The Best of Rod Stewart lyrics

Spent some time feelin' inferior
standing in front of my mirror
Combed my hair in a thousand ways
but I came out looking just the same
Daddy said, "Son, you better see the world
I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to leave
But remember one thing don't lose your head
to a woman that'll spend your bread"
So I got out

Paris was a place you could hide away
if you felt you didn't fit in

Baby used to stay out all night long
She made me cry
You know she done me wrong
She held my eyes open and that's no lie
Tables turned and now it's her turn to cry
But then I used to love her but it's all over now
Yes it is
But then I used to love her but it's all over now

Listen
She used to run around with every single man in town
Spent all my money playing her fast game

If I listened long enough to you
I'd find a way to believe that it's all true
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe

Someone like you makes it hard to live without
somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give
everything about myself

If I gave you time to change my mind
I'd find a way just to leave the past behind

Let me tell you about a place, somewhere up in New York way
where the people are so gay, twistin' the night away
Here they have a lot of fun, puttin' trouble on the run
Oh man you'll find the old and young twistin' the night away

Here's a man in evening clothes, how he got here I don't know
but oh man, you ought to see him go, twistin' the night away

Ever seen a blind man cross the road
trying to make the other side
Ever seen a young girl growing old
trying to make herself a bride
So what becomes of you my love
When they have finally stripped you of
The handbags and the gladrags
That your Grandad had to sweat so you could buy
Baby

Once I was a young man
and all I thought I had to do was smile
You are still a young girl

Soon the pines will be falling everywhere
Village children always fighting for fair share
And the six-o-nine goes roarin' down the creek
As Parson Lee prepares his service for next week
I saw grandma yesterday down at the store
Well she's really lookin' fine for eighty-four
And she asked me if some time I'd fix the barn
Poor old girl, she needs a man down on the farm

Chorus:

I think I know now what's making me sad
It's a yearnin' for my own back yard
I realize maybe I was wrong to leave
Better swallow up my silly country pride
Going home, running home
Down to Gasoline Alley where I started from
Going home, and I'm running home
down to Gasoline Alley where I was born

When the weather's better and the rails unfreeze
and the wind don't whistle 'round my knees

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 any more
You lured me away from home just to save you from being alone
You stole my heart and that's what really hurt

The morning sun when it's in your face really shows your age

Never been a millionaire
and I tell you mama I don't care
Never gonna own a race-horse
or a fast back mid-engine Porsche
Don't think I'll own a private jet
on the Stock Exchange I'm no threat
So won't you help me make up my mind
Don't you think I'd better get myself back home
Sitting in the moonlight glow
excuse me if my feelings show
Watching all the trucks roll by

Your love is fading I can feel your love fading
Woman it's fading away from me
'Cause your personal touch has grown cold
as if someone else controls your very soul
I fooled myself long as I can
I can feel the presence of another man
It's there when you speak my name
It's just not the same
Oh honey I'm losing you
I can feel it in the air, it's there everywhere
Oh I'm losing you

I had nothing to do on this hot afternoon
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
or he wouldn't get in touch with me
Oh I ain't begging or losing my head

Angel came down from heaven yesterday
stayed with me long enough to rescue me
And she told me a story yesterday
about the sweet love between the moon and the deep blue sea
Then she spread her wings high over me
she said she’s goin' now, come back tomorrow
And I said, Fly on my sweet angel, fly on through the sky
Fly on my sweet angel tomorrow I’m gonna be by your side

Now a country boy named Shorty
and a city boy named Dan
had to prove who could run the fastest
to wed Miss Lucy's hand
Now Dan had all the money
and he also had the looks
But Shorty musta had that something boys
that can't be found in books

Chorus:
"Cut across Shorty, Shorty, cut across"
That's what Miss Lucy said
"Cut across Shorty, Shorty, cut across

I may not seem your ideal
when you look into my eyes
I don't smoke, I don't tell jokes
I'm not the custom made size
But baby let me take you
out on the highway for awhile
I'll show you where the man in me
is when he doesn't hide
He's cruisin' in the fast lane
stuck behind the wheel
Jekyll and Hyde going on inside
when I'm your automobile

And let me be your car for awhile child

Baby Jane don't leave me hanging on the line
I knew you when you had no one to talk to
Now you're moving in high society
don't forget I know secrets about you
I used to think you were on my side
but now I'm no longer sure
I wish I knew what I know now before

When I give my heart again
I know it's gonna last forever
No one tell me where or when
I know it's gonna last forever

A friend of mine called up,
said, "I fin'lly had some luck-
Could I have a minute of your time.
I met a girl last night
try as I might,
I can't get her off of my mind.
She walked in the room and right then I knew
I fin'ly found somebody for me.
But to tell you the truth,
I don't know what to do.
Should I go ahead or wait and see?"
I said, "Give it all you got,

Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
take away all my sadness
ease my troubles that's what you do
For the morning sun in all it's glory
greets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter
and somehow you make it better
ease my troubles that's what you do
There's a love that's divine

Everywhere I hear the sound
of marching, charging feet boy
'Cause the summer's here
and the time is right for
fighting in the street boy

Hey think the time is right
for a palace revolution
Where I live the game to play
is just to compromise my solution
What can a poor boy do
except to sing for a rock 'n' roll band
'Cause you see bein' London town
there's just no other place

Stay away from my window

Stay away from my back door too

Disconnect the telephone line

Relax baby and draw that blind

Kick off your shoes and sit right down

Loosen up the back of your pretty French gown

Let me pour you a good long drink

Ooh baby don't you hesitate 'cause

(Chorus)

Tonight's the night

It's gonna be alright

'Cause I love you girl

Did you ever stand and shiver
while looking at a freezing river
Have you froze to the bone
with just a coat to keep you warm
to keep you from a howlin' wind
to keep you from a howlin' wind
Now listen
Have you perished in the drizzling rain
Tried to light ... a lift but all in vain
With your sock on your head
and that old coat on your back
to keep you from the drizzlin' rain

(Wood / Stewart / McLagan)B-side of the single Oh! No Not My Baby

It's late and she is waiting, and I know I must go home,

But every time I start to leave, they play another song,

Then someone buys another round and whatever drinks are free,

What made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me.

Baby's begged me not to go, so many times before,

She said love and happiness can't live behind those swingin' doors,

In a couple of hours I'll be drivin' home to the one I love
So save your breath sweet painted lady it won't be me
Over the mountain and under the sea
They'll never be another one like mine for me

It was only an hour or so ago that I sang my song
Persuaded painted ladies that I could say I'd been free
Over the mountain and under the sea
They'll never be another one like mine for me

Sugar, sugar

She sits alone waiting for suggestions
He's so nervous avoiding all the questions
His lips are dry, her heart is gently pounding
Don't you just know exactly what they're thinking

If you want my body and you think I'm sexy
come on sugar let me know.
If you really need me just reach out and touch me
come on honey tell me so
Tell me so baby

You ain't gonna get me honey no way
Tearing down the highway in the pouring rain
escaping from my wedding day
I heard the bells ringing in the local church
the ceremony's nearly under way
Telegrams came and the cheap champagne
was driving everybody out of their brains
But I convinced my best friends I lost my nerve
and I pleaded I was being framed

Sailor show me which way to go

I am sailing, I am sailing,
home again 'cross the sea.
I am sailing, stormy waters,
to be near you, to be free.

I am flying, I am flying,
like a bird 'cross the sky.
I am flying, passing high clouds,
to be with you, to be free.

Can you hear me, can you hear me
thro' the dark night, far away,
I am dying, forever trying,
to be with you, who can say.

Can you hear me, can you hear me,

(Glenn Sutton)
[B side of Mercury 6052 198, 1972]

It's late and she is waiting, and I know I must go home,
But every time I start to leave, they play another song,
Then someone buys another round and whatever drinks are free,
What made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me.

Baby's begged me not to go, so many times before,

Billy left his home with a dollar in his pocket
And a head full of dreams

He said - somehow
someway it's gotta get better than this.
Patti packed her bags left a note for her mamma -
She was just seventeen
she kissed her little sister goodbye.
There were tears in her eyes when

They held each other tight as they drove on through the night

They were so exited.

Ever seen a blind man cross the road
trying to make the other side
Ever seen a young girl growing old
trying to make herself a bride
So what becomes of you my love
When they have finally stripped you of
The handbags and the gladrags
That your Grandad had to sweat so you could buy
Baby

Once I was a young man
and all I thought I had to do was smile
You are still a young girl

Did you ever stand and shiver
while looking at a freezing river
Have you froze to the bone
with just a coat to keep you warm
to keep you from a howlin' wind
to keep you from a howlin' wind
Now listen
Have you perished in the drizzling rain
Tried to light ... a lift but all in vain
With your sock on your head
and that old coat on your back
to keep you from the drizzlin' rain