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)
Over My Head
Gerry Rafferty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the day had just begun
Then you said let's take a walk outside
And watch the rising of the sun.
And over my head there was so much to see in the sky
Just that feeling of being alive
Don't let it go, don't let it slip away.
We stood around until the sky was clear
I watched your figure slowly disappear
As you walked off down the road.
And over my head there was so much to see in the sky
Just that feeling of being alive
Don't let it go, don't let it slip away.
Don't let it go, don't let it slip away
Don't let it go, don't let it slip away.
In Gerry Rafferty's song "Over My Head," the main character spends a night talking with someone and experiencing an overwhelming feeling of being alive. The dawn approaches, and the other person suggests taking a walk outside to watch the sunrise. The singer describes how there is so much to see in the sky, and that feeling of being alive should not be let go. The two continue to watch the sunrise until it is time for the other person to leave. The singer watches as the other person walks away, and still feels that the sky has so much to offer.
The lyrics of "Over My Head" serve as a reminder to appreciate the small moments in life that can make us feel alive. The simplicity of watching the sunrise with someone else can bring an overwhelming feeling of joy and appreciation. This can be a fleeting moment that can easily slip away, and the song encourages the listener to hold onto those moments and not let them go.
Overall, "Over My Head" is a beautiful song that reminds us to appreciate the simple moments in life and hold onto them. The song's message of holding onto the feeling of being alive is both relatable and powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
We sat up talking right on through the night
We had a conversation that lasted all night
And the day had just begun
The morning had just arrived
Then you said let's take a walk outside
You suggested that we go for a walk outside
And watch the rising of the sun.
And see the sun come up over the horizon
And over my head there was so much to see in the sky
There was a lot to look at in the sky above me
Just that feeling of being alive
I felt alive in that moment
Don't let it go, don't let it slip away.
Don't lose hold of that feeling
We stood around until the sky was clear
We stayed outside until the sky was no longer cloudy
It was time for you to go
You had to leave
I watched your figure slowly disappear
I saw you gradually get further away from me
As you walked off down the road.
As you walked away from our location
Don't let it go, don't let it slip away
Don't forget about that moment we shared
Don't let it go, don't let it slip away.
Don't forget about the feeling of being alive that we experienced
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GERRY RAFFERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind