Gerald "Gerry" Rafferty (16 April 1947 – 4 January 2011) was a Scottish si… Read Full Bio ↴Gerald "Gerry" Rafferty (16 April 1947 – 4 January 2011) was a Scottish singer-songwriter. In his early years, Rafferty earned money by the formerly illegal practice of busking on the London Underground. Poetically, his biggest hit, 1978's "Baker Street", discusses busking at a tube station and being a part of the street life. After working with Billy Connolly (now better known as a comedian) in an obscure outfit known as The Humblebums, he released his first solo album, called 'Can I Have My Money Back', in 1971. That collection of folk inspired tunes gained some notice for its deliberately 'old-timey' cover art.

In 1972, Rafferty and his old school friend Joe Egan formed the outfit Stealers Wheel, a group that proved beset by legal wranglings yet brimming with talent. They had a huge hit with "Stuck in the Middle With You", a pop/rock track deliberately aping the style of Bob Dylan that has had massive airplay for decades. That song also was immortalized in the infamous torture scene in the motion picture 'Reservoir Dogs', the film's soundtrack introducing the group to a new generation. Despite their knack for The Beatles-like melodic rock, Stealers Wheel disbanded in 1975.

Rafferty spent quite a while in a sort of forced legal limbo before he could record again, spending his time wisely as he developed his sound. In 1978, Rafferty cut a solo album, 'City to City', which would catapult him right into international stardom. Earning praise from many music critics, the release included the song with which he remains most associated: "Baker Street". Known for its gripping lyrics and haunting saxophone solo by Raphael Ravenscroft, the single reached #3 in the U.K. and #2 in the U.S. The album itself also received a boost as another single, "Right Down the Line", picked up major attention.

"Baker Street" has remained a mainstay of radio airplay for decades and popped up several times in popular culture, an example being its placement in the 'Good Will Hunting' soundtrack. Notable cover versions include a release by Undercover that also made the Top 3 in the U.K .singles chart in 1992. American rockers Foo Fighters also made their own version, swapping the saxophone solo for a guitar solo.

His next album, Night Owl, also did well, and the title track was a UK No. 5 hit in 1979. The follow-up single "Get It Right Next Time", made the UK Top 40.

Subsequent albums, such as Snakes and Ladders (1980), Sleepwalking (1982), and North and South (1988) all fared less well, due partly to Rafferty's general reluctance to perform live. "Don't Give Up On Me", from his 1992 collection On A Wing and a Prayer, is a much-featured oldie on BBC Radio 2. In 2021, a posthumous album, Rest In Blue, was released to positive reception.

DISCOGRAPHY

With the Humblebums

First Collection of Merry Melodies (1969)
The New Humblebums (1969)
Open Up The Door (1970)

With Stealers Wheel

Stealers Wheel (1973)
Ferguslie Park (1974)
Right Or Wrong (1975)

Solo

Can I Have My Money Back? (1971)
City To City (1978)
Night Owl (1979)
Snakes And Ladders (1980)
Sleepwalking (1981)
North And South (1988)
On A Wing And A Prayer (1992)
Over My Head (1994)
Another World (2000)
Rest In Blue (2021)

Because
Gerry Rafferty Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lennon-McCartney

Ah because the world is round, it turns me round
Because the world is round.

Ah because the wind is high, it blows my mind
Because the wind is high.

Ah love is old, love is new
Love is all, love is you.

Because the sky is blue, it makes me cry
Because the sky is blue.

Aaah ...

Overall Meaning

In Gerry Rafferty's song Because, the artist explores the reasons why he feels the way he does. The opening lines of the song convey how the world round shape affects him, suggesting that the cyclical nature of life and the world's natural cycle of birth and death, and the changing of seasons can be overwhelming to the human mind, which is also cyclical in nature. He then mentions the wind, which is also cyclical, as it blows in different directions, indicating that the changes in the environment can also affect one's state of mind. In the third verse, he talks about how love is both old and new, sophisticated and simple, and how it can play a significant role in one's life, possibly calming the mind and keeping it focused. Finally, in the last verse, he discusses how the beauty of something as natural as a blue sky can evoke emotion, leading to tears.

Gerry Rafferty's song Because is a beautiful and straightforward piece of poetry. Its meaning can be open to interpretation by anyone who listens to it. But, with its thought-provoking lyrics and melody, there is a unifying theme to be found in each of the verses. The song's central message is how our surroundings and experiences can have a profound impact on our emotional wellbeing, and how we should take the time to appreciate the beauty in the everyday things around us. Because is a nostalgic love ballad that encourages the listener to find solace in the simple things life has to offer.

Line by Line Meaning

Ah because the world is round, it turns me round
The circular nature of the world and its continuous rotation has a profound effect on me, causing me to experience a range of emotions and sensations.

Because the world is round.
I find the idea of a spherical world fascinating and thought-provoking, and it inspires me to think deeply about the nature of the universe.

Ah because the wind is high, it blows my mind
When the wind is strong and powerful, it has a profound impact on my consciousness and my ability to think and reason clearly.

Because the wind is high.
The force and energy of the wind captivate me and inspire me to explore the mysteries of nature and the universe.

Ah love is old, love is new
Love is a timeless and universal concept that has persisted throughout human history and continues to inspire and motivate us today.

Love is all, love is you.
Love is the core of our being and the essence of our existence, and it is embodied in the people and experiences that we cherish and hold dear.

Because the sky is blue, it makes me cry
The beauty and majesty of the blue sky evokes powerful emotions in me, causing me to feel both joy and sorrow at the same time.

Because the sky is blue.
The color and vastness of the sky are a constant source of wonder and amazement to me, and they remind me of the infinite possibilities of the universe.

Contributed by Nolan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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