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 lured me away from home just to save you from being alone
You stole my heart and that's what really hurt
Line 3, here, really hits home for me. The narrator of this song is with a woman who he doesn’t suddenly realize his using him, but realizes he has to say it to her. “I know I keep you amused”, she laughs at his jokes, has fun with him. But, I bet at the end of the night, he’s the one paying the bar tabs, hence “feel I’m being used”. He couldn’t have tried any more, meaning he gave everything he had, and she does not love him back. I do not believe it is out of spite, but more along the fact that the woman may not know what she wants, but enjoys herself with this man. She might not even be using him on purpose.
“Lured me away from home” is not literal. This woman changed him as a person. He no doubt wanted to do right by her, but more likely than not he ended up doing things that he never envisioned he could. Maybe she is cheating with him, maybe she is just too out there, but whatever that may be, the final line shows that he loves her, and she does not love him back.
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 lured me away from home, just to save you from being alone
You stole my soul and that's a pain I can do without
Line 1 may refer to the woman’s age, but I think it is more of a metaphor for just how much more experience this woman is. This is all sorts of new to him, yet I am willing to bet that this is far from the first time for the woman. And maybe it just isn’t about sex, but rather this relationship the two are in. Yet, despite that, line 2 and 3 once more confirms the man’s love for her. Lines 4 and 5 are the same as the above paragraph, yet line 5 changes it by saying it is a pain he could do without. Not a pain he does not want, just one he does not need. Anyone who has been in a relationship like this knows they can get out anytime, but a lot of times you are not sure if you really want too. Is the pain worse than being alone?
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 anymore
You lured me away from home 'cause you didn't want to be alone
You stole my heart I couldn't leave you if I tried
Lines 1 and 2, here, refer to the fact that the man probably went on a first date with this girl and did not take it as a date. He was lonely, and wanted a mate. Yet she clearly wanted more. Lines 3 and 4 confirm this, while showing that it went far beyond what the man thought lovers meant. Line 5 can be taken to show that the man is hung over on this situation. He wakes up, doesn’t know what to do, and therefore is just stuck. Line 6 is the same, while line 7 confirms, for the first time, that the woman knows why she is doing what she is doing. It’s not to “save” herself, which might be subconscious. Rather, she now “wants” to not be alone, confirming that it is a conscious decision. Line 7 is what I said in the previous paragraph, he hates the situation, but doesn’t want out. Indeed, he hasn’t even tried to.
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 and roll band that needs a helpin' hand
Oh Maggie I wish 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
Line 1 is reality, while 2 and 3 are fantasy. It is important to separate the singer from the speaker in this song. Yes, Rod Stewart is a rock star, but whoever the man is in this song has no chance in hell of playing pool for a living or joining a rock group. When he says “I suppose” in line 1, it lacks any conviction, for he does not want to go back. Line 4 is what the last lines of the previous stanzas are about. He doesn’t hate Maggie for putting him through this, he really hates himself for getting caught up in it. Indeed, lines 5 and 6 give blame to Maggie, yet quickly rescinds it by saying that he is, indeed, a fool. The last line changes, with the speaking confirming to himself that yes, this is bad, but I cannot help the way I feel. I want this, no matter what.
Maggie I wish I'd never seen your face
I'll get on back home one of these days
The first line is a reaffirmation, yet the second line shows, once more, a lack of conviction to leave. Yes, wish all you want to leave, but he has no plans to. It’s set in some date that he does not know, or may never know. “One of these days” is the exact same as saying “maybe”.
Overall, the narrator knows he is trapped in this unrequited love situation. What he wants is different from what Maggie wants. And while he knows this, and it is killing him, he does not want to end it. He cannot face that, and while he wishes things were different, he has no plans to change them.
No the narrator isn't paying the bills, he actually has no idea how to get money if he's not living at her place eating her food. He doesn't have the skills to earn a living yet, and he really should get back to high school to acquire them. But the sex is too good and even though he knows she isn't really interested in him as a person, doesn't love him, his heart won't let him go. He is so in love/lust that even though he can rationally see this isn't going to end well, he doesn't move.
No the narrator isn't paying the bills, he actually has no idea how to get money if he's not living at her place eating her food. He doesn't have the skills to earn a living yet, and he really should get back to high school to acquire them. But the sex is too good and even though he knows she isn't really interested in him as a person, doesn't love him, his heart won't let him go. He is so in love/lust that even though he can rationally see this isn't going to end well, he doesn't move.
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 lured me away from home just to save you from being alone You stole my heart and that's what really hurt
Line 3, here, really hits home for me. The narrator of this song is with a woman who he doesn’t suddenly realize his using him, but realizes he has to say it to her. “I know I keep you amused”, she laughs at his jokes, has fun with him. But, I bet at the end of the night, he’s the one paying the bar tabs, hence “feel I’m being used”. He couldn’t have tried any more, meaning he gave everything he had, and she does not love him back. I do not believe it is out of spite, but more along the fact that the woman may not know what she wants, but enjoys herself with this man. She might not even be using him on purpose.
“Lured me away from home” is not literal. This woman changed him as a person. He no doubt wanted to do right by her, but more likely than not he ended up doing things that he never envisioned he could. Maybe she is cheating with him, maybe she is just too out there, but whatever that may be, the final line shows that he loves her, and she does not love him back.
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 lured me away from home, just to save you from being alone You stole my soul and that's a pain I can do without
Line 1 may refer to the woman’s age, but I think it is more of a metaphor for just how much more experience this woman is. This is all sorts of new to him, yet I am willing to bet that this is far from the first time for the woman. And maybe it just isn’t about sex, but rather this relationship the two are in. Yet, despite that, line 2 and 3 once more confirms the man’s love for her. Lines 4 and 5 are the same as the above paragraph, yet line 5 changes it by saying it is a pain he could do without. Not a pain he does not want, just one he does not need. Anyone who has been in a relationship like this knows they can get out anytime, but a lot of times you are not sure if you really want too. Is the pain worse than being alone?
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 anymore You lured me away from home 'cause you didn't want to be alone You stole my heart I couldn't leave you if I tried
Lines 1 and 2, here, refer to the fact that the man probably went on a first date with this girl and did not take it as a date. He was lonely, and wanted a mate. Yet she clearly wanted more. Lines 3 and 4 confirm this, while showing that it went far beyond what the man thought lovers meant. Line 5 can be taken to show that the man is hung over on this situation. He wakes up, doesn’t know what to do, and therefore is just stuck. Line 6 is the same, while line 7 confirms, for the first time, that the woman knows why she is doing what she is doing. It’s not to “save” herself, which might be subconscious. Rather, she now “wants” to not be alone, confirming that it is a conscious decision. Line 7 is what I said in the previous paragraph, he hates the situation, but doesn’t want out. Indeed, he hasn’t even tried to.
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 and roll band that needs a helpin' hand Oh Maggie I wish 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
Line 1 is reality, while 2 and 3 are fantasy. It is important to separate the singer from the speaker in this song. Yes, Rod Stewart is a rock star, but whoever the man is in this song has no chance in hell of playing pool for a living or joining a rock group. When he says “I suppose” in line 1, it lacks any conviction, for he does not want to go back. Line 4 is what the last lines of the previous stanzas are about. He doesn’t hate Maggie for putting him through this, he really hates himself for getting caught up in it. Indeed, lines 5 and 6 give blame to Maggie, yet quickly rescinds it by saying that he is, indeed, a fool. The last line changes, with the speaking confirming to himself that yes, this is bad, but I cannot help the way I feel. I want this, no matter what.
Maggie I wish I'd never seen your face I'll get on back home one of these days
The first line is a reaffirmation, yet the second line shows, once more, a lack of conviction to leave. Yes, wish all you want to leave, but he has no plans to. It’s set in some date that he does not know, or may never know. “One of these days” is the exact same as saying “maybe”.
Overall, the narrator knows he is trapped in this unrequited love situation. What he wants is different from what Maggie wants. And while he knows this, and it is killing him, he does not want to end it. He cannot face that, and while he wishes things were different, he has no plans to change them.
I, clearly, love this song.
No the narrator isn't paying the bills, he actually has no idea how to get money if he's not living at her place eating her food. He doesn't have the skills to earn a living yet, and he really should get back to high school to acquire them. But the sex is too good and even though he knows she isn't really interested in him as a person, doesn't love him, his heart won't let him go. He is so in love/lust that even though he can rationally see this isn't going to end well, he doesn't move.
No the narrator isn't paying the bills, he actually has no idea how to get money if he's not living at her place eating her food. He doesn't have the skills to earn a living yet, and he really should get back to high school to acquire them. But the sex is too good and even though he knows she isn't really interested in him as a person, doesn't love him, his heart won't let him go. He is so in love/lust that even though he can rationally see this isn't going to end well, he doesn't move.