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)
Finest Woman
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The finest woman that I've ever known
The finest woman that I've ever known
Shine a light on this love of mine
The finest woman that I've ever known
My days were lonely and my nights were long
My life was empty and my dreams were long gone
My only lover was the red, red wine
I was just about to call a cab to take me home
Standing right there, talking on the phone about
[Chorus: x2]
She does not drink, she does not smoke
I rock her world even though I'm stoned
Alright
She got the beauty, she got the brains
She bring me crackers on a long silver tray
Six foot one with a golden heart
Calculated ready with them thighs
[Chorus: x3]
In Rod Stewart's song "Finest Woman," the chorus repeats the line "The finest woman that I've ever known," emphasizing the subject of the song: a woman who has had a profound impact on the singer. The shining light referenced in "Shine a light on this love of mine" suggests that this woman has illuminated his life and shown him a way forward.
The opening lines of the verse evoke feelings of emptiness and desperation, painting a picture of a man who has lost his way. He turns to the comforts of alcohol and the company of questionable companions, but he realizes that this is not the life he wants for himself. The appearance of the woman in his life offers him a way out, a path to genuine love and companionship.
The second verse offers a contrast to the first, highlighting the qualities that make the woman so special. She represents a kind of purity and wholesomeness, with her abstinence from drinking and smoking. Despite his own flaws, the singer is able to make her happy, suggesting that they have an enduring connection. The lyrics are suggestive, but remain respectful and appreciative of the woman's qualities.
Overall, "Finest Woman" is a tribute to the transformative power of love, and the way it can uplift a person's life. The song suggests that even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of hope and redemption through sincere connection with another person.
Line by Line Meaning
The finest woman that I've ever known
I have never known a woman as wonderful as her
The finest woman that I've ever known
I have never known a woman as wonderful as her
Shine a light on this love of mine
I want to show everyone how amazing our love is
The finest woman that I've ever known
I have never known a woman as wonderful as her
My days were lonely and my nights were long
I was very unhappy and alone all the time
My life was empty and my dreams were long gone
I felt like there was nothing in my life and all my hopes were lost
I was hanging with the brothers in crime
I was spending time with my friends who were up to no good
My only lover was the red, red wine
I was relying on alcohol for emotional comfort
I was just about to call a cab to take me home
I was going to leave the party and go home alone
Standing right there, talking on the phone about
While I was getting ready to leave, I saw her talking on the phone nearby
She does not drink, she does not smoke
She avoids drinking and smoking
I rock her world even though I'm stoned
I am still able to make her happy even when I am under the influence
Alright
I am feeling good about the relationship
She got the beauty, she got the brains
She is both beautiful and intelligent
She bring me crackers on a long silver tray
She is thoughtful and takes care of me
Six foot one with a golden heart
She is tall and has a kind personality
Calculated ready with them thighs
She is confident and prepared in all aspects of her life
The finest woman that I've ever known
I have never known a woman as wonderful as her
The finest woman that I've ever known
I have never known a woman as wonderful as her
The finest woman that I've ever known
I have never known a woman as wonderful as her
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kevin Savigar, Steve Harley, Emerson Swinford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind