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)
This
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a set designer, my Mum and Dad
Thinking I'm gay
I'm a lazy bugger, but I like my sport
Like girls and music, I'm happy, happy sort
(Of a guy)
But there's one thing I'm lacking
So I ask you, my sweetheart
Save me from this wilderness
I've dreamed, honey, of a night like this
Where I come from, love is
Just a hole in the wall
And the steel mills ring out and generations
Heed the call
And the rain never stops and the skies are grey
And the chance of romance
Slim as a bright sunny day
This is partly the reason
I'm so overwhelmed and shy
Because your beauty, by contrast
Is gonna make a young man cry
I've dreamed, honey, of a night like this
I've schemed, honey, of a night like this
You don't know what it means to a boy from
A suburban home
To be left with a woman like you
Completely alone
I've dreamed, honey, of a night like this
Nice place you've got here, babe
Never seen a house like this
Pool like an ocean, bed like a football pitch
All the guys at the boozer, won't believe my luck
But it couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke
(Than me)
So here we are, the record's
Gotten stuck in the groove
My knees are trembling, c'mon baby, make a move
I've dreamed, honey, of a night like this
I've schemed, honey, of a night like this
I've dreamed, I've schemed, honey
Of a night like this
I've dreamed, honey, of a night like this
The lyrics to Rod Stewart's "This" are a contemplative and introspective reflection on love and faith. The song begins with the line "Down by law, on Baker Street," which suggests a sense of order and rules, perhaps the kind that love and relationships often adhere to. The next line "Lay your head back on, this field of dreams" is an invitation to let go and allow oneself to be vulnerable and exposed in the presence of this force that seems to hold everything together. The line "Then close your eyes" signifies a sense of surrender and a willingness to let love work its magic.
The song continues with the lines "There's a few that, find love, on Sundays down by the sea, and they wash clean, like angels." This line suggests that love can be found in the most unexpected places, and when it comes, it washes away all our flaws and imperfections. The image of being like angels is significant because it suggests the purity and innocence that love brings.
The repeated refrain of "I have no words to say to you, I have no dream to take you to, I have no ring for you to kiss, baby, all I have is this" speaks to the idea that love is not about grand gestures or material possessions, but rather about being present and showing up for each other. It is not about having all the answers or the perfect dream, but rather about being willing to walk the path of love together.
Line by Line Meaning
Down by law, on Baker Street
On Baker Street, with its strong connotation of the law, the singer invokes an image of himself as someone with authority, doing things the right way
Lay your head back on, this field of dreams
As the singer takes on a somewhat paternalistic role, they invite the listener to relax in a place of boundless possibility, promising unrequited happiness
Then close your eyes
The singer finishes their instructions, implying that the listener is now safe in their care and can let down their guard
There's a few that, find love
On Sundays down by the sea
And they wash clean, like angels
(And they wash clean like angel's wings)
High above the waves so free
Observing that some people do manage to find lasting love, the artist depicts love as a source of purity and transcendence - a metaphor which is extended to the 'washing' effect of the sea
I have no words to say to you
I have no dream to take you to
I have no ring for you to kiss
Baby, all I have is this
The artist confesses that they can't offer the listener grand gestures or romantic fantasies, and can only hope their own authenticity shines through in their small expression of love
Pray for grace, keep the faith
Walk on down the road
Wait for me, look for love
The singer takes on the role of spiritual advisor, addressing the listener's faith and encouraging them to keep moving forward in anticipation of the singer's return
Are you fearless? Reckless?
Homeless and all alone?
Can you make love, heal things?
Make my heart go wild again?
The singer poses a series of questions, challenging the listener to be bold and determined in the face of adversity; they suggest that the listener's capacity for healing and passion might rejuvenate their own heart
And she says it doesn't matter anymore
Shifting perspectives, the artist reports that someone else (perhaps the listener) has lost faith in the significance of love, and is becoming disillusioned
All I have is on my sleeve
All I want is your sweet love, baby
All I saw was open space
Walk down the road, fearless, fearless
Returning to their own perspective, the artist reiterates their own commitment to the listener, heart on their sleeve and eager for the listener's love. They encourage the listener to keep moving forward, fearlessly.
All I have is this
The artist summarises their situation again, stressing that they aren't wealthy or powerful, but love the listener deeply and truly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROD STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@deboahmasson1802
Sir Rod Stewart is the best of the best. There will never be another who could top this amazing talented man. He's truly one on a kind! ❤❤
@wendywalker216
He just keeps getting better looking as time goes by & he was already gorgeous from the beginning.
@stevencochran5301
I have his hair, though mangled.
@heatherbarlow547
So sexy no other man looks that good
@susanbittner2095
I agree he is so gorgeous! He always has been so gorgeous! He gets better and better looking as time goes on!💖❤️💜
@breigesheppard8339
I sooooo agree soooo lovehim😢 🍀❤
@marilynneharris4722
That is pure sound
Pure talent
The purest sounds words feelings
Expressed like ive never heard before or seen that .
The man with the golden earring
The ear to the heart pure gold🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
@dorothykuveke1217
I never asked for anything more than this. I believe we call it TRUE 💕 LOVE💋🕊️ Thank you for bringing me back to life. A life I know I'm going to love 💘
@dode5064
I just love this man.
What a voice. His choice of song is wonderful.
Sir Rod at his very best 💙💙💙💙
@BenMarcus-mo4si
Why the #blue hearts ?