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Rod Stewart — Mandolin Wind
Album: Every Picture Tells A Story
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1519









Released: 1971
Length: 5:27
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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When the rain came I thought you'd leave
'Cause I knew how much you loved the sun
But you chose to stay, stay and keep me warm
Through the darkest nights I've ever known
If the mandolin wind couldn't change a thing
Then I know I love ya
Oh the snow fell without a break
Buffalo died in the frozen fields you know
Through the coldest winter in almost fourteen years
I couldn't believe you kept a smile
Now I can rest assured knowing that we've seen the worst
And I know I love ya
Oh I never was good with romantic words
So the next few lines come really hard
Don't have much but what I've got is yours
Except of course my steel guitar
Ha, 'cause I know you don't play
But I'll teach you one day
Because I love ya
I recall the night we knelt and prayed
Noticing your face was thin and pale
I found it hard to hide my tears
I felt ashamed I felt I'd let you down
No mandolin wind couldn't change a thing
Couldn't change a thing no, no
The coldest winter in almost fourteen years
Could never, never change your mind
And I love ya
Yes indeed and I love ya
And I love ya
Lord I love ya
And I love ya
And I love ya
Comments (58)add comment
Am I the only one who wonders if it was "The coldest winter in almost fourteen years" does that mean it was 13 years ago?  Twelve?
Posted 4 months ago by jas1776    [ Reply ]
This whole album is brilliant.
Thank you for playing this
Posted 5 months ago by lovelyhelicopter    [ Reply ]






Posted 1 year ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
What I love most is the tempo change at the end of the song.
Posted 1 year ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
 2and4 wrote:

Lovely song that brings back a lot of memories for me.  I hear a lot of Ronnie Lane's influence in this song.



Ah Ronnie Lane, of blessed memory..
Posted 2 years ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
I know a lot of people think Rod Stewart has sold out and gone all "cheesy" for the money but oh my Lord, I can forgive him anything when I think of this song and You Wear It Well and Maggie May...  
Posted 2 years ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
I wish this song went on a whole lot longer ..  
Posted 2 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
Excellent album start to finish
Posted 2 years ago by kfaenza    [ Reply ]
In ninth grade, I had a crush on Karen S., who had a crush on Rod Stewart. She wouldn't go out with me and I didn't understand why. Now, all these decades later, I get it.
Posted 2 years ago by mcullers    [ Reply ]
 lizardking wrote:

Just for that I'm going 8+1=9 today....thanks for the inspiration....Long Live RP!!


Me too. Just for spite!
Posted 3 years ago by bimmerfan739    [ Reply ]
He really was good. What happened?!
Posted 3 years ago by Lyndont    [ Reply ]
One his best that I remember, unless Bill introduces me to something he did that I missed.
It wouldn't be the first time. Thank you B&R.
Posted 3 years ago by SRAY    [ Reply ]
Fabulous! 
Posted 3 years ago by christineclaydon1    [ Reply ]
Fan-fricking-tastic 👏
Posted 3 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
Posted 3 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
For me, the records 'Every Picture Tells a Story' (1971) and 'Never a Dull Moment' (1972) are damb near about as good as it gets.

'EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY' Album inner.
(opened up) :

Posted 3 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
Alone in my small room in Geneva as a student, surviving on tea, Zwieback toast, butter, and raspberry jam, listening to Mandolin Wind, feeling both alone and connected, somehow.  He never quite scaled those heights again, in my opinion, but my...what heights!
Posted 3 years ago by epettigrew872    [ Reply ]
"...coldest Winter in almost 14 years."

That line always puzzled me for some reason...
Posted 3 years ago by firefly6    [ Reply ]
Lovely song that brings back a lot of memories for me.  I hear a lot of Ronnie Lane's influence in this song.
Posted 3 years ago by 2and4    [ Reply ]
"Rarely has a singer had as full and unique a talent as Rod Stewart; rarely has anyone betrayed their talent so completely."  Greil Marcus

Early Rod is untouchable, I wouldn't want to touch anything Rod had to do with after 1976-ish.

This song is sublime.
Posted 3 years ago by johnnyr    [ Reply ]
Great album and cool cover design.
Posted 3 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 backbeat wrote:
More Rod (you know which albums!)  and more Faces. :)
 

No brainer.
Posted 4 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
Saw Rod twice in '68-'69 with Jeff Beck Group and saw Faces a couple of years later. He was the Real Deal...
Posted 4 years ago by ImaOldman    [ Reply ]
 ScottishWillie wrote:

I think that early 70’s Rod Steward was sublime. I also think you will find U2 are proudly Irish.


 

Yeah few do raspy like the Rod
Posted 4 years ago by dyharenas    [ Reply ]
It may be "Mandolin Wind", but whoever is doing that dobro makes the song.
Posted 4 years ago by joelbb    [ Reply ]
The old gravedigger is the worst singer I've ever heard, yet he became famous likely on the back if his good looks and sexiness.
Posted 4 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Meh then and meh now
Posted 4 years ago by PeterMcClelland    [ Reply ]
 tcseeley wrote:
I think the best song he ever wrote by far and a bit of an outlier. He's made his money as a showman, but in an interview I saw one time he said he wanted to be remembered as a songwriter. Don't know how far "If Ya' Think I'm Sexy" will get him, but he composed some real gems at this stage of his career.
 
I rate it up there too, amongst Rod's catalogue.  My fav is even earlier: "Gasoline Alley".
Posted 4 years ago by Chwkbud    [ Reply ]
I think the best song he ever wrote by far and a bit of an outlier. He's made his money as a showman, but in an interview I saw one time he said he wanted to be remembered as a songwriter. Don't know how far "If Ya' Think I'm Sexy" will get him, but he composed some real gems at this stage of his career.
Posted 4 years ago by tcseeley    [ Reply ]
Perfect 10!
Posted 4 years ago by galestro    [ Reply ]
 redmachine wrote:
Urgh. Horrible. Any chance you could take all these dreadful acts from the UK and keep them over there? U2, this chancer, Elbow, Coldplay etc. Please...
 
I guess we know who the lone up vote is from as well.
Posted 4 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
 cosmiclint wrote:

DJs had playlists even when they were spinning songs like this on 45s :)
 
Yeah, the called them "play lists".  The original OPs point was well made.
Posted 4 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
 below72 wrote:

There's no other way to say it...
You are a cracked pistachio taco ravioli shell {#Naughty}
 
I guess we know who the the lone down vote is from.
Posted 4 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
 redmachine wrote:
Urgh. Horrible. Any chance you could take all these dreadful acts from the UK and keep them over there? U2, this chancer, Elbow, Coldplay etc. Please...
 
We obviously have different tastes in music, and for that I am very proud.  Great song and album.
Posted 5 years ago by Hendon2    [ Reply ]
I'm going to suggest this for my daughter's upcoming wedding playlist. L.O.V.E. love  
Rockin' Rod's da man!
Posted 5 years ago by mmartinwhite1938    [ Reply ]
More Rod (you know which albums!)  and more Faces. :)
Posted 5 years ago by backbeat    [ Reply ]
 redmachine wrote:
Urgh. Horrible. Any chance you could take all these dreadful acts from the UK and keep them over there? U2, this chancer, Elbow, Coldplay etc. Please...
 
Just for that I'm going 8+1=9 today....thanks for the inspiration....Long Live RP!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
 below72 wrote:

There's no other way to say it...
You are a cracked pistachio taco ravioli shell {#Naughty}
 
BURN if Ive ever seen one lolololol
Posted 5 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
Great song. Stirs up many memories. Maybe too many. ;-) 
Posted 5 years ago by xrdstv    [ Reply ]
justin, such a great tune. rip John, love it
Posted 5 years ago by lyndonwatkins16    [ Reply ]
When the rain came I thought you'd leave
'Cause I knew how much you loved the sun
But you chose to stay, stay and keep me warm
Through the darkest nights I've ever known
If the mandolin wind couldn't change a thing
Then I know I love ya
Oh the snow fell without a break
Buffalo died in the frozen fields you know
Through the coldest winter in almost fourteen years
I couldn't believe you kept a smile
Now I can rest assured knowing that we've seen the worst
And I know I love ya
Oh I never was good with romantic words
So the next few lines come really hard
Don't have much but what I've got is yours
Except of course my steel guitar
Ha, 'cause I know you don't play
But I'll teach you one day
Because I love ya
I recall the night we knelt and prayed
Noticing your face was thin and pale
I found it hard to hide my tears
I felt ashamed I felt I'd let you down
No mandolin wind couldn't change a thing
Couldn't change a thing no, no
The coldest winter in almost fourteen years
Could never, never change your mind
And I love ya
Yes indeed and I love ya
And I love ya
Lord I love ya
And I love ya
And I love ya
Posted 6 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
Send more from Rody{#Bananajam}
Posted 6 years ago by peter.gerzner    [ Reply ]
Damn, he was good back then.
Posted 6 years ago by SchoepTone    [ Reply ]
Not enough Rod on RP...
Posted 6 years ago by david16    [ Reply ]
this takes me back to those days weeding the bean patch and putting a 10W speaker out the window of the distant house and thinking how big and exciting the world is, if I could only get out of this bean patch.
Posted 6 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
 Spiderwoman wrote:

Exactly. From the time before "playlist" was even a word. It's odd listening to this without the accompaniment of needle lightly scratching on spinning vinyl. 
 
DJs had playlists even when they were spinning songs like this on 45s :)
Posted 6 years ago by cosmiclint    [ Reply ]
Red machine you are hilarious.  Love this album.
Posted 6 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
 ianmoff wrote:
His best album by far.

Still in my go to playlist after 40 odd years.
 
Exactly. From the time before "playlist" was even a word. It's odd listening to this without the accompaniment of needle lightly scratching on spinning vinyl. 
Posted 6 years ago by Spiderwoman    [ Reply ]
His best album by far.

Still in my go to playlist after 40 odd years.
Posted 6 years ago by ianmoff    [ Reply ]
extraordinary! the fake ending often threw off stoned DJs!
Posted 6 years ago by walkerpub    [ Reply ]
{#Devil_pimp}zesty !
Posted 6 years ago by primm    [ Reply ]
time to
go to
my garden
and
prepare for
the
mandolin wind
and then
the rain came
{#Daisy}
Posted 6 years ago by DocStrangelove    [ Reply ]

According to wikipedia, the identity of the mandolin player on "Mandolin Wind" is unclear. The liner notes state that "the mandolin was played by the mandolin player in Lindisfarne" but that Rod Stewart had forgotten his name. In 2003, Ray Jackson claimed to be the mandolin player on the album, at least for the song "Maggie May. 

The John Peel myth came about from an appearance on the TV show Top of the Pops - miming Maggie May ..  (it's all explained here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RqcL4QlAKA


Posted 6 years ago by 4999thnewuser    [ Reply ]
 redmachine wrote:
Urgh. Horrible. Any chance you could take all these dreadful acts from the UK and keep them over there? U2, this chancer, Elbow, Coldplay etc. Please...
 

I think that early 70’s Rod Steward was sublime. I also think you will find U2 are proudly Irish.


Posted 6 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
 redmachine wrote:
Urgh. Horrible. Any chance you could take all these dreadful acts from the UK and keep them over there? U2, this chancer, Elbow, Coldplay etc. Please...

 
There's no other way to say it...
You are a cracked pistachio taco ravioli shell {#Naughty}
Posted 6 years ago by below72    [ Reply ]
Urgh. Horrible. Any chance you could take all these dreadful acts from the UK and keep them over there? U2, this chancer, Elbow, Coldplay etc. Please...
Posted 6 years ago by redmachine    [ Reply ]
signifies so much that is missing from pop music today.
yes,
I am old.
But Happy!
{#Daisy}
Posted 6 years ago by DocStrangelove    [ Reply ]
Good song from good album.
Ignore the rumour that the mandolin was played by the late English DJ, John Peel. 
Posted 8 years ago by owchita    [ Reply ]