent could not bring back the child that was lost.
I am thankful to have had the time to love her and cherish the memories with my beautiful little girl . And Though my heart is permanently shattered I know in time I will see her again and heal. I miss you HLB. Your Daddy.