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)

Wastin' Away
Gerry Rafferty Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm goin', yes I'm goin', yes I'm goin' away
I finally made up my mind
I'm leavin', yes I'm leavin', yes I'm leavin' today
Leavin' the good life behind.
I can never be the kind of man you want me to be
Don't cry, little darlin', don't cry
You don't know what this kind of life is doin' to me
Goodbye, little darlin', goodbye.

Wastin' away, wastin' away
Too much of nothin' every day
Wastin' away, wastin' away
Too much of nothin' every day
Once upon a time you would've asked me to stay
I know, little darlin', I know
Now I get the feeling you don't care anyway
It shows, little darlin', it shows.
Wastin' away, wastin' away
Too much of nothin' every day
Wastin' away, wastin' away
Too much of nothin' every day
I'm goin', yes I'm goin', yes I'm goin' away
I finally made up my mind
I'm leavin', yes I'm leavin', yes I'm leavin' today
Leavin' the good life behind.
Wastin' away, wastin' away
Too much of nothin' every day
Wastin' away, wastin' away
Too much of nothin' every day

Wastin' away, wastin' away
Wastin' away, wastin' away

Overall Meaning

The song "Wastin' Away" by Gerry Rafferty tells the story of a man who has made the decision to leave his current life behind. He repeats the phrase "I'm goin', yes I'm goin', yes I'm goin' away" to emphasize his determination. He admits that he can never be the man his partner wants him to be, and he is tired of living a life that is wasting away. The chorus "wastin' away, wastin' away, too much of nothin' every day" highlights the emptiness that the singer feels in his current situation. He acknowledges that his partner once would have asked him to stay, but now he thinks that she doesn't care either way. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the singer's feeling of being stuck in a life that is going nowhere.

The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the struggles of maintaining a meaningful life. The singer is struggling to find purpose and feels that his current life is futile. He is willing to leave everything behind and start fresh, even if it means leaving behind someone he cares about. The repetition of "wastin' away" adds a sense of urgency to the song, highlighting the singer's desire to escape his current situation.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm goin', yes I'm goin', yes I'm goin' away
I have made the decision to leave

I finally made up my mind
I have decided to leave behind the life I've been living

I'm leavin', yes I'm leavin', yes I'm leavin' today
Today is the day of my departure

Leavin' the good life behind.
I have realized that the life I thought was good is actually not fulfilling

I can never be the kind of man you want me to be
I have come to the realization that I cannot meet your expectations

Don't cry, little darlin', don't cry
I am comforting you in this difficult time

You don't know what this kind of life is doin' to me
You cannot understand how much this life is draining me

Goodbye, little darlin', goodbye.
This is my final goodbye to you

Wastin' away, wastin' away
I am wasting my life

Too much of nothin' every day
I am not fulfilled in my daily life

Once upon a time you would've asked me to stay
At some point in the past, you would've wanted me to stay with you