Peak
14
Weeks
14
Score
1,912
Chart Year
1983
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There is a famous 1962 film called What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, but this song has nothing to do with it. The story in the song, which Stewart made up, is about a girl who leaves him when she enters high society. He lets her know she won't get another chance - the next girl he falls in love with will be his last. Released as the lead single from Rod Stewart's Body Wishes album, this was his most successful single since "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" in 1978, topping the UK singles chart and also peaking at #14 in America. Stewart penned the lyrics to music written by his bass guitarist Jay Davis. Speaking with The Guardian, the singer admitted he puts writing the words off until the last minute, "when the song's got a hook." Stewart added: "The way I do it is hum and hah along while the band are playing. I sing whatever comes into my head and nine times out of 10 that will be the title of the song. Either that or I'd just write down a good title - like 'Young Turks' or 'Baby Jane' - and wait until the right vehicle comes along for it." Stewart wrote about the recording process for this song in his Storyteller anthology. "All I had to do was make the words fit. Easier said than done. We began laying down the track with a guide vocal, and the very first words that come from my mouth were 'Baby Jane.' Cries of 'Eureka!' were heard from all over the studio, hats were tossed into the sky and grown men wept. We knew we had a good one." The video was one of many by Stewart that got played a lot in the early years of MTV. Directed by Steve Barron, it shows the mysterious Jane in a few shots, including one where she's with a dog and another where she's playing the saxophone. But most of the time, the camera is on Stewart, one of the original video stars.
Baby Jane, don't leave me hangin' on the line I knew you when you had no one to talk to Now you're moving in high society Don't forget, I know secrets about you I used to think you were on my side But now I'm no longer sure I wish I knew what I know now before When I give my heart again I know it's gonna last forever No one tell me where or when I know it's gonna last forever Baby Jane, don't it make you feel sad Just when I thought that we were winning You and I were so close in ev'ry way Don't time fly when you're loving and laughing I've said goodbye so many times The situation ain't all that new Optimism's my best defense I'll get through without you When I give my heart again I know it's gonna last forever No one tell me where or when I know it's gonna last forever I won't be that dumb again I know it's gotta last forever When I fall in love again I know it's gonna last forever Baby Jane, I've said all I want to say Go your own way, don't think twice about me 'Cause I've got ideas and plans of my own So long darling, I'll miss you, believe me The lesson learned was so hard to swallow But I know that I'll survive I'm gonna take a good look at myself and cry When I give my heart again I know it's gonna last forever No one tell me where or when I know it's gonna last forever When I fall in love again I know it's gotta last forever I won't be that dumb again I know it's gonna last forever
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 28, 1983 | 53 | 73 |
| 2 | Jun 4, 1983 | 42 | 84 |
| 3 | Jun 11, 1983 | 32 | 94 |
| 4 | Jun 18, 1983 | 27 | 99 |
| 5 | Jun 25, 1983 | 26 | 100 |
| 6 | Jul 2, 1983 | 21 | 105 |
| 7 | Jul 9, 1983 | 19 | 107 |
| 8 | Jul 16, 1983 | 16 | 110 |
| 9 | Jul 23, 1983 | 15 | 111 |
| 10 | Jul 30, 1983 | 14 | 112 |
| 11 | Aug 6, 1983 | 26 | 100 |
| 12 | Aug 13, 1983 | 44 | 82 |
| 13 | Aug 20, 1983 | 51 | 75 |
| 14 | Aug 27, 1983 | 93 | 33 |