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)
Waiting for the Day
Gerry Rafferty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just as the night is comin' down
Warm wind blowin' through the trees
I watch them swing, I watch them sway
Lie here waiting for the day.
Sleep won't come, I need a drink
Stop my head, don't wanna think
But I know you're so far away
And I'm here waiting for the day.
Water of life pour your light down on me
Take me out of this darkness, sweet star of the sea
Water so sweet you can open my eyes
You can bring down the rain on this desert so dry.
Out on the street, shadows fall
Silence speaks, I hear it call
City of the living dead
Count the lights on the motorway
Lie here waiting for the day (alright).
Water of life pour your light down on me
Take me out of this darkness, sweet star of the sea
Water so sweet you can open my eyes
You can bring down the rain on this desert so dry.
Yes here I am, back in town
Just as the night is comin' down
Warm wind blowin' through the trees
I watch them swing, I watch them sway
Lie here waiting for the day (alright)
In “Waiting for the Day,” Gerry Rafferty tells the story of a lonely traveler who’s longing for the company of his loved one. He’s just returned to town and can’t help but notice the wind blowing through the trees and shadows falling on the street as the city comes to life. Though he wishes he could be with his partner, he knows she’s far away, so he takes solace in waiting for the dawn to break. However, sleep evades him, and he turns to alcohol to help him forget his loneliness. He finds some comfort in asking for help from a higher power — the “Water of Life” or the “star of the sea” — to shine some light on his darkness and bring some much-needed rain to his parched life.
The song’s lyrics capture the sense of alienation that comes with being in a new place and feeling disconnected from the people you love. At the same time, it offers hope that things will improve, and the darkness will eventually give way to light. The repetition of the phrase “waiting for the day” echoes this sentiment, serving as a reminder that even when things seem bleak, a new day always brings new opportunities to connect and find some joy in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well here I am, back in town
I have returned to this place after some time away.
Just as the night is comin' down
It is dark outside and the day is ending.
Warm wind blowin' through the trees
The air outside is pleasant and there is a breeze moving through the foliage.
I watch them swing, I watch them sway
I observe the trees as they move with the wind.
Lie here waiting for the day.
I am resting and anticipating the beginning of the next day.
Sleep won't come, I need a drink
I am having difficulty sleeping and feel that alcohol may help me to relax.
Stop my head, don't wanna think
I do not want to dwell on my thoughts and seek to distract myself from them.
Wishing I could be with you
I desire to be in the presence of someone I care about.
But I know you're so far away
Unfortunately, the person I want to be with is not nearby.
And I'm here waiting for the day.
I am still waiting for the new day to begin.
Water of life pour your light down on me
I am asking for spiritual guidance and illumination.
Take me out of this darkness, sweet star of the sea
I desire to be removed from a state of emotional or spiritual darkness.
Water so sweet you can open my eyes
The same liquid that sustains life can also provide clarity of thought or understanding.
You can bring down the rain on this desert so dry.
I am hoping that a metaphorical rain, or a positive change or inspiration, will come to me in a time of spiritual or emotional dryness.
Out on the street, shadows fall
The dark shadows cast by the buildings on the street are visible as the sun sets.
Silence speaks, I hear it call
In the quiet of the evening, the lack of sound is deafening and brings my attention to my surroundings.
City of the living dead
Despite the bustling activity in the city, there is a sense of emptiness or lack of true life.
Count the lights on the motorway
I am distracted by the lights of the cars as they travel along the road.
Lie here waiting for the day (alright).
I am still waiting for the new day to begin, but I feel okay with this situation.
Yes here I am, back in town
I reiterate that I have returned to this place after some time away.
Just as the night is comin' down
As the darkness of the night falls once again.
Warm wind blowin' through the trees
There is still a light breeze outside.
I watch them swing, I watch them sway
I continue to observe the movement of the trees as they sway in the wind.
Lie here waiting for the day (alright)
I am still waiting for the new day to begin and I am content with this.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GERALD RAFFERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@garyjarvis2796
Waiting for the day. Quite possibly the best rock ballad ever. Comes from quite possibly the best album ever.
@doreenjefferson1151
yes
@stevefrasier8269
An every-track-is-magical album. What a f'n album. Listening to City to City "gets at" me each time.
@DCHurlford1
Rafferty at his very best, with an epic "water of life......" break. He opened with this classic number when i caught him in concert back in 1993.
@SmallPersonRoo
You can find the CD of that concert on YouTube
@DCHurlford1
@@SmallPersonRoo The show i was at was the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
@scifizydeco
ironically in Rafferty's case, the Old Irish word for whisky is Uisce beatha - literally 'water of life'.
@DCHurlford1
@@scifizydeco He was also partial to Apple Brandy. His old friend the Big Yin (Billy Connoly) said he was having lunch with him and he downed about 10 Calvados.
@markthompson9914
YOU LUCKY SOD 👍
Still least I have all his stuff on vinyl and a rocking set of equipment too spin em on ✌️🇬🇧
@jimmyjohnston4750
The "thumbs-down" shouldn't even listen to music? Much less Gerry Rafferty!