Didn't I

Album: Blood Red Roses (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Didn't I" examines drug addiction from a parent's perspective. "It isn't an anti-drug song," Rod Stewart explained to The Mail on Sunday's Event magazine. "But there's a clear warning message in there."
  • The track features New York singer Bridget Cady, who is a member of Rod's band. Cady's first group was an outfit called Godva, in which she was the joint lead singer. The other lead singer was somebody called Alicia Keys. Wonder what happened to her?
  • The tale of a father distressed about his daughter's drug use struck a chord with Stewart's fans. It became the singer's first original Top 10 hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart since he landed at #3 on the listing in 1999 with "Faith Of The Heart" from the soundtrack of the movie Patch Adams.
  • Uncut magazine asked Rod Stewart how he writes his material. He replied: "I've got an ideas book and a titles book. Sometimes I start off with nothing. Sometimes I start off with just a title, like the song about a teenage drug addict 'Didn't I.' I was singing along with the demo and 'Didn't I' just came out."

Comments: 1

  • Diane Ward from PasadenaDidn't know this one but I like it and like knowing how it arrived.
    So does he walk around with 2 notebooks in case ideas come to him?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.