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)
Lady Day
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my back is bent through trying too hard
My vest is torn so I make no perfect picture
To place upon your white-washed wall
I'd like to stay but you have not asked me
Still I don't really expect you to
Dusty boots would shame you now Lady Day
Are we really that far apart
Laughing down at your oldest friend
The one who shared just about all he had
In a one-sided love affair
I get scared when I remember too much
Wasted time I suppose you could say that
Strange it don't seem that way to me
But wait a minute
I don't even think you're listening
Just let me tell you how I really feel
I've seen the inside of your heart Lady Day
When you wanted to be shown the way
I loved you then as I love ya now girl
The lyrics to Rod Stewart's song Lady Day tell a tale of a man who is reflecting on his life and relationship with a woman he loves, who is likely inspired by the legendary jazz singer, Billie Holiday (also known as Lady Day). The first stanza of the song suggests that the man has been weathered by the harshness of life, as he speaks of how the north winds have aged him and how hard he has tried in his life. He doesn't see himself as a perfect picture, but feels a deep love for Lady Day that he wants to express. He wants to stay close to Lady Day, but he is not sure if she feels the same way about him because she has never asked him to stay. He is also aware that his dusty boots would not befit the glamour of Lady Day.
The second stanza of the song is a desperate plea from the man to Lady Day. He is scared of the memories that flood his mind when he thinks of their relationship. He reflects on the time he spent with her, which he feels was wasted. The man cannot understand why Lady Day does not want to hear what he has to say about his feelings for her. He loved her in the past, and he still loves her now, but he is not sure if she feels the same way.
Overall the song is a sorrowful and heartfelt message from a man who still deeply loves a woman he once had a relationship with. The song is an ode to lost love and the pain of wanting to be someone’s everything, only to find out later that time has passed them by.
Line by Line Meaning
North winds have made my face a little older
I've weathered the storms of life, and it's taken a toll on me.
And my back is bent through trying too hard
I've worked hard, perhaps too hard, and it's taken a physical toll on me.
My vest is torn so I make no perfect picture
I may not look like much, but there's more to me than meets the eye.
To place upon your white-washed wall
I know I may not fit your ideal image of perfection.
I'd like to stay but you have not asked me
I'm willing to be here, but I won't force myself on you.
Still I don't really expect you to
I know you may not want me around, and I accept that.
Dusty boots would shame you now Lady Day
My humble background may not be good enough for you anymore.
Are we really that far apart
Despite our differences, are we really that different at our core?
I wish the world could see you now Lady Day
You've grown and changed so much, and it's a shame the world can't see that.
Laughing down at your oldest friend
Despite our shared history, it seems like you've outgrown me.
The one who shared just about all he had
I've given you everything I had to give, and it feels like it wasn't enough.
In a one-sided love affair
I loved you more than you loved me, and it hurts to admit that.
I get scared when I remember too much
Thinking back on our past makes me nervous and afraid of what the future holds.
Wasted time I suppose you could say that
Looking back, maybe our time together was a waste.
Strange it don't seem that way to me
Despite everything, I still don't regret being with you.
But wait a minute
Hang on, let me explain further.
I don't even think you're listening
I'm not sure if you're really paying attention to what I'm saying.
Just let me tell you how I really feel
I need to express my true emotions to you, even if it hurts.
I've seen the inside of your heart Lady Day
I understand who you are at your core, even if others don't.
When you wanted to be shown the way
I was there for you in your time of need when you needed guidance.
I loved you then as I love ya now girl
Despite everything, I still love you after all this time.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROD STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamessupernor6681
I bought this album back in 71or 72 its nice but so many people, places and things have passed that I am not sure if it makes me happy to hear?.
@josephlemko3027
One of the excellent songs that makes up Rod's outstanding album "Gasoline Alley."
@joannepagano6195
Sweet memories of bygone days
@mariateresamarquez6081
Soulful voice of Rod is delicious to listen with matching guitar superb guitar rift. This is execellent music from Rod.
@antoinettefisher6895
I played this one twice.❤
@timnolan4803
Best Rod Stewart song ever. Phenomenal guitar wok.
@randallkoch6215
I agree, but the violins also helped make this song.
@MrDallman
I so agree….remember buying this in 1971 , I was 13 . A great time to be growing up.Stay well my friend
@margaretlucero6338
❤Love you Rod Stewart! You would never be a waste of time to any one. Your heart is blessed... your #1fan
@timnolan4803
50 years. Old. Unbelievable. Best guitar playing ever.