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)
People Get Ready
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a train a-coming
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels humming
Don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
People get ready
For the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
From coast to coast
Faith is the key
Open the doors and board them
There's room for all
Among the loved the most
There ain't no room
For the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just
To save his own
Have pity on those
Whose chances are thinner
Cause there's no hiding place
From the Kingdom's Throne
So people get ready
For the train a-comin'
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels humming
Don't need no ticket
You just thank, you just thank the Lord
Yeah
Oh
Yeah
Oh
I'm getting ready
I'm getting ready
This time I'm ready
This time I'm ready
"People Get Ready" is a soulful and uplifting masterpiece of a song by Rod Stewart that speaks to the basic human desire for hope and redemption in life. The lyrics inspire listeners to prepare themselves for a metaphorical train to Jordan, which represents a spiritual journey towards a better, more meaningful existence. The urgency in the lyrics emphasizes that there is no time to waste, and that we must be ready to jump aboard the train when it comes. The song suggests that you don't need material possessions or wealth to make the journey, that all you need is faith in something bigger.
The song speaks to the idea that people who live life purposefully and with goodwill have a place waiting for them in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who live selfishly and hurt others to protect themselves are ostracized in this world and in the next, with "no hiding place from the Kingdom's Throne." The song is a powerful reminder that redemption is open to everyone of faith, no matter where you come from or how you look.
Line by Line Meaning
People get ready
Prepare yourself, mentally and spiritually, for what's coming.
There's a train a-coming
The train refers to a metaphorical journey, implying that an opportunity or event is approaching.
You don't need no baggage
Leave behind any emotional baggage or negative feelings that may hold you back from taking that opportunity.
You just get on board
Don't hesitate, get on board with the opportunity presented before you.
All you need is faith
Having faith in oneself and their abilities is crucial for the journey or opportunity ahead.
To hear the diesels humming
To appreciate and experience the journey, with all its ups and downs.
Don't need no ticket
No material possessions or wealth is required for this journey.
You just thank the Lord
Be thankful for the opportunity being granted and for the blessings in life.
For the train to Jordan
The journey is towards a better place or a desired end goal.
Picking up passengers
Others may join in on the same journey, with their own personal goals.
From coast to coast
People from all walks of life are included in the journey.
Faith is the key
Believing in oneself and a greater power is a necessary component of the journey.
Open the doors and board them
Welcome and encourage others to join in on the team, despite their differences or unique backgrounds.
There's room for all
The journey is inclusive, and everyone has a place in it.
Among the loved the most
All passengers, regardless of their past, are loved and valued.
There ain't no room
There is no space for those who would try to harm others for personal gain.
For the hopeless sinner
Those who have had a difficult past and have lost hope are still encouraged to join the positive journey.
Who would hurt all mankind just
The journey is not a place for those who bring harm to others and put themselves first.
To save his own
Selfish behavior is not tolerated on this journey.
Have pity on those
Do not judge or ostracize others who have not had equal opportunities or a privileged past.
Whose chances are thinner
Some people may need more support and guidance than others, and that's okay.
Cause there's no hiding place
No one can hide from their past or their actions on this journey, but everyone deserves the chance to redeem themselves.
From the Kingdom's Throne
One's past or current status in society is not a basis for their worth.
I'm getting ready
The singer is also preparing himself for the journey, indicating that this is a personal journey for everyone.
This time I'm ready
The singer may have had doubts or hesitations about the journey in the past, but now he is ready to take it on wholeheartedly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curtis Mayfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jannaghaleiw5504
People get ready
There's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels hummin'
You don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
So people get ready
There'a a train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
Coast to coast
Faith is the key
Open the doors and board them
There's hope for all
Among those loved the most
There ain't no room
For the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind
Just to save his own
Have pity on those whose
Chances grow thinner
There's no hiding place
Against the Kingdom's throne
So people get ready
There's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
@c.e.anderson558
I went to see him in Vegas. Late 80s.
After hour wait guy says Rod sick can't play.
Bummer. Reschedule.
He played 3 hours!
Songs I had forgotten he did. He was SO personable with the audience.
Started Maggie and after intro stopped whole band.
Said "I love that part let's do it again".
I'd been to concerts since mid 70s, mainly in Houston, but this was and is the best.
The band was impeccable and sound marvelous.
@sFootballandskijumping
Who in 2024??
@jjuniper274
When my husband was sick, he played this often on his guitar.
10 years on, I can finally listen to it, but not without tears.
Blessing to Mr. Beck and Mr. Stewart. You gave him comfort.
@johnod1955
I'm afraid I knw that same feeling too well. I wish you well.
@jeffyoder8105
I'm not sure that there'll ever be a better version of this song than what Jeff and Rod combined their efforts and talents to make 😮😊 😅😢😂❤😂😊❤😊❤
@nodirtyenv
Oh yeah, there is... ...Curtis Mayfield
@fhl1369
This version is truly fantastic another beautiful version is Crystal Lewis People get Ready
@joemartinez4890
Not luke this one!
@wandathornhill1221
Curtis Mayfield wrote and sung this song, he's one of the greatest song writers in his time. He had a unique voice too, like Rod. In fact I like both versions.
@wandathornhill1221
@fhl1369 Curtis Mayfield too.
@elcamman50
Jeff has boarded the train. God bless him and may he rest in peace. Say hello to Jimi, Jeff.