Maggie May

Song Meaning of Maggie May by Rod Stewart

"Maggie May" is a song co-written by singer Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, and performed by Rod Stewart on his album Every Picture Tells a Story, released in 1971.

The song, a last-minute addition to Every Picture Tells a Story, was initially the B side of “Reason to Believe.”

Stewart has joked that if a DJ hadn’t flipped the single over, he’d have gone back to his old job: digging graves.

"Maggie May" expresses the emotions of a boy involved in a relationship with an older woman and was written from Stewart's own experience.

In a 2007 issue of Q magazine, Stewart recalled: "Maggie May was more or less a true story, about the first woman I had sex with, at the 1961 Beaulieu Jazz Festival."

The woman's name was not "Maggie May"; Stewart has stated that the name was taken from "an old Liverpudlian song about a prostitute."

The song became reached number one in UK, USA, Australia, and Canada.

Maggie May lyrics by Rod Stewart

Wake up, Maggie

I think I got something to say to you

It's late September and

I really should be back at school

I know I keep you amused

But I feel I'm being used

Oh, Maggie, I couldn't have tried anymore

You led me away from home

Just to save you from being alone

You stole my heart and that's what really hurts

The morning sun, when it's in your face

Really shows your age

That don't worry me none

In my eyes, you're everything

I laughed at all of your jokes

My love you didn't need to coax

Oh, Maggie, I couldn't have tried anymore

You led me away from home

Just to save you from being alone

You stole my soul and that's a pain I can do without

All I needed was a friend

To lend a guiding hand

But you turned into a lover, and mother what a lover!

You wore me out

All you did was wreck my bed

And in the morning kick me in the head

Oh, Maggie, I couldn't have tried anymore

You led me away from home

'Cause you didn't want to be alone

You stole my heart, I couldn't leave you if I tried

I suppose I could collect my books

And get on back to school

Or steal my daddy's cue

And make a living out of playing pool

Or find myself a rock 'n' roll band

That needs a helping hand

Oh, Maggie, I wished I'd never seen your face

You made a first-class fool out of me

But I'm as blind as a fool can be

You stole my heart, but I love you anyway

Maggie, I wished I'd never seen your face

I'll get on back home one of these days, ooh, ooh, ooh