Colin Hay - Maggie Lyrics

One of the best. All heart and a stage presence/patience that is composed of charm - confidence and transparency.

Love this Sad Song 🎶🎤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇦🇺

I am really enjoying the music Colin is doing these days

His voice is even better now than when he was younger. He has most of his range in tact and his voice is richer and more resonant. I love his solo stuff.

I’ve probably watched this 50 times in the past two days. Such a fulfilling performance!

What type of guitar is it? What key is this in? Love . It.

It's called a Youcantaffordit. It's a very rare instrument that is known for its al.ost magical sound (I looked for one a few years ago, but cant remember the name now)

Damn, this actually made me cry, never heard it before, bloody beautiful man.
Oh, and i want that guitar lol, anyone know the make?

Yeah it made me get misty I must admit...........My first time hearing it too....

@Jesse Regenauer That was my first time hearing it, it's not as complex as "Get over you" more a straight 3 chord lo-fi rock song but those lyrics really got to me having seen people turn into shells through drugs then vanish altogether (and hearing the crack in Colin's voice as well)
I remember his band as a kid but only been a few months since finding his acoustic songs and been pretty amazed tbh, a songwriter writing great songs from a young age and still making them at his age now, most fade away (like ghosts :-) after a few songs.
Love the choir version of overkill as well, check that out if you haven't.

@Dee Baratoli Twas my first time hearing that tune as well.... Indeed I will check out choir version of overkill. That song haunts me quite honestly. Flashes me back to a different time in a different world--I keep returning to the music video of overkill each time I listen to it lately......

@Jesse Regenauer Here you go, it's a great upbeat version with Colin Hay, the choir does loads of top songs with older artists, even Rik Astley never gonna give you up which is pretty good actually, enjoy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kCZKAxDoUwE

Love love love this song. I have since I heard it. Loved men at Work and this song is so touching. Side note-That Veilette Gryphon he plays is a beautiful instrument. Musicians have described the sound as magical, mythical, angelic--- fairy dust. 4500 for the original, a korean company has been licensed to sell-only 1200 ;)

Thanks for naming the make of the guitar i was wondering, you also broke my heart with the price tag after it just breaking after listening the song.
Really want that sound from a guitar, there must be one for under £500

Maybe you can find one used? I want to buy one for my daughter. She currently plays the mandolin because its small enough for her hands (little kid hands). She also likes this song, she told me she cant get it out of her head. She calls it the 'the sad song'.

@calvinzhobbes1977 well it's definitely sad because it's so relatable to today's world and the things I've seen, if this actually happened to him, damn, it would almost end me.

Great words, a better man. Love this guy

When that shirt has pups, I get first pick.

I really love this song...so touching❤😪

Very moving

Not Thatcher? Dear god no, what a complete cancer

Lovely Track Indeed...I can hear the emotion in his voice very well there, and also musical references to " Down Under " too. Just Brilliant......

As an adolescent remember first noticing how good his lyrics are on "Catch A Star".

Beautiful song

Brilliant

As much as I love this song I hate listening to it whenever someone else is around. I ugly cry like a bitch but great song.

A story....a melody.....a voice you will never forget.....that‘s what a perfect song needs....or Colin Hay.....

Always from the heart with Colin

Love it x

best lied aller zeiten <3

Holy... i love that Song... why Collin hay is SO underrated?

beautiful

I have to think this song has to bsoe difficult for Colin Hay to sing.

GREAT SONG

We all know a Maggie.

I am not crying... I am not crying... I am not... Oh fuck it, I am crying...

An incredibly moving song from Colin about his first love. Beautifully crafted and written from the heart.
What an incredible talent Colin has for song writing and guitar playing. We remain immensely proud of you here in Scotland.

That’s heavy

Amazing song!!! Never really "listened" to this until now.

Man a tear jerker ! Great song.

A story teller😍🙏

I was thinking this dudes voice is similar to the lead singers voice of Men at Work.... looked it up... guess my ears aren't totally shot... really enjoy Colins music... VERY MUCH SO!!!!

ces musiques sont .......magique !!

What instrument is that ? Colin Hay is a very underrated musician, I've been a fan for a long time

Awesome!

I know they have very little to do with each other besides performing... but I hear a lot of Dan Andriano in his voice and in the subject matter.

Seen Colin many times and even though I’ve heard many of his stories before, he’s always so endearing and connecting with his audience.

Fantastic..

that's the power of music

jesus just listening to it makes me almost wheep

Collin Hay is a raconteur of the highest order.

The look he had after the last chord broke my heart

No doubt

I was carried away and go with the flow, What a wonderful song!

This song is a masterpiece!

Its awesome how this personal experience can be transformed into a beautiful song which has two purposes: one, give tribute and remembrance to this young unfortunate soul (Maggie), two, so Colin can ventilate his emotions towards this girl who was a very significant human being in his young life.

One tends to get toughened by the ups and downs of life over the years but this amazing song brought me abruptly back in my mind to very similar personal circumstances. First love - loss of innocence - one very special person and events from the past that can never be repeated or relived...only in bitter sweet memories...I hope writing this song eased the pain Mr. Hay...it's stunningly good...

heart breaking n so beautiful

Masterpiece

So beautiful.. I had a love like this, when i was 12. We loved each other before we knew what love was. ♡

watched in Manchester, beautiful song to witness. Crowd very emotional..

Oh, I just adore him as an artist, but my gosh - the most handsome man on Earth, I believe. That face is so interesting, so expressive. For someone with facial amnesia, his face I can remember longer than anyone else's.

Funny that you say that, ma'am. I'm a man in my 30s and when I first saw Colin's face here I thought "That's one regal looking man." I could well imagine his countenance in an old portrait of a nobleman/warrior/king.

How can I live with only memories of you- that’s a really deep set of lyrics. It says way more than just the spoken words. I’ve always liked his voice, now I’m just gonna have to really appreciate the talent Colin exudes! Thank you sir!!!!

Brilliant!

Truly like wine in how great he's become at songwriting and story telling.

Simply said, genius.

Without a doubt, the most beautiful love song ever written.

Absolutely amazing!!! Colin Hay is the best thing that happened to me this year. Absolutely stunning!

What kind of guitar is that??

Viellete Gryphon 12 string.

@tossedpenny very unique sound

einer meiner absoluten lieblingssongs überhaupt, collin hay istz einfach der hammer,
und der song überträgt SO VIEL !

What a great sad, sad love song!!!! Sadest, i've ever heard!!!! An d i feel for you, Colin......

What a sad, sad song!!! I haerd it often, i love it! And i feel for you, Colin........

I am crying so hard, thanks a lot, dude. lol
beautiful but brutal.

What a great song! colin hay is a great artist, has a fine sense of humor, write amazing songs! a shame,how underrated he is :(

Definitely, one of the best songs I heard in my life!!! Forever...thanks Colin ... greetings from Argentina!!!

I saw Mister Hay in May of 2008 for the 1st time...He Started this song and I had Never heard it before...We listened and it brought tears to nearly everyone's eyes....including mine! I was shocked a tune could have such an unexpected effect.

Ein großartiger Musiker!

Colin Hay was awesome in Men @ Work & also as a solo artist, he has nothing to prove........ a master musician !!!!

One of the best song writers ever full stop.

What a great song. It touches me. Thank you for sharing, Colin Hay!

This is brilliant song writing... Colin Hay you are a genius .

Anyone know what kind of guitar that is?

Emanuel B That's a Viellette Gryphon 12 string made in New York by Joe Viellette. The USA models like Colin's made by Joe himself cost about $4,500. Joe licensed out the Gryphon model a few years ago for mass production to Avante Guitars in Korea and those cost around $1,200. I just bought one and they're fantastic quality solid wood body instruments. Do a YouTube search on Gryphon 12 string and tons of videos are available.

Inspirational melancholic alchemy....the music and the lyrics, err the "story", beautiful.

muy linda!

So heart wrenching a tale ☹️

Master song writer

I think, when I die, if I end up in Heaven, I will hear music like this.

There is no 'if'. Just accept the grace Christ gave you and you will be there. Follow the light.

Colin talked about this one in an interview we just published:
"I just thought about this girl that I knew when I was young. She came into my mind and then I just wrote down the song in about 40 minutes. And while I was writing the song, the verses, I was weeping convulsively."

it reminds us of eternal truth

great song, great singer.

Can someone tell me, please, if God exists, why do we suffer like Maggie, her mother and Colin do in this story? How many songs like this are there...proclaiming sadness and regret? Are we born to suffer?

Yes, we are born to suffer.

You are to turn your suffering into compassion and empathy. Find someone or a cause in need and help them. That’s what I did when I was waiting for a transplant. I volunteered my time at different places . Elderly need company. Children need help at schools. I did that for 2 years my suffering went to the back of my mind when I saw Joy on the faces of others. Now I’m well I still help. It’s good for your soul and Karma

we are born to everything.

Free Will.

The fundamental truth of life is suffering. All you need to do is be born here, and you are guaranteed suffering. Death, illness, violence, mental health collapse, all of this will touch you and you don't even need to leave your home for it.

Everything will crumble into the sea.

sounds like Tull

brilliant!

Love Colin Hay & Etown.

One of the best love songs ever! I really want to see his documentary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't stop listening to this song. What an incredible songwriter.

best song ever, happy he's going on tour this year. I'm gong for sure. i wonder if some of the tour will be on the documentary about him

genius,simply,sooo sad and melancholic, wondeful song! great artist,underrated

....holy shit, what a song....i found this about it:

"Maggie" is actually a true story told by Hay about a girl that he met when he was a young boy. They grow up together and their relationship evolves from them being little kids with crushes on each other to them being in love culminating with him losing his virginity to her. His family then moves away to Australia and he becomes part of one of the biggest bands of that time. She subsequently gets wrapped up with drugs, her life on a downward spiral. He expresses his regret at not seeing the signs that she was headed for trouble throughout the song. His plaintive cries of "I miss you" lie between each chorus as well. Eventually, after not hearing from Maggie for a few years he receives a call from her mother who through her tears tells him that Maggie has died. However, before her death she wrote him a note. in the letter she tells him that she is better off now and that she is forever his and she misses him."

so heartbreaking and heavy
thanks for sharing

This is really tough... It must be very hard to live it

Thank you so much.

Probably the best love song ever written.

It's nice but probably not...…..

@Dazza Howard Definitely not.

Lightning Wolf along with Paul Kelly's when I first met you Ma

I dunno van Morrison wrote some pretty good ones

brilliant song.

God, I wish I could write a song like this.

To add (and repeat) to the details of the song, I found the following on-line:

"Maggie and many other Colin Hay songs including: I just don't think I'll ever get over you & waiting for my real life to begin
are all based on this tragic event in Colins life when he found out that his first real love (whom he never got over) had died. The line from Maggie: "hey darlin boy, don't you cry for me, I am forever your now that I am free" and the line from Waiting for my Real Life to Begin: "I already have a plan, i'm waiting for my real life to begin" are both written about the note that Maggie left him after she committed suicide. I just don't think I'll ever get over you is also written about Maggie, in my views the most beautiful and powerful song ever written."

And this...

"I attended a Colin Hay concert a few months ago and found this song to be the most moving... he seemed so saddened performing it on stage. He told the story of the songs meaning. When he was living in Scotland, around the age of 6 or 7, he would always play with a girl who would wrestle Colin to the ground, releasing him only after leaning down and giving him a kiss. This girl was Maggie. Maggie became his first love and remained with up to (and maybe after) he moved from Scotland to Australia. Right at the height of his solo career, Colin received a phone call telling him that this Maggie had died. In response he wrote "Maggie"."

Thanks very much for this info.
This is certainly up there with the greatest love songs ever written.
Do you have a source for the info?

I hope you never get to write a song like this. To have to go through that heartbreak that has driven Colin in so many of his songs. Would not wish that on anyone. Amazing song

get to writing..

Joe Wolf, you are my Maggie.

simply great mr hay !!!!!