You're Insane
Rod Stewart Lyrics


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You must be crazy or half insane
Look at your eyeballs, street cocaine
You drink that white rum, you hit the roof
What do you expect, one-five-one proof

You drive your mustang down Sunset Strip
And in the back seat, a big black whip
Look at your lipstick, all 'round your face
Everything you do is in bad taste

Baby I think you're cute
But there's no substitute for love
Honey it's a crying shame
This whole mad town thinks you're insane

You take me dancing but I can't dance
but when I try to, you start to laugh
You shake your hips child like a rattle snake
You make me jealous make no mistake

You went to Woodstock and all that trash
Your generation is fading fast
You wear them hot pants, they're out of style
You like brown sugar, I think it's vile

Baby I think you're cute
But there's no substitute for love
Honey it's a crying shame
This whole mad town thinks you're insane

One of these nights child, it won't be long
Somebody somewhere who's big and strong
In a dark alley, a blood stained coat
He'll stick his long thing right down your throat

Baby I think you're cute
But there's no substitute for love
Honey it's a crying shame
This whole mad town thinks you're insane

Lord have mercy
Hey baby, I think you're insane baby
You got no brain, you're insane

Tell me baby, can you play harp
Can you play bass
Can you play guitar




Can you play drum
Then you're insane

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Rod Stewart's song "You're Insane" are a contemplation and critique of a woman's excessive and reckless behavior. The first verse suggests that the woman is abusing drugs and alcohol, and the resulting behaviors are out of control. The second verse represents the woman's taste in fashion, music, and lifestyle as outdated and trashy. Throughout the song, the singer expresses both his attraction to her and his frustration with her behavior. The refrain suggests that while the singer finds the woman physically attractive, he believes that her behavior is insane.


The song appears to be about a woman who is a part of the counterculture movement of the late 60s and early 70s. Her behavior reflects the era's ideals of free love, drugs, and rock and roll. However, the singer thinks she has taken it too far and warns her of the potential dangers she could face. The song suggests that the person's behavior could lead to destructive and even violent consequences.


The song's lyrics are subjective and leave room for interpretation. Some may interpret the lyrics as a warning to a woman to change her ways, while others may view it as the singer's frustration with society's norms. Nevertheless, the song is an accurate reflection of the era and the social changes brought about by the counterculture movement.


Line by Line Meaning

You must be crazy or half insane
I suspect that you are either crazy or not fully sane.


Look at your eyeballs, street cocaine
You have dilated pupils that are probably a product of consuming cocaine.


You drink that white rum, you hit the roof
Once you drink that high proof rum, you get easily agitated.


What do you expect, one-five-one proof
The rum you drink has an incredibly high proof and is bound to cause some trouble.


You drive your mustang down Sunset Strip
You drive your Mustang around Sunset Strip.


And in the back seat, a big black whip
In the back seat of your Mustang is a large black whip.


Look at your lipstick, all 'round your face
Your lipstick is smeared all around your mouth and chin.


Everything you do is in bad taste
Your actions and style are generally crude and unpleasant.


Baby I think you're cute
Despite your questionable actions, I am still attracted to you.


But there's no substitute for love
However, love itself cannot be replaced with mere attraction.


Honey it's a crying shame
It is unfortunate and regrettable.


This whole mad town thinks you're insane
Everyone in this town shares my opinion that you may not be entirely 'sane'.


You take me dancing but I can't dance
You take me to dance but I'm not skilled in the art.


but when I try to, you start to laugh
Even though I try to dance, you just laugh and never show any signs teaching me.


You shake your hips child like a rattle snake
You move your hips very fast and aggressively like a rattlesnake, which can be impressive but also intimidates me.


You make me jealous make no mistake
Your actions make me envious without a doubt.


You went to Woodstock and all that trash
You attended Woodstock and similar events that could have tainted your character and mindset.


Your generation is fading fast
Your age group is slowly fading away.


You wear them hot pants, they're out of style
You wear hot pants that were trendy, but are outdated now.


You like brown sugar, I think it's vile
You enjoy brown sugar, but I think it is unpleasant.


One of these nights child, it won't be long
Soon, a powerful figure will assail you at night.


Somebody somewhere who's big and strong
A muscular individual from an unknown location will do you harm.


In a dark alley, a blood stained coat
This violent event will occur in a place with little light, and the perpetrator will have blood on their clothes.


He'll stick his long thing right down your throat
He will likely shove something down your mouth violently.


Lord have mercy
May the Lord have pity on you.


Hey baby, I think you're insane baby
My darling, I still believe you may not be mentally sound.


You got no brain, you're insane
You seem to lack brain power and may very well be insane.


Tell me baby, can you play harp
Can you play the harp, my love?


Can you play bass
Can you play the bass guitar?


Can you play guitar
Can you play the regular guitar?


Can you play drum
Can you play the drums?


Then you're insane
If you can play all those instruments together, then you must be insane!




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PHIL CHEN, ROD STEWART

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@moriyokiri3229

Phil Chen is killing it on the bass. What a groove. RIP Phil, you're a legend and you will be missed.

@angelaallen340

Killing it on the bass... Dayum I love this

@angelaallen340

😯😯😯😯😯😯😁😁😁😁

@sueking4227

R.I.P. PHIL!🙏🙏💔

@tanyathomas4197

And how about Carmine ! C.A. is his usual on the mark machine like presence with that flamboyant flair that's says let me out before I do.something crazy like type of aurora.

@richbrake9910

I may be crazy or half insane, but I still love this song.....

@angelaallen340

Me toooooo.👍🌹

@richbrake9910

@Angela Allen 😃

@pal57898

Gonna see him live in a few days, too bad this will not be included in his setlist, one of my favorites songs of him, this album was one of his finest

@brucegitow731

Great funky hard rockin' cut from Foot Loose and Fancy Free. Thanks Rod for the great music.

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