You Wear It Well by Rod Stewart

Album: Never a Dull Moment (1972)

Charted: 1 13

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

"You Wear It Well" was written as a collaboration between Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton. You'll know Martin Quittenton from Steamhammer, as well as his frequent work with Rod Stewart. The subject of this song is Stewart writing a letter to an old flame - and having a pretty good attitude about it. What she is wearing well might be her current life, the years passing by, or the birthday gown he once bought her.
This song falls squarely into Stewart's central body of work as another folksy blue-eyed soul ballad. You'll notice how similar this song sounds to another Stewart hit, "Maggie May," from the previous Rod Stewart album, Every Picture Tells a Story. Well, Quittenton collaborated with Stewart on that one, too!
Along with this song, other charting singles from the Never a Dull Moment album include a cover of Jimi Hendrix' song "Angel," and "What Made Milwaukee Famous."
The line, "Madame Onassis got nothing on you" is a reference to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - former First Lady to and widow of President John F. Kennedy. At the time of this song, Jacqueline - often referred to as "Jackie O" - was the spouse of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis until his death in 1975, widowing her again. Jackie O made quite a reputation for herself as a woman of grace, charm, and style, prompting the London Evening Standard to comment, "Jacqueline Kennedy has given the American people… one thing they have always lacked: Majesty."
Rod Stewart was still active in the band Faces when he released "You Wear It Well." His bandmate Ronnie Wood (later of The Rolling Stones) played guitar on this track. Another Faces member, Ian McLagan, also made a key contribution.

"I've always loved the combination of acoustic guitar with loud snare drum and Hammond organ - played here by the delectable Ian McLagan of loud, obtrusive sock fame," Stewart wrote in his Anthology liner notes.

Comments: 8

Mick from UsaLyric correction:
"Remember those basement parties that your brother's put on
The all day rock and roll shows
The homesick blues and their radical views"
From The Darkside from U S ACould this be a song for Princess Margret?
AnonymousRod said once that the song about his ex JoJo Lane Lane who later married Denny Laine
Melinda from AustraliaWhy is it that Rod Stewart’s songs from this early period always seemed to be written to the heart of every girl who loved his songs.
It has always been, for me, like the song is written about me. Or one of my friends
I think that is why his songs were so successful. His lyrics were down to earth chats. The way any guy talks to or discusses a girlfriend. Real. Not lofty. Or ridiculous.
Just plain chat and conversation. And typical comments.
I wonder if this song is about his kinda first English girlfriend. Dee Harrington. Rod Stewart was often away for long periods touring when he was dating her.
Unlike all his later girlfriends, she wasn’t very pretty, especially when she smiled.
But she had Rod Stewart’s chief obsessions. Very tall with very long legs.
He dumped her for the very famous Britt Ekland. Who had recently ended her marriage to Peter Sellers.
Rod Stewart doesn’t rate himself as a good songwriter. He actually hates writing lyrics.
But the fact is... he has a rare skill for it.
And the stories within the songs.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 20th 1972, "You Wear It Well" by Rod Stewart entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #87; and on October 8th, 1972 it peaked at #13 {for 2 weeks} and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
On September 2nd, 1972 it reached #1 {for 1 week} on the United Kingdom's Singles chart and it reached #2 in Ireland...
Roderick David Stewart will celebrate his 70th birthday in five months on January 10th, 2015 {and on a personal note; I will also be turning 70 year old five days later on January 15th, 2015}...
'After all the years I hope it's the same address'.
Mark from Jefferson City, MoThis is before he turned into a Barry Manilow wannabe.
Jim from Long Beach, CaMyla, Well said!! This on the Rod Stewart that I know and love. The folksy blue-eyed soul stuff, which he is known for, is Rod at his best!!
Myla from San Diego, CaOne of my favorite Rod Stewart songs. He should go back to doing these types of folksy "blue-eyed soul" songs. His scratchy , but soulful voice lends itself to these type of songs. No remakes please!

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Knock On WoodEddie Floyd

The song "Knock On Wood" was confusing to UK listeners because the saying there is "Touch Wood."

Feel Good Inc.Gorillaz

"Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz is a satire on the corporate music industry that cranks out "feel-good" music simply for profit.

SmoothSantana

Rob Thomas put some Spanish flavor in his Carlos Santana collaboration "Smooth" with the line "my muñequita," a pet name for his wife Marisol that means "my little doll."

Talkin' Hawkin'Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd's "Talkin' Hawkin'" uses a sample of Stephen Hawking's synthesized voice taken from a speech he made for a 1994 British Telecom commercial.

The actress Michelle Pfeiffer gets namechecked in the 2014 megahit "Uptown Funk" ("Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold"). When it was released, "Riptide" by Vance Joy was on the charts; that song also mentions her ("Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen").

It's So EasyBuddy Holly

It really was so easy for Linda Ronstadt to score a hit with her Buddy Holly cover of "It's So Easy." She would sometimes change the lyric to: "It's so easy to have a hit, all you have to do is recycle it."