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 Can't Get Started
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've settled revolutions in Spain
The North Pole I have charted
But I can't get started with you
And at the golf course I'm under par
And in Hollywood they want me to star
I've got a house as a show place
You're so supreme
The lyrics I write of you, scheme
Just for the sight of you, dream
Both day and night of you
But what good does it do
In nineteen ninety-nine, I sold short
In England, I'm presented at court
Yeah you've got me so downhearted
'Cause I'll never get started with you
You're so supreme
The lyrics I write of you, scheme
Just for the sight of you, dream
Both day and night of you
But what, what good does it do
I've been consulted by Hilary C.
And Tina Turner's had me to tea
But now I'm brokenhearted
'Cause I can't get started with you
Yeah I'm brokenhearted
'Cause I can't get started with you
In "I Can't Get Started," Rod Stewart sings about all of the impressive accomplishments he's achieved, such as flying around the world in a plane, settling revolutions in Spain, charting the North Pole, and being under par at the golf course. However, he laments that despite all of his successes, he can't seem to capture the attention of one particular person he is interested in. The lyrics convey the idea that all of these material and worldly accomplishments are meaningless without the love and affection of the person he desires.
The lyrics also highlight the admiration and longing Stewart has for this person. He writes lyrics about this person, schemes to see them, and dreams about them day and night. However, despite his efforts, he cannot seem to win them over or even get started in a relationship with them. The song leaves Stewart feeling brokenhearted and unfulfilled, as he realizes that all of his previous accomplishments pale in comparison to what he truly desires.
Overall, "I Can't Get Started" is a poignant portrayal of how love and connection are the most important things in life, and how even the most successful people can feel empty without them.
Line by Line Meaning
I've flown around the world in a plane
I've been fortunate enough to travel the world by airplane
I've settled revolutions in Spain
I've contributed with my actions to make the Spanish society more stable
The North Pole I have charted
I've been able even to chart the most remote places on Earth, like the North Pole
But I can't get started with you
However, when it comes to starting a relationship with you, things don't seem to work out
And at the golf course I'm under par
When I play golf, I score less strokes than expected for a given hole or course
And in Hollywood they want me to star
My talent as an artist has led Hollywood to express interest in me and offer me roles
I've got a house as a show place
I have a house that is so beautiful and well decorated that it could be used as a showcase
But I can't get no place with you
Still, I can't seem to make any progress when it comes to winning your affection
You're so supreme
You are the most important and superior thing I could ever hope for
The lyrics I write of you, scheme
I create lyrics about you, they are not just words, they are a well thought out plan
Just for the sight of you, dream
Just to see you is enough to put me in a complete dream state
Both day and night of you
This dream is persistent, day and night
But what good does it do
But it doesn't seem to have any effect in my quest to win you over
In nineteen ninety-nine, I sold short
In 1999, I made a financial transaction where I sold securities, but those securities decreased in value afterwards
In England, I'm presented at court
I've been invited to present myself in a legal setting in England, for reasons unknown
Yeah you've got me so downhearted
You're making me feel sad and hopeless
Cause I'll never get started with you
Because it seems like I'll never be able to start a relationship with you
But what, what good does it do
So what's the point of feeling this way if I can't do anything about it?
I've been consulted by Hilary C.
Even important political figures like Hilary Clinton have asked for my opinion on important matters
And Tina Turner's had me to tea
Even celebrities like Tina Turner have invited me to events like tea parties
But now I'm brokenhearted
Yet, despite all that, I'm devastated by my inability to win your affection
'Cause I can't get started with you
Because, again, I can't seem to make any progress in starting a relationship with you
Yeah I'm brokenhearted
This failure is causing me great emotional pain and sadness
'Cause I can't get started with you
All because I can't seem to begin a romantic relationship with you
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IRA GERSHWIN, VERNON DUKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
NaturalFlirtGamer
I think it's great that so many good rock & roll singers over the years have shown their appreciation & true love of music to go back & sing American standards. I Can't Get Started is a jazz classic & it's nice to hear different people keep good old music alive for every generation to appreciate new.
오마이갑
beautiful voice jazzy. Thank your ROD!
Merenice Lacerda
Restaurant Coréen, Sésame et Sel Luiz miquel lá barca
Alvaro Medina Peniche
INCOMPARABLE...QUÉ FEELING !!
Pec Pec
Me encanta, cómo interpreta esta música bella de los 50, me transporta a un cabaret de esos de la época, tan elegantes!
Alberto Imposti
Marvelous voice Rod......!!!!
jim partridge
i think you either like Rod singing the standards or you don't - I think he brings an original voice to the music myself - remember it's subjectivd
Pedro Pinto
É dos melhores, para mim.
go ahead
Herb Hofer
Bunny Berigan would be proud!!!
Tango Bango
This song so reminds me of my dear Mom. She used to play this, by Bunny Barrigan ? when I was just 5 or 6! Miss you Mom!