by Rod Stewart’s Funny Lyrics: A Wink and a Smile
While known primarily as a legendary rock and pop balladeer, Rod Stewart has also shown a gift for injecting humor into his songs over the years. Though his lyrics aren’t always laugh-out-loud funny, Stewart often delivers them with a charming wink and a smile that adds an element of playfulness. From tongue-in-cheek self-parodies to witty observations of aging and culture, Stewart has proven himself a master of weaving comedy into his music in subtle yet effective ways.
One of Stewart’s earliest funny lyrics comes from his 1975 hit “Sailing.” On the surface, the song celebrates the freedom and adventure of life at sea. But Stewart tosses in the delightfully simple and slightly nonsensical line “I am a rocker, I sail the sea / I am a lover, I love you and me.” It’s a testament to his ability to capture carefree spirit in just a few words. The lyrics don’t necessarily make you laugh, but they perfectly encapsulate the lighthearted exuberance of the song with their playful rhyme and simplicity.
Stewart further demonstrated his gift for visual metaphor and comedic delivery on 1978’s “Hot Legs.” The song is a cheeky ode to the physical attributes of a lover, with Stewart purring the self-explanatory lines “You wear it well, all year round / Hot Legs, you really turn me on.” Though bordering on cheesy or cringeworthy in other hands, Stewart sells it with his trademark charm and charisma. He understands the line is funny precisely because of its unabashed shallowness, and leans into that quality with confident gusto.
Also from 1978, Stewart pushed his self-parody skills to new heights with the international smash “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” The entire song is a tongue-in-cheek exploration of Stewart’s rockstar image, as he earnestly asks the audience “Do ya think I’m alright? / Do ya think I’m strong?” It’s hilarious precisely because Stewart is in on the joke—he knows full well how cool he is but plays along with feigned uncertainty. Lines like “I know I’m sexy, what’s your excuse?” are funny in their earnestness as Stewart winks at the absurdity of his own bravado. The song became a career-defining hit partly because audiences loved Stewart’s ability to send himself up.
Stewart continued finding humor in self-reflection and aging on 1981’s “Young Turks.” Over a driving rock beat, he looks back fondly but realistically at his wilder days, singing “We used to be young Turks, tearin’ down the walls / Now we’re middle-aged jerks, just livin’ in shopping malls.” It’s a relatable observation about the inevitable changes that come with maturity. Stewart delivers it with a wink and a smile that acknowledges both the sadness and humor of growing older. The line perfectly captures that bittersweet mix of nostalgia and resignation that comes from hindsight.
Darker humor crept into 1983’s “Baby Jane,” which tells the story of a faded starlet struggling with obscurity. Stewart paints a vivid picture, singing “She used to be a heartbreak kid with a Hollywood smile / Now she’s livin’ on the West Side with a plastic bubble style.” The visual of a former bombshell reduced to artificial enhancements is tragic yet amusing in its specificity. Stewart understands the poignancy and pathos in fading glory, but delivers the line with enough of a smirk to find some comedy in the character’s decline. It’s a deft balancing of tones that only a master storyteller could achieve.
Stewart proved equally adept at finding humor in covering other artists’ material. His 1990 rendition of The Hollies’ “Some Guys Have All the Luck” gets an extra boost from his slightly bemused delivery, especially on the lines “Some guys, some guys / You just know they’ve never been rejected twice.” Stewart imbues it with just the right amount of rueful envy and self-deprecation to elicit laughter from the audience even as they sing along.
Similarly, Stewart injects his 1991 hit “Rhythm of My Heart” with an element of silly fun through its nonsensical yet catchy bridge: “You put the lime in the coconut and drink ’em both up.” Though meaningless, the line is irresistibly singable and adds a jolt of lighthearted zaniness. Only Stewart could pull off such a ridiculous lyric and make it a highlight of the song rather than a low point.
Stewart found new ways to put his spin on classic covers as well. His 1995 rendition of The Rolling Stones’ “Rocks Off” gets an extra dose of humor from Stewart tweaking the lyrics to include the relatable sentiment, “I just want to thank you for the music / Even though it drove my neighbors berserk.” It’s a nod to any harried neighbor of a dedicated music lover who has had to endure the occasional late night jam session next door. Stewart understands the comedy that can be found even in small, everyday annoyances.
He brought similar playfulness to his 1999 cover of Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston’s soul classic “It Takes Two.” Stewart injects new life into the familiar song by adding his signature “Can’t get enough of your sweet lovin'” bridge. It’s a small change but perfectly captures his gift for injecting romance with just a hint of cheekiness. Only Stewart could take such an iconic love song and find a way to give it his own funny spin.
There’s also an argument that Stewart’s general penchant for melodramatic romantic lyrics borders on self-parody as well. Lines like “Forever young, I want to be forever young” from his own “Forever Young” are so over-the-top sentimental they can’t help but raise a smile. Stewart understands this quality in his own writing and leans into it fully for maximum entertainment value. Even when delivering his most heartfelt ballads, Stewart retains a sly sense of humor about himself.
Over a 50-plus year career, Rod Stewart has proven a master at finding humor in even his most romantic or introspective lyrics. Though not always laugh-out-loud funny, Stewart excels at delivering lines with a charming wink and smile that add an element of playfulness. From tongue-in-cheek self-parodies to witty observations of aging and fading glory, Stewart understands comedy can be a powerful tool for entertainment. By balancing humor, pathos and romance in his storytelling, Stewart has crafted a truly unique brand of musical poetry that continues resonating with audiences worldwide. His ability to inject laughs alongside the feels is a testament to his brilliance and versatility as an artist.
