08/02/2020

This week Jim wants us to try to stick to the rules and as my mom used to say “straighten up and fly right.” Jim’s prompt this week is: This week we have the accumulation related prompts of Acquire/Collect/Gather/Secure and hopefully this will fit for everyone.

This week I am going after a song with my name in the title. “Maggie May” co-written by Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton. Performed by Rod Stewart and released in 1971 the song reached #1 on the charts in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Rolling Stone ranked it at 131 on The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

I was 17 when this song was released so I became ‘Maggie May’ to almost everyone I met. When I was young enough and cute enough to be hit on, this was often intertwined into whatever line was being used. I got a kick out of it, of course, and still occasionally people reference the song when they meet me (although I don’t get hit on anymore). Ha!

“Maggie May” is said to be based on the true story of the first woman Rod Stewart had sex with when he attended the Beaulieu Jazz Festival. Check out the video of Rod Stewart (with the backpack on) at that very festival.

Maggie May was not her name, however. The name comes from an old Liverpool song about a prostitute who robbed a sailor which I believe was featured on The Beatles “Let it Be” album.

“Maggie May” was the B side of the single “Reason to Believe”. Once it started getting air time it was soon out playing “Reason to Believe” and ended up becoming Rod Stewart’s most successful and most recognizable song.

This song is probably the most recognizable song in the rock genre that features a mandolin. Stewart first used the mandolin on “Mandolin Wind” and liked it so well he featured it in “Maggie May” as well.

Maggie May
Lyrics from Songmeanings.com

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 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
But 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 any more

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 any more

You led me away from home ’cause you didn’t wanna 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