Title: Maggie May by Rod Stewart - Songfacts
Headings: by
Rod Stewart

by Rod Stewart
Songfacts®:
Comments: 54

Content: This song came together when Stewart began working with guitarist Martin Quittenton from the band Steamhammer. They convened at Stewart's house in Muswell Hill, where Quittenton played some chords that caught Rod's ear. As he sussed out a vocal melody, he started singing the words to the folk song "Maggie Mae," which got him thinking about that day 10 years earlier when he had a quick-and-dirty tryst. They made a demo with Stewart singing fractures lines. From there, he got to work on the lyrics, filling a notebook with ideas and arriving at a story about a guy who falls for an older woman and is now both smitten and perplexed. This was the first big hit of the rock era to feature a mandolin, which was mostly heard in folk music. Stewart first used the instrument on "Mandolin Wind," which was one of the first songs he recorded for the album. He liked the results, so he used it on "Maggie" as well. "Maggie May" remains the biggest mondolin-based hit ever recorded, although the theme music for The Godfather, released the following year, may be more recognized. Every Picture Tells A Story was Stewart's third solo album, and the one that made him a superstar.