THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

965-Rod Stewart-Farewell.

1974-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 3.42. The Album ‘Smiler’ from where this song is taken was Rod Stewart’s fifth solo, and his first to be critically panned. If those same critics had to endure all five volumes of ‘The Great American Songbook,’ they would have been calling ‘Smiler’ a classic.

Sir Roderick David Stewart (see also best songs 565-206-179-70 and 34) was born on January 10th, 1945, in Highgate, London, England, in 2007 he was appointed ‘Commander of the Order of the British Empire,’ (CBE) for services to music, and then in 2016 he was knighted for ‘services to music and charity.’ As a solo artist Rod Stewart has released 32 studio Albums between 1969-2021, he has also appeared as a member of ‘The Jeff Beck Group’ on two studio Albums in 1968 and 1969, and also on all four of the ‘Faces’ Albums that were released between 1970-1973. During his career Rod Stewart has been an official member of seven different bands, and at the time of writing he is still a member of the ‘Faces.’ For a fuller discography of Rod Stewart see also best songs 70 and 34.

‘Farewell’ was the first of two singles released from Rod Stewart’s fifth studio Album ‘Smiler’ from October 1974, the second track released as a single was the Paul and Linda McCartney written song’Mine for Me,’ which was only released in America. ‘Farewell was issued as a double ‘A’ side, along with Stewart’s cover of a Sam Cooke (1931-1964) (see also best songs 156) medley, ‘Bring It On Home to Me/You Send Me,’ which was track 5 on ‘Smiler,’

‘Farewell’ was co-written by Rod Stewart, and Martin Quittenton, (1945-2015) with the production of ‘Farewell,’ and it’s parent Album ‘Smiler’ by Stewart. Martin Quittenton had already tasted great success with Stewart as the co-writer of ‘Maggie May,’ (1971-UK Number 1, and Billboard Number 1) and ‘You Wear It Well,’ (1972-UK Number 1, and Billboard Number 13.) Stewart held Quittenton in high esteem and had invited him to join the ‘Faces,’ but Quittenton declined stating that he didn’t like their wild off stage antics. He left the music business in the mid 1970’s, suffering from mental; health problems.

‘Farewell’ is fondly remembered for the distinctive Mandolin that can be heard throughout the song, the Mandolin was a prominent instrument on many of the early Rod Stewart solo Albums. The Mandolin on ‘Farewell’ was played by Ray Jackson, who is best remembered as one of the co-founders of the English Folk/Rock group ‘Lindisfarne’ in 1968, Jackson retired from the music business in 2015. Another notable musician who played the violin on the track was Ric Grech, (1945-1990) who by the time of recording ‘Farewell’ had already been a member of the English Rock bands ‘Family,’ ‘Blind Faith,’ Ginger Baker’s Air Force,’ and ‘Traffic.’

‘Farewell’ is a song about someone feeling that they have to move away from home in order to search for the fame and fortune that they think they can achieve. He tells his family, and his girlfriend to try not to worry, but he also tells them that things might not work out as he hopes.

In 2018 Rod Stewart took the very unusual decision to record a completely different song with the same title ‘Farewell.’ This new song was written about a friend of his called Ewan Dawson. Speaking in 2018 Rod Stewart said,’It’s about a mate of mine who passed on about three years ago. We grew up through the sixties, we lost contact for a little bit, he was a public school boy – very well spoken, very humorous. I’ll go as far as to say I idolised him. We were more or less the same age. But I think it’s a very moving song. I think it’s going to be played at so many bloody funerals.’

‘Fare thee well my brother please don’t stand in my way. I’m going down to that dirty town no matter what you say. You fooled me and you ruled me, and you played in every part. I gotta go, it’s no use me stayin’ home.’