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)
Tear It Up
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on, little baby, let's tear that dance floor up.
Come on, little mama, let me see you strut your stuff.
I'm a' leaving, little baby, gonna be gone a long, long time.
I'm a' leaving, little baby, gonna be gone a long, long time.
Well come on honey and show me a real good time.
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Come on little baby let me see you strut your stuff.
Well you step back baby, and you move my way,
step around again and let me hear you say
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Come on little baby, let me see you strut your stuff.
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Come on little mama let me see you strut your stuff.
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Come on little mama let me see you strut your stuff.
The lyrics of Rod Stewart's song Tear It Up are an invitation to dance and have a great time. He sings to a woman, calling her "little baby" and "little mama," and asking her to join him on the dance floor. He wants to tear it up and see her strut her stuff. He is leaving for a long time, so he wants to make the most of the moment with this woman. The chorus repeats multiple times, emphasizing the desire to have a good time and let loose.
The language used in the song is playful and fun, which contributes to the overall feeling of wanting to dance and enjoy life. The lyrics also suggest a bit of flirtation, as the singer encourages the woman to move closer to him and show him a good time. The chorus, with its emphasis on the phrase "tear it up," suggests a kind of wild abandon and an intent to enjoy the moment to the fullest.
This song is a classic example of Rod Stewart's style and persona, which appeals to many listeners who enjoy his rock-infused pop music. The lyrics of Tear It Up are straightforward and catchy, making the song memorable and easy to sing along with. Overall, the song is a fun and energetic call to dance and let go of inhibitions.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, little baby, let's tear that dance floor up.
Let's hit the dance floor and have a great time together.
Come on, little mama, let me see you strut your stuff.
Hey you, show off your moves and impress me.
I'm a' leaving, little baby, gonna be gone a long, long time.
I'm going away for a while, sweetheart.
Well come on honey and show me a real good time.
Before I go, let's make some unforgettable memories together.
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Let's really enjoy ourselves, let loose, and have fun.
Come on little baby let me see you strut your stuff.
I want to see you dance and show off your best moves.
Well you step back baby, and you move my way,
Step aside for a moment, and let me show you how it's done.
step around again and let me hear you say
Now it's your turn, show me what you've got.
Come on little mama let me see you strut your stuff.
I want to see you dance and impress me again.
Tear it up! Tear it up!
Let's keep the energy high and have a great time.
Come on little mama let me see you strut your stuff.
Show me what you're made of, and let's keep dancing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian May
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind