Truly.

songbook by nick hornby is one of my favorite books if only because he manages to communicate ones emotional connection to music in a way i never thought possible. at one point, he says "sometimes a song is so good, i feel like my hear might expload" and its the only time i can ever remember getting goosebumps from a book, and probably the least alone i have ever felt.

anyways. he writes a chapter on this song and i think its pretty brilliant.

I never payed attention to those lyrics, but it looks like Rod got pimped by Maggie. Maggie sounds like a wee skank from Glasgow.

Prolly a Rangers fan.

Has anyone else seen the monotone rendition of Stewart's "Do You Think I'm Sexy?" performed on 1970s Saturday Night Live by middle-aged radio comedians Bob and Ray?

Greatest rock performance ever.

"maggie may" is the shining moment on a mix cd i made last june. that cd, titled summer, was created for drive time and is filled with songs that make me want to roll down all the windows and sing at the top of my lungs.

i recently dug it out of the glove box and have been playing it non-stop. the joys induced by summer's anticipation are only amplified by "maggie may," particularly since it is sandwiched between foghat's "i just want to make love to you" and "me and baby brother" by war.

rod stewart was my first rock & roll crush. it was 1978 and i was eleven. when the class bully told me that rod's stomach had been pumped, due to an excess of "cum," and that he was, therefore, a fag.

i had no choice but to loudly defend the object of my affection. the 8x10 glossy of rod, taped to my pee-chee, implored me to take a stand. I was sternly chastised by my sixth grade teacher for defending such actions and branded as "queer bait" for the rest of the school year.

never mind that i had no idea what "cum" was at the time. all i knew then, as i know now, is that "maggie may" is a motherfucking jam.

Then there's the homo version, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road":

When are you gonna come down
When are you going to land
I should have stayed on the farm
I should have listened to my old man

You know you can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
I'm not a present for your friends to open
This boy's too young to be singing the blues

So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough

Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road

What do you think you'll do then
I bet that'll shoot down your plane
It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics
To set you on your feet again

Maybe you'll get a replacement
There's plenty like me to be found
Mongrels who ain't got a penny
Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground

Bernie Taupin

OK, I wasn't going to comment at first, but I now feel I must. I dig Rod as much as anyone, but if great songwriting is what you want, try THE ENTIRE PINK FLOYD LIBRARY!!!!! Seriously.

Mike he said "pop". Pink Floyd was not considered pop back then. Though, I agree and here is one of my fave pink floyd tunes, though personally, I think Melle Mell is the greatest wordsmith.

So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skys from pain.
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

And did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here

Sometimes I like to fantasize that I am Maggie May

just hope that the RIAA doesn't notice you posted copyrighted lyrics ...

Now post the lyrics to Werewolves of London.

Do yourselves a favor and check out The Faces stuff. Makes you wonder what turned Rod into a wanker in the 80's...