Stewart grew up in the coastal resort town of Bournemouth, Dorset. According to Songfacts, in days of youthful folly Stewart played in a beat group with later BBC DJ Tony Blackburn before moving to the capital to seek fortune and fame.
Having bought his first guitar from future Police guitarist Andy Summers, Stewart traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic guitar when he was offered a weekly slot at Bunjies Coffee House in London's Soho in 1965. From there, he went on to compete at the Les Cousins folk club on Greek Street, where he played alongside Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, Van Morrison, Roy Harper and Ralph McTell
Although he had his share of the breaks, including a tenure at Bunjees coffee house and a record deal with CBS, life wasn't always easy for the young troubadour; his first serious love affair ended in disaster, and he experienced all the usual insecurities of the stranger in the big city trying to find his way.
In January 1970, Melody Maker named his second release Love Chronicles its Folk Album Of The Year, but in spite of his obviously carving out quite a name for himself, it was not until Year Of The Cat - the single and even more so the monster album - that he really shot to fame.
He emigrated to the United States as his career took off in the mid 1970s, and still lives in California. While studio albums are now few and far between, he still tours extensively in the United States, and, most years, in Europe. Recordings of concerts are often made available through his fan clubs.
Sergio
Al Stewart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the days after the war
So long ago
Bought some land
Thought to plant a vineyard
Like the one he used to know
So long ago
The sleepy valley was a land of farms and horses
He drove the tractor, fixed the sprinklers, loaded boxes
Sold his wine from a van
His reputation soon began to grow
Sergio, with grapemust on his overalls
Acaccia in his hair
Memories flow
In his mind, another country far away
With music in the air
So long ago
His wooden vats have turned to towers of gleaming metal
For Pinot Noir and Syrah, Cabernet, Chardonnay
They're entered into competitions, winning medals,
Advertised on TV
They're calling him the patriarch today
Sergio, puts a weathered hand on the labeling machine
The day's almost done
Looks outside, beyond the barrels
To the rows of vines in brown and green
The last of the sun
Sergio, came to California
In the years after the war
So long ago
Brought some land
Thought to plant a vineyard
Like the ones he used to know
So long ago.
The song "Sergio" by Al Stewart tells the story of an Italian immigrant who came to California after the war to start a vineyard, reminiscent of the one he had known back in Italy. Sergio's story captures the classic American immigrant narrative of a determined and hardworking individual who comes to America to pursue his dreams. The lyrics describe how Sergio built his own house, drove his own tractor, fixed the sprinklers, and sold his wine from his own van. Sergio's hardworking reputation and dedication to his vineyard quickly made him famous and an important figure in the California wine industry. Through the lyrics, Al Stewart introduces us to the man behind the wine, a man who reminisces about his home country, and has worked tirelessly to create a new life and a new legacy of wine-making in California.
The lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia for the past, evoked by Sergio's memories of his home country, the old wooden vats that have now turned into gleaming towers of metal, and the music that once surrounded him. At the same time, the lyrics also celebrate Sergio's achievements, his dedication, and his hard work, as demonstrated by the ways he transforms his vineyard into a successful enterprise, which brings him great recognition, respect, and the title of patriarch.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sergio" celebrate the spirit of American individualism, as well as the achievements of immigrants who have come to America to pursue their dreams by working hard and persevering.
Line by Line Meaning
Sergio came to California
Sergio, originally from another country, immigrated to California to start a new life.
In the days after the war
Sergio came to California after the end of a war, likely World War II.
So long ago
The events being described took place a significant amount of time in the past, likely several decades ago.
Bought some land
Sergio purchased some property upon arriving in California.
Thought to plant a vineyard
Sergio had the idea to grow grapes and make wine on his newly acquired land.
Like the one he used to know
Sergio had prior experience with planting vineyards and making wine, possibly in his country of origin.
The sleepy valley was a land of farms and horses
The area where Sergio settled was primarily rural, with many farms and horses grazing in the fields.
He brought his family to the house that he built all alone
Sergio built a house for his family on his land with his own hands, demonstrating his determination and hard work ethic.
He drove the tractor, fixed the sprinklers, loaded boxes
Sergio took on many roles on his vineyard, from operating machinery to repairing his irrigation system to moving boxes of wine.
Sold his wine from a van
At first, Sergio had to sell his wine directly to customers out of a van, which was likely a challenge for him as a newcomer to the area.
His reputation soon began to grow
Through hard work and dedication to his craft, Sergio's wine became more well-known and respected in the community.
Sergio, with grapemust on his overalls
Sergio physically embodies his work with his overalls stained with grape must, showcasing his commitment to his craft.
Acaccia in his hair
Acaccia is a type of tree that can have a sweet scent. This line suggests that Sergio enjoys nature and fresh air, as the smell of the tree may be in his hair from spending time outside.
Memories flow
Sergio reminisces about the past and how this new life compares to his old one.
In his mind, another country far away
Sergio longingly remembers his homeland while adjusting to his new home.
With music in the air
It's possible that music was a big part of Sergio's life in his old country, and he may miss it greatly in California as it's not as prevalent in his current surroundings.
His wooden vats have turned to towers of gleaming metal
As Sergio's vineyard has grown and expanded, he has upgraded his equipment from humble wooden vats to more modern and impressive towers of metal.
For Pinot Noir and Syrah, Cabernet, Chardonnay
These are all different types of wine grapes that Sergio has successfully grown and turned into varieties of wine at his vineyard.
They're entered into competitions, winning medals, advertised on TV
Sergio's wines have gained a reputation for quality and are now recognized in the wider world, being entered into competitions and even advertised on television.
They're calling him the patriarch today
Having built a successful vineyard, Sergio is now revered as a leader in his community and as a successful businessman.
Sergio, puts a weathered hand on the labeling machine
After many years of hard work, Sergio still takes an active role in running his vineyard, even if it's something as simple as labeling the wine bottles.
The day's almost done
Sergio is nearing the end of a long day of work on the vineyard.
Looks outside, beyond the barrels
Sergio takes a moment to reflect on his journey and how far he has come while looking out over his vineyards.
To the rows of vines in brown and green
Sergio's vineyards are largely made up of rows of grapevines that are various shades of brown and green.
The last of the sun
The sun is setting or has just set, indicating that it's evening and the workday is coming to a close.
So long ago
This final line reminds the listener once again that all of these events took place a significant amount of time ago.
Contributed by Ellie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.