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)
Oh
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On another dark wet December afternoon
All my cherished memories are of you
All my warmth and comfort stayed with you
I would have wrote you a letter
but the telephone calls are free
Cause the boys in the next apartment
They're a great bunch of guys
But I think they're all gay
What am I doing
Avoiding what I'm trying to say
Oh God I wish I was home tonight
With you in my arms
Oh God I wish I was home tonight
Send me a naked picture
By the U.S. mail
Write a pornographic letter
You know I won't tell
Keep your legs closed tight
keep your body under lock and key
Stay home at night
And save all the best parts for me
Yeah baby
Oh God I wish I was home tonight
Yes I do baby
Oh God I wish I was home tonight, oh
I could be home in time for Christmas
If you want me to be
There's a plane leaves here at midnight
Arriving at three
But I'm a bit financially embarrased
I must admit
To tell you the truth my honey
I haven't a cent
Oh God I wish I was home tonight
Tonight baby
Oh God I wish I was home tonight
Guess I'd better ring off
Before the boys get home
My regards to all your family
And everyone at home
There's a lump comes in my throat
And a tear I can't hide
Cause I want to see you so badly
I just may die
And you know why baby
Oh God I wish I was home tonight
With the ones that I love
Oh God I wish I was home tonight
Oh God I wish I was home tonight
Oh my God I wish I was home tonight
Tonight, tonight
I've been hearing voices
Out on the street
They say you've found some one else
Who's really quite neat
But he doesn't move you like I do
Tell me what I wanna hear
That it just ain't true
The song "Oh God I Wish I Was Home Tonight" by Rod Stewart is a melancholic ballad about a man who is away from home and misses his love interest. The song begins with the imagery of rain pouring down on a dark and wet December afternoon, setting a melancholic tone. The singer reminisces about his fond memories with his lover, expressing that his pleasure and comfort stayed with her. He ponders about writing a letter, but instead suggests a phone call, as it would be free. He then digresses, alluding to the boys in the neighboring apartment, whom he describes as "a great bunch of guys but thinks they're all gay," before finally getting to the point.
The singer expresses his longing for his lover and wishes that he were with her, holding her in his arms. He advises her to keep her body under lock and key, save the best parts for him, and send a pornographic letter with a naked picture to him, which he vows to keep confidential. He then talks about flying back home, but admits that he is financially embarrassed and has no money to go back. The song ends with the singer hanging up, with the lump in his throat and a tear he can't hide, longing to be with his lover, as he hears whispers that she has found someone new.
Line by Line Meaning
The rain poured down the wind swept avenue
It was a dark and gloomy day, in which there was a lot of rain and wind.
On another dark wet December afternoon
It refers to the time when the events that inspired the song occurred, which was also during December, but with bad weather conditions.
All my cherished memories are of you
The only things that bring comfort and warmth to me at this time are my memories of you.
All my warmth and comfort stayed with you
You are the only one who can bring me the warmth and comfort that I seek.
I would have wrote you a letter
I was thinking about writing a letter to you, to express my feelings.
but the telephone calls are free
However, I decided to call you instead because of the low cost of telephone calls.
Cause the boys in the next apartment
The reason why I don't write you letters is that there are some guys living next door to me.
Are working all day
They work hard all day long, so they are not at home during the day.
They're a great bunch of guys
They are nice and friendly people.
But I think they're all gay
I suspect that they are all homosexuals.
What am I doing
I'm now contemplating.
Avoiding what I'm trying to say
The real reason why I'm not writing you letters and I am calling you instead is that I don't know how to tell you what I really want to say.
Oh God I wish I was home tonight
I really wish I was with you right now.
With you in my arms
I would like to hold you tight and feel the warmth of your body.
Send me a naked picture
I ask you to send me a revealing photo of yourself.
By the U.S. mail
You can send it through the regular postal service.
Write a pornographic letter
If you don't want to send a photo, you could write me an erotic letter.
You know I won't tell
Don't worry, I can keep it a secret.
Keep your legs closed tight
Please wait for me and don't engage in any sexual behavior with anyone else.
keep your body under lock and key
Take care of your body, and don't put it at risk by seeing other people.
Stay home at night
Spend your evenings at home and don't go out partying.
And save all the best parts for me
Please keep the most intimate parts of yourself for me to explore when we are together.
Yeah baby
I'm expressing my agreement with what I just said.
I could be home in time for Christmas
If you want me to be with you for Christmas, I can try to make it happen.
If you want me to be
I would like to know your feelings about it and if you are willing to have me there.
There's a plane leaves here at midnight
There's a flight I could take that would allow me to get there in time.
Arriving at three
I would get there at three o'clock in the morning.
But I'm a bit financially embarrased
However, the problem is that I don't have the money for the ticket.
I must admit
I must confess.
To tell you the truth my honey
I'm being sincere, darling.
I haven't a cent
I don't have any money at all.
Guess I'd better ring off
I need to finish this phone call.
Before the boys get home
Before my neighbors come back and start making noise and I can't hear you anymore.
My regards to all your family
Please send my greetings to your family.
And everyone at home
And anyone else you want to greet, including your roommates or friends.
There's a lump comes in my throat
I have a feeling of sadness and longing that makes it hard for me to talk.
And a tear I can't hide
I'm crying, and I can't help but feel emotional as I speak to you.
Cause I want to see you so badly
The reason why I'm so emotional is that I miss you a lot.
I just may die
I'm exaggerating, but I feel like I'm suffocating without you here.
And you know why baby
You know exactly why I am feeling this way.
Guess I'd better ring off
I need to finish the phone call and say goodbye.
With the ones that I love
I want to be with the people that I care about the most.
Oh my God I wish I was home tonight
I'm expressing my desire to be home, where I belong.
I've been hearing voices
I can't help but feel like I'm being told something by a higher power.
Out on the street
It's happening to me while I'm walking around town.
They say you've found some one else
I'm hearing rumors that you've found someone new.
Who's really quite neat
This person is apparently interesting and attractive.
But he doesn't move you like I do
However, I feel like no one can love you or move your emotions the way I can.
Tell me what I wanna hear
Please reassure me by telling me what I need to hear to feel better.
That it just ain't true
Tell me that the rumors are not true and that you are still mine.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LARRY ERNEST BLACKMON, PHILIP CHEN, JAMES CREGAN, GARY GRAINGER, JAMES SAMUEL III HARRIS, TERRY LEWIS, ANTHONY LOCKETT, KEVIN SAVIGAR, ROD STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GG-mh9of
Poor old grand-dad
I laughed at all his words
I thought he was a bitter man
He spoke of women's ways
They'll trap you, then they use you
And before you even know
For love is blind and you're far too kind
Don't ever let it show
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was younger
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was stronger
The can-can, such a pretty show
Steals your heart away
But backstage back on earth again
The dressing rooms are gray
They come on strong and it ain't too long
For they make you feel a man
But love is blind and you soon will find
You're just a boy again
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was younger
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was stronger
When you want her lips, you get her cheek
Makes you wonder where you are
If you want some more then she's fast asleep
Leave's you twinkling with the stars
Poor young grandson
There's nothing I can say
You'll have to learn, just like me
And that's the hardest way
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was younger
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was stronger
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was younger
I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was stronger
Ooh la la
Ooh la la
Yeah yeah
Ooh la la
Ooh la la
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Ooh la la
Ooh la la
Ooh la la
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Ooh la la
@jaxbarnettprice
“Poor old grandad, I laughed at all his words.” Every time I hear that line, it always takes me back to times when my Mom and I would laugh so hard at the stories my 85 year old Grandpa Jim was telling. He’s extremely hilarious and acts like a child. Sure blessed that he’s still alive today and doing well. He’s like the happiest old man I know. So every time I hear this song, I usually think of him. Thank you Rod Stewart.
@patriciawright8786
JaxPrice Films--That was a great story. You have your grandpa's genes, & could live to be over a hundred yrs. old. Now, think about some young PUNK not caring IF, your wonderful granddad got Covid-19? Because he knows the chances are good that he won't DIE if, he gets it, so he doesn't stay home, & doesn't wear masks? My dad died 4 yrs. ago at 100 yrs. old. He was LOVED very much by all 7 of his kids. (I'm the youngest) By all his grandkids, & his many great-grandkids. Even old neighbors that he hadn't lived by for 10 yrs. Showed up to his full military honors funeral. He was an Air-Force Pilot, & won all kinds of big-time metals, & I didn't even know about them until that day. A wonderful person who is well-loved, & has 10 yrs. shaved off their lives by this virus is tragic. It can mean that a grandchild never gets to know their wonderful grandma! Some people's lives are not more important than someone else's. JUST, because they are younger. Matter of fact, there are some YOUNG people who their death might be a good thing? We will never know who. SO, STAY SAFE! For yourself, & your marvelous grandpa.
@jaxbarnettprice
Patricia Wright Thank you so much!! You are very sweet and kind. Much respect to your old man who made it to 100! That’s really incredible!
@thecurtray
my grandad was my world and i miss him alot. i went to war and he went to sleep on me. he knows i was with him. he was a hillbilly tobacco farmer that used horses for work. peace to you
@CamdenMcInnis
Pay close attention. That man is dropping gems. Glad you have him around to guide you. I wish I was close with my grandfathers
@ericb2501
Enjoy every minute w/him!
@maried.9538
This song always makes me smile , cause it's TRUE & it's a great song !!
I'm 61 year's old & I wished that I knew what I know now when I was younger & when I was stronger .
@nickpatterson6099
yeah i'm 32 now. and damn does this song hit. i dont know about you but i love how he has all these beautiful women around him and he's just jammin on the guitar doing his thing. i'm not old but i'm older now and priorities are different, passion is different. its just lovely going back in time for a moment and seeing yourself now.
@burnikburnik3605
Passing by because of my guitar lesson.
@TheBlackSheepDiaries
Want to see a real amateur's lame attempt at this one? Stop on over, show ya how not to do it!