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)
Merry Christmas
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sure did treat me nice
I said, "Merry Christmas, baby"
You sure did treat me nice
Bought me a diamond ring for Christmas
And I feel like I'm in paradise, alright
Well, I'm feel mighty fine, y'all
Said I'm feeling mighty nice y'all
Got my music on the radio (radio)
I feel like I wanna kiss you, baby
Standing underneath that mistletoe
That mistletoe, yeah
Santa came down the chimney
Half past three, y'all
And he left all them good presents for my baby
I said, "Merry Christmas, baby"
Sure did treat me nice
Ooh, sure did treat me nice
You bought me all them presents
Now I feel like I'm in paradise
Paradise, oh yeah, yeah
Yeah
(Baby, baby)
Well, Santa came down the chimney
About half past four
Left all them presents for me
Lyin' on the floor
I said, "Merry Christmas, baby"
Sure did treat me nice, yeah
Said you bought me a diamond ring for Christmas
And I feel like I'm in paradise
Oh, whoa, I feel like I'm in paradise
Merry Christmas, baby
You sure have treated me well
Oh, yeah
I said, "Merry, merry Christmas, baby"
You sure have treated me well
Sure did treat me well
Well, you bought me that Cartier watch for Christmas
And I feel I'm in paradise
I feel like I'm in paradise
Merry Christmas (mm, merry Christmas)
Merry Christmas (merry Christmas))
Happy New Year, baby
Happy New Year
May the good Lord be with ya
May the good Lord be with ya
May the good Lord be with ya, oh yeah
(Yeah, yeah) yeah, yeah
(Merry Christmas, baby)
(Merry Christmas, baby)
(Merry Christmas, baby)
(Merry Christmas, baby)
(Merry Christmas, baby)
(Merry Christmas, baby)
The lyrics of Rod Stewart's Merry Christmas, Baby express the joy and excitement of a person who has just received a lot of presents from their significant other during the Christmas season. The singer is evidently grateful for the presents and expresses this by showering compliments and appreciation on his partner. The diamond ring that was bought for him makes him feel like he is in paradise, which could be interpreted as to being in a state of sheer joy and heavenly bliss. The mention of music playing on the radio, as well as standing under the mistletoe, implies that there is a festive ambiance in the air, and that the spirit of Yuletide is in full swing.
As the song progresses, Santa Claus makes a surprise visit and drops off even more presents for the singer. This only increases his happiness, as he feels that he has received all the gifts he could ever want. He again compliments his lover on how well he has been treated for Christmas. The song concludes as he expresses his appreciation once more for all the presents, and wishes everyone a Happy New Year.
It's important to note that Rod Stewart's version is a cover of Johnny Moore's Three Blazers' 1947 original blues song "Merry Christmas Baby". However, the lyrics to Stewart's version differ slightly from the original.
Line by Line Meaning
Merry Christmas, baby
Expressing joy and goodwill for the festive holiday season
Sure did treat me nice
Grateful for the kindness and generosity shown
Bought me a diamond ring for Christmas
Received an extravagant and precious gift from the person being addressed
And I feel like I'm in paradise, alright
Experiencing happiness and contentment from the gift and the giver
Got my music on the radio (radio)
Enjoying the holiday with music and good vibes
Said I'm feeling mighty nice y'all
Feeling great and jovial
I feel like I wanna kiss you, baby
Feeling romantic and affectionate towards the person addressed
Standing underneath that mistletoe
Referring to the custom of kissing under the mistletoe during the holiday season
Santa came down the chimney
Referring to the fictional character who brings presents during Christmas
Half past three, y'all
A specific time reference to Santa's arrival
And he left all them good presents for my baby
Expressing gratitude for the gifts received
You bought me all them presents
Appreciative for the multiple gifts received from the person addressed
Now I feel like I'm in paradise
The gifts received are making the person feel incredibly happy and content
About half past four
A specific time reference to when Santa left the presents
Well, you bought me that Cartier watch for Christmas
Referring to an expensive and luxurious gift received
Happy New Year, baby
Extending well wishes for the upcoming year
May the good Lord be with ya
Blessings and prayers for the person being addressed
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lou Baxter, Johnny Dudley Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Bethhhf
One of my favourite Christmas songs 🥰 love their voices together!
@juliavernon5001
This is my favorite Christmas song! Rod and Cee Lo sound great together!❤️
@jackleonard637
Two distinct voices.
@brendajeannewyche2294
You guys sound awesome together. Great chemistry. I smiled the whole time. Exquisite band, too! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙌🏽😁
@victoriasmith1657
Just makes me smile, big! Love this version. I have played it on repeat while driving many times since my purchase of Rod's Christmas album release last year. And, oh, my, Rod still looks great...not a day over 45!
@CelWeiss
Beautiful performance!
@Cattt01
Wow! Is this a new Christmas song?? Makes me what to jump up, dance, and clap my hands! A happy song! Cee-Lo and Rod Stewart sound perfect live! Good job!
@janicereinsmith8744
This is my favorite duet for this song...Excellent and I listen to all year long
@debra1984
Have this on blast coming and going to work
@suzy1739
If this doesn't get you in the mood for Christmas nothing will!!!