I had nothing to do on this hot afternoon
But to settle down and write you a line
I've been meaning to phone you but from Minnesota
Hell it's been a very long time
You wear it well
A little old fashioned but that's all right

Well I suppose you're thinking I bet he's sinking
Or he wouldn't get in touch with me
Oh, I ain't begging or losing my head
I sure do want you to know that you wear it well
There ain't a lady in the land so fine

Remember them basement parties, your brother's karate
The all day rock and roll shows
Them homesick blues and radical views
Haven't left a mark on you, you wear it well
A little out of time but I don't mind

But I ain't forgetting that you were once mine
But I blew it without even tryin'
Now I'm eatin' my heart out
Tryin' to get a letter through

Since you've been gone it's hard to carry on
I'm gonna write about the birthday gown that I bought in town
When you sat down and cried on the stairs
You knew it did not cost the earth, but for what it's worth
You made me feel a millionaire and you wear it well
Madame Onassis got nothing on you

Anyway, my coffee's cold and I'm getting told
That I gotta get back to work
So when the sun goes low and you're home all alone
Think of me and try not to laugh and I wear it well
I don't object if you call collect
'Cause I ain't forgetting that you were once mine
But I blew it without even tryin'
Now I'm eatin' my heart out tryin' to get back to you

After all the years I hope it's the same address
Since you've been gone it's hard to carry on


Lyrics submitted by spliphstar

You Wear It Well Lyrics as written by Martin Quittenton Rod Stewart

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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You Wear It Well song meanings
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    General Comment

    "Sweetly reminiscent," one of my favorite tones. Any bitter feelings surrounding the breakup are gone and the character is simply admiring what great "grown-ups" he and his childhood sweetheart have turned out to be. Ideally he would like another chance with her ("hope after all these years it's the same address"). But if that doesn't work out he still takes comfort in the memory of who they were as a young couple (basement parties, all day rock & roll shows, etc.) and who they have each become. Letting his mind wander back in time and imagining a seeing her again is a nice respite from the work-a-day world ("my coffee's cold and I'm getting told I ought to get back to work...") The song is straightforward enough to not require interpretation, really, but it's such a perfect confection I had to comment.

    total_blam_blamon February 21, 2011   Link

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