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)
Muddy Sam and Otis
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember
When I was only seventeen
The bohemian poet
And dosciple of the streets
Or was I just a little kid
Searching for identity in '63
Heard it on the radio
On a cold December night
It came burning down the air waves
Like a savior's shinin' light
All the way from the U.S.A.
Across the Atlantic far away
The magic came
The house began to rock
With Cupid and his bow
The hootchy kootchy man's
Lonely harp began to blow
Little did I know that
nothing in my life
Would ever be the same
Stayed up all night
Playin' every 45
Tryin' to sound like you
Strummed my guitar in bed
Till my fingers bled
Tryin' to play like you
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
Thank you Muddy
For the sounds you made
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
Thank you, Muddy
For the times we shared
And they carry on
I saw Otis back in 1965
Tears in my eyes
As he sung "These Arms Of mine"
But angels needed a soul man
For the celestial blues band
They took him home (took you home)
Oh, what I'd give to see
That red mohair suit and hear
"Dock Of The Bay"
Or Sam in his two tone
Singin' "Bring It On Back Home"
What a show that would be
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
Thank you Muddy
For the sounds you made
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
Thank you, Muddy
For the times we shared
And they carry on
If I sound sentimental
It's because this blue-eyed soul boys
Got so much respect
My gratitude to you
Runs deep, proud and true
I will never forget
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
Thank you Muddy
For the sounds you made
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
Thank you, Muddy
For the times you gave
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
Thank you Muddy
For the sounds you made
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
Thank you, Muddy
For the times you gave
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Sam
Thank you, Otis, thank you, Muddy
You'll never, never fade away ...
The lyrics of Rod Stewart's "Muddy Sam and Otis" is basically a tribute to the influential African American musicians, Muddy Waters, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding. The singer in the song reminisces on his teenage years and how he fell in love with the music of the three artists he's paying homage to. He talks about how he listened to their music all night long, played every 45, and tried to sound like them. He also recounts seeing Otis Redding live in 1965 and how moved he was by his performance. He laments their passing and expresses his gratitude for the sounds and times they shared, which he says "carry on."
Through his tribute, Rod Stewart is acknowledging and expressing gratitude to the African American musicians who have inspired and influenced him personally, and whose music has shaped popular music worldwide. Rod also pays attention to how their music transcended different cultural spaces and oceans, especially the Atlantic (where the blues had taken root giving birth to soul music and eventually rock and roll). This is why he credits Sam, Otis, and Muddy for the magic that saved him on a cold December night while their music traveled across the Atlantic to Britain where it became a source of inspiration for British rock bands in the 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, yeah, I know, I know, I know
The singer is acknowledging that they have experienced something significant and they understand the impact it had on them.
I remember
The singer is recalling a specific moment or time period in their past.
When I was only seventeen
The state of the singer's age at the time they are recalling in their memory.
The bohemian poet
The referring to the artist's previous self as an artistic and unconventional personality.
And dosciple of the streets
The artist is alluding to the fact that they were involved in a subculture and found a sense of community in it.
Or was I just a little kid
The singer is questioning the level of their maturity at the time they are recalling.
Searching for identity in '63
The year that the singer is recalling their memories from.
Heard it on the radio
The artist is recalling having heard a song on the radio during this time.
On a cold December night
The time of year when the artist heard the song on the radio.
It came burning down the air waves
The song had a strong impact on the artist, they are using a metaphor to describe the intensity of its reception.
Like a savior's shinin' light
The singer is again using a metaphor to underline the inspirational and significant impact the song had on them.
All the way from the U.S.A.
The song was from America and was transmitted across the ocean.
Across the Atlantic far away
The singer is referencing the geographical distance between themselves and the song's origin.
The magic came
The song had a magical effect on the singer and they recall its arrival in their life as a magical moment.
The house began to rock
The song had an energetic effect on the singer; the singers' physical surroundings might have even vibrated.
With Cupid and his bow
Another metaphor the artist is using to describe the impact the song had on them.
The hootchy kootchy man's
A set of words used to describe a musician.
Lonely harp began to blow
The singer is providing more description of the musician and their instrument.
Little did I know that
The singer is about to reveal some information unknown to them at the time.
nothing in my life
The artist is referencing the fact that their life changed significantly after hearing the song.
Would ever be the same
The artist's statement following the revelation that the song had significant influence on their life moving forward.
Stayed up all night
The artist is conveying the level of dedication they had towards following their inspiration from the song and working hard for it.
Playin' every 45
The singer is again emphasizing the level of dedication they had towards pursuing their interests and developing their musicianship.
Tryin' to sound like you
The artist wanted to emulate the musicians they were so inspired by.
Strummed my guitar in bed
The singer is emphasizing their level of commitment and the importance of development in pursuing their interests while practicing in bed.
Till my fingers bled
The singer is emphasizing the level of dedication and the amount of work they put into perfecting their musicianship.
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
The singer is offering thanks to Sam and Otis for the inspiration they provided through their music.
Thank you Muddy
The artist is thanking Muddy Waters for his musical contributions and inspiration in their life.
For the sounds you made
The artist is showing appreciation and gratitude for the contributions the musicians' made to the world of music.
For the times we shared
The singer is recalling the positive memories they have had that relate to the musicians' and their music.
And they carry on
The singer is showing that the memory of the musicians and the impact they had on their life will continue to live on forever.
I saw Otis back in 1965
The artist is recalling a specific time when they went to see Otis Redding perform live.
Tears in my eyes
The artist was emotional during the experience of seeing Otis perform live and cried.
As he sung 'These Arms Of mine'
The artist is referencing a song that Otis Redding performed during the concert or in general.
But angels needed a soul man
The singer is conveying that Otis was uniquely gifted and thus sought after by the 'angels', referencing the idea that the performer had moved on to another life.
For the celestial blues band
The artist is using a metaphor to indicate that the musical art in other life is above and beyond the physical world.
They took him home (took you home)
The singer is referencing Otis's end and how the metaphorical angels took him to his final resting place, home.
Oh, what I'd give to see
The singer is expressing their desire to witness the musicians perform again; hearkening back to an earlier time in their life.
That red mohair suit and hear
The singer is recalling a specific outfit that Sam Cooke wore during one of his performances.
'Dock Of The Bay'
The artist is referencing a song performed by Otis Redding.
Or Sam in his two tone
Again, the artist is recalling a specific outfit worn by Sam Cooke during one of his performances.
Singin' 'Bring It On Back Home'
The singer is referencing a song performed by Sam Cooke.
What a show that would be
The singer is expressing their excitement and anticipation for the opportunity to witness these musicians perform again.
If I sound sentimental
The artist is acknowledging that their emotions are based in a deep love and appreciation for these musicians.
It's because this blue-eyed soul boy
The artist is describing themself as a Caucasian person who sings soul music, and expressing that their emotions are reflective of a true love of the genre.
Got so much respect
The artist is indicating that they have great admiration and reverence for the musicians they are describing.
My gratitude to you
The singer is expressing their thanks to the musicians for the influence and impact they have had on their life.
Runs deep, proud and true
The artist's feelings of gratitude are vast and strongly felt.
I will never forget
The singer is indicating that they will keep the memories of these musicians with them always.
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
The singer is, again, expressing their gratitude to Sam and Otis specifically for their musical gifts.
Thank you, Muddy
The singer is, again, thanking Muddy Waters for his musical contributions.
For the times you gave
The artist is thanking the musicians for the positive experiences their music brought to their life.
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
Again, the artist is thanking Sam and Otis specifically.
Thank you, Muddy
Again, the singer is thanking Muddy Waters.
For the sounds you made
The singer is reiterating that their gratitude is focused on the musical gifts that the musicians created.
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
The artist is, once again, thanking Sam and Otis for their contributions.
Thank you, Muddy
The artist is thanking Muddy Waters.
For the times we shared
The artist is, again, referencing the positive experiences they had as a result of the musicians' music.
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
The singer is, yet again, thanking Sam and Otis specifically for their musical gifts.
Thank you Muddy
The artist is thanking Muddy Waters one last time in this song.
For the sounds you made
The singer is indicating that their gratitude is based solely on the musical contributions of the musicians.
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
One final thank you to Sam and Otis.
Thank you, Muddy
One final thank you to Muddy Waters.
For the times you gave
Once again, the artist is expressing their thankfulness and appreciation for the positive experiences they have had due to these musicians and their music.
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Otis
The artist is again thanking Sam and Otis for their musical contributions.
Thank you, Muddy
One final thank you to Muddy Waters.
For the sounds you made
One final recognition of the musicians and their contributions.
Thank you, Sam, thank you, Sam
The artist is specifically thanking Sam Cooke again with this repetition.
Thank you, Otis, thank you, Muddy
The artist is thanking Otis and Muddy Waters one final time with this repetition.
You'll never, never fade away ...
The artist is indicating that the influence and memory of these musicians will never fade away, they will always remain a crucial component of musical history.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KEVIN STUART JAMES SAVIGAR, ROD STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind