# Maggie May **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 9, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maggie-may/174008 "2003-05-09T00:32:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maggie-may/174008/1 "2003-05-09T00:32:47Z")
Was there a “real” Maggie May in Rod Stewart’s life? The song sounds so heartfelt, but Rod’s pretty good at putting that kind of emotion in his music. He shares credit for the lyrics, which are [here](http://members.aol.com/hannuschka/lyrics/evryp_ly.htm#BM7) I can believe a young aspiring rock star finding himself in that situation. Anyway, it’s a good story. I’ll bet I’m not the only guy to have had his heart broken by an “Older Woman”. 🙂 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maggie-may/174008/2 "2003-05-09T01:46:26Z")
Rod Stewart has said that, "_It’s a true story, with a few lies thrown in."_ This was in the track notation to his **Storyteller** box set. To think that it was a B-side and wonder what would have happened to Rod if the DEE-JAY hadn’t turned the single over… ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maggie-may/174008/3 "2003-05-09T02:21:22Z")
what was the a-side? every picture tells a story? (my guess) ---
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maggie-may/174008/4 "2003-05-09T04:25:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by essvee \* > \*\*what was the a-side? every picture tells a story? (my guess) \*\* The A-side was **Reason To Believe**. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maggie-may/174008/5 "2003-05-09T10:32:29Z")
On the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, the “Reason to Believe” side of the single debuted on July 17, 1971 and got as high as #62. Beginning on August 14th “Maggie May” side was also listed on the chart, and eventually went all the way to #1. In 1993, Stewart released a new version of “Reason to Believe” which peaked at #19. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maggie-may/174008/6 "2003-05-09T12:53:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*Was there a “real” Maggie May in Rod Stewart’s life? \*\* I’ve always wondered why the name of the song was “Maggie May” when you _know_ Maggie _does!_😃 ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maggie-may/174008/7 "2003-05-09T13:04:34Z")
Well, I always thought that song was about Britt Eklund… I don’t know why I thought that, though. I did a quick check and can’t find any confirmation of the connection… And it looks like she’s only 3 years or so older than he is. Maybe I just dreamed it?