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)
I'll Stand By You
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
'cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
So if you're mad, get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
Well I'm a lot like you
When you're standing at the crossroads
And don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
'Cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
And when
When the night falls on you, baby
You're feeling all alone
You won't be on your own
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me in, into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
The lyrics to Rod Stewart's song, "I'll Stand By You," contain a message of unconditional love and support. When the person addressed in the song is experiencing sadness or pain, the singer offers to be there for them, to see them through the struggles and provide unwavering loyalty. There is no judgment passed in the lyrics, just acceptance and the offer of a listening ear. The song encourages communication and the expression of emotions, reminding the person that they are not alone in their feelings, and that the singer will never leave them.
The lyrics to this song are a testament to the fact that everyone goes through difficult times and that having someone to rely upon can make all the difference. The singer acknowledges their own imperfections and encourages the person to share their struggles, with the assurance that they will not be judged or abandoned. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I'll stand by you," emphasizing the commitment to remain a constant presence and source of comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, why you look so sad?
Rod Stewart is expressing concern for the person he is addressing, noticing that they appear to be having a tough time.
Tears are in your eyes
Rod Stewart notices that the person is crying, further emphasizing their emotional state.
Come on and come to me now
Rod Stewart is offering his support and a listening ear, encouraging the person to open up to him.
Don't be ashamed to cry
Rod Stewart wants the person to know that it's okay to cry and express their emotions, and that they shouldn't feel embarrassed or ashamed.
Let me see you through
Rod Stewart is offering to be there for the person and help them through their difficult time.
'cause I've seen the dark side too
Rod Stewart is empathizing with the person and letting them know that he has also experienced difficult times and can relate to their feelings.
When the night falls on you
Rod Stewart is referencing the metaphorical darkness that can come with feelings of sadness or depression.
You don't know what to do
Rod Stewart acknowledges that the person may be feeling lost or unsure of how to handle their emotions.
Nothing you confess
Rod Stewart wants the person to know that he won't judge them for anything they may share with him.
Could make me love you less
Rod Stewart assures the person that even if they reveal something negative or embarrassing about themselves, it won't change how he feels about them.
I'll stand by you
Rod Stewart is pledging his loyalty and support to the person, no matter what they may be going through.
Won't let nobody hurt you
Rod Stewart is saying that he will protect the person and keep them safe from harm.
So if you're mad, get mad
Rod Stewart is encouraging the person to be honest and expressive about their emotions, even if that includes anger.
Don't hold it all inside
Rod Stewart is advising the person not to bottle up their emotions, but to let them out in a healthy way.
Come on and talk to me now
Once again, Rod Stewart is telling the person that he is there to listen and help them work through their emotions.
Hey, what you got to hide?
Rod Stewart is asking the person to be open and honest with him, and not to keep anything hidden.
I get angry too
Rod Stewart is once again empathizing with the person and letting them know that he can relate to their emotions.
Well I'm a lot like you
Rod Stewart is drawing a comparison between himself and the person, highlighting the similarities they share.
When you're standing at the crossroads
This line references a moment of decision-making or uncertainty, where a person may be unsure of which path to take.
And don't know which path to choose
Rod Stewart is acknowledging that the person may be feeling lost and unsure of what to do next.
Let me come along
Rod Stewart is offering to be a source of support and guidance for the person, to help them navigate their challenges.
'Cause even if you're wrong
Rod Stewart is saying that even if the person makes a mistake or takes the wrong path, he will still be there to support them.
Take me in, into your darkest hour
Rod Stewart is again offering to be there for the person during their toughest times, when they may feel most alone or vulnerable.
And I'll never desert you
Rod Stewart is making a promise to the person that he won't abandon them, even when things get difficult or challenging.
And when the night falls on you, baby
This line is a repeat from earlier in the song, once again referring to the darkness and difficulty that can come with feelings of sadness or depression.
You're feeling all alone
Rod Stewart is acknowledging the loneliness that can come with feeling overwhelmed or sad.
You won't be on your own
The chorus of the song is repeated once again, with Rod Stewart emphasizing that he will be there to support the person and make sure they're not alone in their struggles.
Won't let nobody hurt you
This line is a repeat from earlier in the song, once again emphasizing Rod Stewart's promise to protect the person and keep them safe.
I'll stand by you
This line is a repeat from earlier in the song, serving as a reminder of Rod Stewart's pledge of loyalty and support to the person.
Won't let nobody hurt you
This line is a repeat from earlier in the song, once again emphasizing Rod Stewart's promise to protect the person and keep them safe.
I'll stand by you
This line is a repeat from earlier in the song, serving as a final reassurance of Rod Stewart's support and loyalty to the person.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Thomas Kelly, Christine Hynde, Billy Steinberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind