Know something about this song or lyrics?
Add it to our wiki.
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
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
Track duration: 04:13
"You Wear It Well" as written by Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
So much time has parted since they parted. All along he wanted to reach out to her (“I've been meaning to phone you but from Minnesota”), but felt too vulnerable to risk being rejected. He hurt her, after all. But when she left, he hurt more. So much more (“Since you've been gone it's hard to carry on”).
To him, she is the most beautiful woman. Once, he bought her a dress for her birthday. It wasn’t much for a dress, but on her it looks beautiful. Everything does. He thought so then, and he does so now. He picked that moment to talk about as proof that his feelings are deep, sincere, and everlasting. Because more important than his strong physical attraction her, she made him feel so good inside about himself (“You knew it did not cost the earth, but for what it's worth/You made me feel a millionaire”).
She is special to him. Always has been.
He regrets what he did that made her leave. He is reliving the pain as he tries to write the letter (“Now I'm eatin' my heart out/ Tryin' to get a letter through).
He has moved on (“I gotta get back to work”). So from this safe place, he puts his heart on the table – not so much asking. It is more for her, wherever she may be, to find comfort in the fact that there is someone out there who cares for her deeply.
He thinks it is a long shot, but he is open to the possibility that maybe they could give it another go round. (“I don't object if you call collect/'Cause I ain't forgetting that you were once mine.”)
He's moved on with his life and accepted it, but is writing her a letter. It isn't out of desperation, he's just reminiscing and showing his appreciation for this woman and admitting to have shot himself in the foot as far as their relationship goes. But he wears it well, ie-he takes it in stride now, but still admires her...and he's pining for her a bit.
I take "you wear it well" in this song to mean that he admires how she is comfortable being herself and knows who she is. "A little old fashioned", "a little out of time", she isn't perfect, but it doesn't matter because she is a genuine person who is comfortable in her own skin-wearing it well.
Really sweet sentiment. I like this song.