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)
You Wear It Well (Live
Rod Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But to settle down and write you a line
I've been meaning to phone you but from Minnesota
Hell it's been a very long time
You wear it well
A little old fashioned but that's all right
Well I suppose you're thinking I bet he's sinking
Oh I ain't begging or losing my head
I sure do want you to know that you wear it well
There ain't a lady in the land so fine
Remember them basement parties, your brother's karate
The all day rock and roll shows
Them homesick blues and radical views
Haven't left a mark on you, you wear it well
A little out of time but I don't mind
But I ain't forgetting that you were once mine
But I blew it without even tryin'
Now I'm eatin' my heart out
Tryin' to get a letter through
Since you've been gone it's hard to carry on
I'm gonna write about the birthday gown that I bought in town
When you sat down and cried on the stairs
You knew it did not cost the earth, but for what it's worth
You made me feel a millionaire and you wear it well
Madame Onassis got nothing on you
Anyway, my coffee's cold and I'm getting told
That I gotta get back to work
So when the sun goes low and you're home all alone
Think of me and try not to laugh and I wear it well
I don't object if you call collect
'Cause I ain't forgetting that you were once mine
But I blew it without even tryin'
Now I'm eatin' my heart out tryin' to get back to you
After all the years I hope it's the same address
Since you've been gone it's hard to carry on
Rod Stewart's song "You Wear It Well" tells a bittersweet story of a man who is writing to his former lover whom he misses dearly. He talks about how he has been meaning to call but it's been a long time since he last did so. The song is full of nostalgia as he talks about their history, the good and the not-so-good times. Despite their past, he can't help but admire and appreciate her for who she is - "a little old fashioned but that's all right". He acknowledges that they have both moved on but expresses his desire to reconnect with her.
The lyrics are full of imagery and memories shared between the two. He talks about their carefree days at basement parties, rock and roll shows, and even her brother's karate. They were both young and in love, but something happened and he admits to blowing it without trying. The emotional climax of the song is when he talks about how hard it has been for him to carry on since she left, and how he hopes the letters he sends reach her at the same address. The song ends with a subtle plea for her to think of him and not laugh, to remember the times they had and to give him another chance.
Line by Line Meaning
I had nothing to do on this hot afternoon
I had some spare time during a hot day and decided to write to you
But to settle down and write you a line
I took the time to focus on writing you a message
I've been meaning to phone you but from Minnesota
I intended to call, but distance has made it challenging
Hell it's been a very long time
It has been a significant amount of time since we last spoke
You wear it well
You present yourself beautifully
A little old fashioned but that's all right
You have a classic style that I appreciate
Well I suppose you're thinking I bet he's sinking
You may be assuming that I am struggling without you
Or he wouldn't get in touch with me
That is why I reached out to you, to let you know I am okay
Oh I ain't begging or losing my head
I am not asking for anything or acting irrationally
I sure do want you to know that you wear it well
I want you to feel confident in your presentation
There ain't a lady in the land so fine
You are the most beautiful woman I know
Remember them basement parties, your brother's karate
I recall the fun times we had at parties and watching your brother's martial arts training
The all day rock and roll shows
We enjoyed attending concerts that lasted all day long
Them homesick blues and radical views
We may have experienced some tough moments and had differing opinions, but those did not change how you present yourself
Haven't left a mark on you, you wear it well
You have maintained your beauty and grace despite any past struggles
A little out of time but I don't mind
Your style may be a bit outdated, but I still find you attractive
But I ain't forgetting that you were once mine
I remember that we were once together as a couple
But I blew it without even tryin'
I made a mistake without even attempting to make things work
Now I'm eatin' my heart out
I am filled with regret and sorrow
Tryin' to get a letter through
I am struggling to get this message to you
Since you've been gone it's hard to carry on
It has been challenging for me to move on since you left
I'm gonna write about the birthday gown that I bought in town
I want to share with you about a recent purchase I made
When you sat down and cried on the stairs
I recall a time when you were emotional and upset, and I was there to comfort you
You knew it did not cost the earth, but for what it's worth
Despite not being expensive, the gesture meant a lot to you
You made me feel a millionaire and you wear it well
Your appreciation for small gestures made me feel wealthy, and you still appear just as beautiful
Madame Onassis got nothing on you
Even Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis cannot compare to your beauty
Anyway, my coffee's cold and I'm getting told
I am being reminded to get back to work and my coffee is cold
That I gotta get back to work
I need to return to my responsibilities
So when the sun goes low and you're home all alone
If you happen to be alone at sunset, think of me
Think of me and try not to laugh and I wear it well
Remember me fondly and know that you still appear beautiful
I don't object if you call collect
You can contact me any way you prefer
'Cause I ain't forgetting that you were once mine
I want you to remember that we had a past together
But I blew it without even tryin'
I messed up our relationship without even making an effort
Now I'm eatin' my heart out tryin' to get back to you
I am filled with regret and desperately want to reconnect with you
After all the years I hope it's the same address
I am hoping that you still live at the same location as before
Since you've been gone it's hard to carry on
I am struggling to go on without you in my life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROD STEWART, MARTIN QUITTENTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marie Blue
“You Wear It Well” (1972) was penned as a collaboration between Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton. The subject of this song is Stewart writing a letter to an old flame. What she is wearing well might be her current life, the years passing by, or the birthday gown he once offered her.
The tune falls squarely into Stewart’s central body of work, as another folksy “blue-eyed soul” ballad. This sounds pretty similar to “Maggie May” (1971), a huge hit from his previous album “Every Picture Tells a Story” (1971).
Along with “You Wear It Well,” other charting singles from the “Never a Dull Moment” LP (1972) include a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Angel” (1971) and a version of Glenn Sutton’s “What Made Milwaukee Famous”, released by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1968.
The line “Madame Onassis got nothing on you” refers to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (née Bouvier) - former First Lady to and widow of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. At the time, Jacqueline - often called “Jackie O” - was the spouse of Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis until his death in 1975. Jackie O made quite a reputation for herself as a woman of grace, charm and style, prompting the London Evening Standard to comment as follows : “Jacqueline Kennedy has given the American people… one thing they have always lacked : Majesty.”
Ronnie Wood from The Faces and later of The Rolling Stones played guitar on this track. 💙🎵💚
May you rest in peace, unforgettable Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis (1929 - 1994)… 🌹
leokimvideo
I'm watching this 20 years after this live show and the song is over 50 years old. Yet this sounds 1000% better than any of the 'new' music I hear today
Kimberly Jones
No other voice like Rod's nothing but pure raw talent ........
Lois Candler
Love how the entire audience just adores him & reacts accordingly! & you can tell he loves them!
Florecita
Que bueno ver y escuchar a Rod me encanta
Samuel Delmar
There's no other artist like Rod Stewart, I love his music.
Ty Turner
Rod Stewart official. You are NOT Rod Stewart ..'Official'! 🙄 Find a life of your own, like the comment said, THERE IS ONLY ONE ROD STEWART!!!!
Xavier Long
Nobody else like him forreal
Juvy Huang
q
Jesse Mag
Always my favorite Rod Stewart song. Beautifully written and crafted, uptempo and yet slightly bittersweet. Wonderfully performed. They just don't write them like that anymore.
Beanie Oakley
This song has one of the all time greatest bass lines!!!! I was only 10 years old when this song was out.. Still have my 45 of this song....