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)
Keep It to Yourself
Gerry Rafferty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd like to ease the pain in my troubled brain
But as to how, I haven't a clue
Should I shout at the people who pass me by
Hey folks look at me, I'm no ordinary guy
I had a love and she swore she was mine
But she only loved me when the weather was fine.
Keep it to yourself, tell nobody else
Just how you loved her so, they don't want to know
Keep it to yourself.
On a subway train, I hide from the rain
And take a seat right next to the door
There's a man with a case and as I look at his face
I'm sure I've seen him someplace before
He looks up and I look down
And then we both look away
The train slows down and my head spins ‘round
It's like scene from a one-act play.
My mind tells me what to do
Keep it to yourself, tell nobody else
Just how you loved her so, they don't want to know
Keep it to yourself.
I feel much better when the sun has lost its glow
When the light of day is fading away
And there are shadows wherever I go
Yes the light is fading and I'm masquerading
As a poet with something to say
The inspiration's gone and I can't turn it on
It's been the same since she went away.
My mind tells me what to do
Keep it to yourself, tell nobody else
Just how you loved her so, they don't want to know
Keep it to yourself.
In this song, Gerry Rafferty sings about the pain of lost love and the struggle to deal with the emotions that come with it. He talks about walking along the street, wondering what to do and how to ease the pain in his troubled brain. Despite his confusion, he considers shouting at the people who pass him by, to show that he's not an ordinary guy. He then laments about a past love, who only loved him when the weather was fine, and how this has affected him deeply.
As the song progresses, Rafferty takes us through a journey of his thoughts and emotions as he hides from the rain on a subway train. He comes across a man with a case, who he believes he's seen before. However, they both avoid each other's gaze, and the train slows down, leaving Rafferty feeling like he's in a scene from a play. He then talks about how he feels better when the sun sets, and shadows fall everywhere. Rafferty further mentions how he has lost his inspiration since his love left him.
The song's main message is about dealing with lost love and the pain that comes with it. Rafferty encourages listeners to keep their feelings to themselves, as other people may not want to know. The chorus' repetition emphasizes that one should keep their emotions to themselves, as it's a personal journey that only they can deal with.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk along the street and wonder what to do
The singer is feeling lost and uncertain about the direction of his life.
I'd like to ease the pain in my troubled brain
The singer is struggling with his mental health and is looking for ways to alleviate his suffering.
But as to how, I haven't a clue
Despite his desire to heal, the singer is at a loss for how to do so.
Should I shout at the people who pass me by
The artist is considering acting out in public to draw attention to himself.
Hey folks look at me, I'm no ordinary guy
The artist believes he is special and wants others to see him that way.
I had a love and she swore she was mine
The singer had a romantic partner who he believed was committed to him.
But she only loved me when the weather was fine
The singer's partner was not truly committed, only showing affection when conditions were favorable.
My mind tells me what to do
The artist has an inner voice guiding his thoughts and actions.
Keep it to yourself, tell nobody else
The artist is advising himself to keep his inner thoughts and emotions private.
Just how you loved her so, they don't want to know
Others are not interested in or receptive to hearing about the artist's past relationship.
On a subway train, I hide from the rain
The singer seeks shelter and refuge from the elements in a crowded public space.
And take a seat right next to the door
The artist deliberately chooses a certain seat on the subway.
There's a man with a case and as I look at his face
The singer observes another passenger on the subway.
I'm sure I've seen him someplace before
The singer has a sense of familiarity or recognition about the other passenger's appearance.
He looks up and I look down
The two passengers exchange a fleeting glance.
And then we both look away
Both passengers immediately break eye contact.
The train slows down and my head spins ‘round
The sensory experience of the subway slowing down is disorienting for the artist.
It's like scene from a one-act play
The surroundings and interactions on the subway feel dramatic or staged to the singer.
I feel much better when the sun has lost its glow
The singer finds comfort and solace in the darkness of nighttime.
When the light of day is fading away
The artist enjoys the transition and reprieve from daytime to nighttime.
And there are shadows wherever I go
The artist takes notice of the mysterious and evocative nature of shadows.
Yes the light is fading and I'm masquerading
As daylight fades, the artist feels as though he is hiding behind a facade or persona.
As a poet with something to say
The singer aligns himself with the archetype of a poet, someone who has deep and meaningful things to communicate.
The inspiration's gone and I can't turn it on
The artist is experiencing writer's block and struggling to find inspiration.
It's been the same since she went away
The singer's emotional distress and lack of creative inspiration has been ongoing since his past relationship ended.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIE WILLIAMSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind