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Gerry Rafferty
Gerry Rafferty


Background information
Birth name Gerald Rafferty
Born April 16, 1947
Born place Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Died January 4, 2011
Death place Upton, Dorset, England
Genre(s) Progressive Rock
Years active 1972—2010
Label(s) London Records
United Artists Records
Associated acts The Humblebums
Stealers Wheel



Music World  →  Lyrics  →  G  →  Gerry Rafferty  →  Albums  →  Snakes And Ladders

Gerry Rafferty Album


Snakes And Ladders (1980)
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. . .


Rafferty

I remember the sound of the passing train
As it rolled through the night in the pouring rain
And the touch of a hand and the way she said : 'Goodbye'.

And we walked in the sun down the royal mile
Saw the light in her eye and the way she smiled
And she cried in the night and I heard her say : 'Don't go'.

What can I do, sweet darlin' ? I don't want to go away
Looking at you, sweet darlin', I know I want to stay
What can I do, sweet darlin' ?

And the light of the day I was rolling home
I was thinking of you waiting on your own
And I wanted to call but they sudden said : 'Oh no'.

Yeah, but now it's a dream, it's a memory
But I'll never forget what you gave to me
I was lost and alone but you made feel OK.

What can I do, sweet darlin' ? I don't want to go away
Looking at you, sweet darlin', I know I want to stay
What can I do, sweet darlin' ?

I remember the sound of the passing train
As it rolled through the night in the pouring rain
And the touch of a hand and the way she said : 'Goodbye'.

What can I do, sweet darlin' ? I don't want to go away
Looking at you, sweet darlin', I know I want to stay
What can I do, sweet darlin' ?

. . .


Rafferty

I was a boy scout in St. Mary's troop
I had my own patrol
I had a necktie and a monkey suit
'Til I heard rock and roll.

And I was going into something that was feelin' good
It was something I could understand
I was going into something, it was feeling free
I was singing like a reborn man.

I was around to see Columbus
I used to lie a lot
I had a Bible and a rosary
And one day I forgot.

And I was going into something that was feelin' good
It was something I could understand
I was going into something, it was feeling free
I was singing like a reborn man.

I sold the shoes, I had a great career
Down at the Main Street store
'Til I decided I should disappear
'Til I walked out the door.

And I was going into something that was feelin' good
It was something I could understand
I was going into something, it was feeling free
I was singing like a reborn man, yeah.

I was a boy scout in St. Mary's troop
I had my own patrol
I had a necktie and a monkey suit
'Til I heard rock and roll.

Now I was going into something that was feelin' good
It was something I could understand
I was going into something, it was feeling free
I was singing like a reborn man.

I was going into something that was feelin' good
It was something I could understand
I was going into something, it was feeling free
I was singing like a reborn man, yeah, hey, mmm, hey
I was a boy scout, mmm
I had my own patrol, yeah.

. . .


(Hollywood-sounding guy talking)
Hi man, do you like it here man?
It's really too much
Hey I know this great Mexican restaurant called Los Tacos
Can you say taco?
Sure I thought you could
Hey I know this great beach down in Santa Monica Boulevard
Do you like the sun?
It makes me feel real tingly all over
Hey, have you checked out Palm Springs?
What a place, Palm Springs
You'll love it, you'll absolutely love it!
Can you say love?
Sure, I know you're into it.

In El Padrino's at the happy hour
They've got a drink they say is made from passionflowers
So neat, so sweet.

They bring it all the way from Mexico
It's guaranteed to take you where you want to go
Oh boy, enjoy.

And you leave to see how the city feels
In the moonlight everything's so unreal
But when the sun shines everything tastes so good
And the sign says "Welcome to Hollywood".

They got a big house and a swimming pool
They sit around and everybody looks so cool
So bad, so sad.

Stuck in the middle with the blues again
You should know better, when you ever gonna learn
So long, so long.

And you leave to see how the city feels
In the moonlight everything's so unreal
But when the sun shines everything tastes so good
And the sign says "Welcome to Hollywood".

In El Padrino's at the happy hour
They've got a drink they say is made from passionflowers
So neat, so sweet.

They bring it all the way from Mexico
It's guaranteed to take you where you want to go
Oh boy, enjoy.

And you leave to see how the city feels
In the moonlight everything's so unreal
But when the sun shines everything tastes so good
And the sign says "Welcome to Hollywood".

(fade til end)
In Hollywood, in Hollywood
In Hollywood, in Hollywood

(a different Hollywood-sounding guy talking)
Yeah in Hollywood, hey in Hollywood baby
Gerry, love it! love it!
Get down Gerry, get down in Hollywood
Hey it's 80 degrees in Burbank,
85 Inglewood, 90 in the Valley
and 110 in my heart for Gerry Rafferty
Gerry get down baby
Heavy sounds, radio KRAP
You're gonna love it
I said in Hollywood
Gerry we're gonna hit the mountains
We're gonna hit the beaches
And hit you with this
Gerry baby you fry my brain and drive me insane!
Get down in Hollywood Gerry
Woooh! What'd I say baby!

Drums: Liam Genockey
Bass Guitar: Mo Foster
Lead Guitar and Swells: Jerry Donahue
Other Guitar: Richard Brunton
Piano/Clavinet: Billy Livsey
Synthesizers: Ian Lynn
Saxophone: Raphael Ravenscroft
Acoustic Guitar: Gerry Rafferty
Percussion: Frank Ricotti
Vocals: Gerry Rafferty
Mystery Voice: Billy Livsey

. . .


I'm goin', yes I'm goin', yes I'm goin' awayI finally made up my mindI'm leavin', yes I'm leavin', yes I'm leavin' todayLeavin' the good life behind.
I can never be the kind of man you want me to beDon't cry, little darlin', don't cryYou don't know what this kind of life is doin' to meGoodbye, little darlin', goodbye.
Wastin' away, wastin' awayToo much of nothin' every dayWastin' away, wastin' awayToo much of nothin' every day
Once upon a time you would've asked me to stayI know, little darlin', I knowNow I get the feeling you don't care anywayIt shows, little darlin', it shows.
Wastin' away, wastin' awayToo much of nothin' every dayWastin' away, wastin' awayToo much of nothin' every day
I'm goin', yes I'm goin', yes I'm goin' awayI finally made up my mindI'm leavin', yes I'm leavin', yes I'm leavin' todayLeavin' the good life behind.
Wastin' away, wastin' awayToo much of nothin' every dayWastin' away, wastin' awayToo much of nothin' every day
Wastin' away, wastin' awayWastin' away, wastin' away

Drums: Liam GenockeyBass Guitar: Pete ZornGuitars: Jerry DonahueKeyboards: Ian LynnPercussion: Frank RicottiVocals: Gerry Rafferty

. . .


Oh darlin' do not cry
These clouds will soon pass by
The moon up in the sky
Is crying, he feels just like you.

The moonlight casts its spell
You know that all is well
Even the moon can tell
He's smiling, he feels just like you.

Keyboards: Ian Lynn
Strings Arranged By: Wil Malone
String Leader: Gavin Wright
Vixen barking: Vixen Barking :-)
Vocals: Gerry Rafferty

. . .


I was lost on an endless seaGoing down, going down, going down on an endless seaSail with the wind, you weather the stormYou bring it all home, bring it all home, you bring it all home.
I was free in the dead of nightI want you, I want you, I want you in the dead of nightGive me your love, I'll sing you my bluesI bring it all home, bring it all home, I bring it all home.
I was blind in the light of dayI need you, I need you, I need you in the light of dayI still won't let go, hang on to this prideI bring it all home, bring it all home, I bring it all home.
I was lost on an endless seaGoing down, going down, going down on an endless seaThink to yourself as you're laughing it offBring it all home, bring it all home, bring it all home.
(fade)Yeah you think to yourself as you're laughing it offBring it all home, bring it all home, bring it all home.

Drums: Liam GenockeyBass Guitar: Mo FosterGuitars: Richard Brunton / Jerry DonahuePiano/Polymoog: Billy LivseyOrgan: Pete WingfieldSaxophone: Raphael RavenscroftVocals: Gerry Rafferty

. . .


Rafferty

Way down south in the garden of England
We got a song to sing and we let it fill the air
We got it made, yeah, in the garden of England
Where the sun comes up to see us everyday.

We feel like strangers but still we call it home
We got no reason but still we feel alone
But when the night comes, we can roll away the stone
To each his own, to each his own
Yeah, the simple life.

We live at home in the garden of England
They got us on the run, we can feel it in the air
We got it made in the garden of England
Where we celebrate the English way of life.

They had an empire, they give it all away
Their finest hour seems only yesterday
They still remember when Britannia ruled the waves
She ruled the waves, she ruled the waves, yeah
Yeah, the simple life.

[We conservatives have always maintained the need]
[For an experiment with a tougher regime]
[For depriving young football hooligans of their leisure time]
[I can announce today]
[That the experiment promised in our election manifest]
[Is to begin in Surrey]
[These will be no holiday camps]
[We will introduce on a regular basis]
[Drill, parades and inspections]
[From 6:45 am 'til lights out at 9:30 pm]
[Life will be conducted at a brisk tempo]

. . .


Looking for something, looking for one thing
Trying to find anything that makes you feel
Gotta keep goin', don't let it get you down
Now you've got nothing to lose.

You been taking it so hard, taking it on the head
Don't you know life's as good as being dead
Gotta keep movin', don't let it get you down
Now you've got nothing to lose.

When everyone around you
Tells you you're doin' fine
They're gonna drive you crazy
So don't close your eyes and swallow all those lies
Don't believe what you've been told
'Cause you'll wake up one day knowing nothing they say
Can satisfy your soul.

Gotta keep movin', don't let it bring you down
Now you've got nothing to lose.

When everyone around you
Tells you you're doin' fine
They're gonna drive you crazy
So don't close your eyes and swallow all those lies
Don't believe what you've been told
'Cause you'll wake up one day knowing nothing they say
Can satisfy your soul.

Looking for something, looking for one thing
Trying to find anything that makes you feel
You gotta keep goin', don't let it get you down
Now you've got nothing to lose.

Written by: Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty

Snakes and Ladders version

Drums: Liam Genockey
Bass Guitar: Pete Zorn
Keyboards: Ian Lynn
Guitars: Jerry Donahue
Percussion: Frank Ricotti
Vocals: Gerry Rafferty

. . .


Rafferty

Didn't I tell you ? Didn't I tell you true ?
Didn't I say the words that meant so much to me ?
Didn't I love you, just like you wanted me to ?
Didn't I say right then everything was gonna be alright ?

Didn't I, didn't I, now didn't I ?
Didn't I, didn't I, now didn't I ?

When I was way down, taking the long way 'round
There were times when you told me, we'd never make the other side
I asked you to understand, lend me a helping hand
Didn't I tell you we could make it as long as you believed in me ?

Didn't I, didn't I, now didn't I ?
Didn't I, didn't I, now didn't I ?

Didn't I tell you ? Didn't I love you ?
Didn't I say that it would be alright ?
Didn't I tell you ? Didn't I love you ?
Didn't I say that it would be alright ?

Didn't I, didn't I, now didn't I ?
Didn't I, didn't I, now didn't I ?

Didn't I tell you ? Didn't I tell you true ?
Didn't I say the words that meant so much to me ?
Didn't I love you, just like you wanted me to ?
Didn't I say right then everything was gonna be alright ?

Didn't I, didn't I, now didn't I ?
Didn't I, didn't I, now didn't I ?

Didn't I tell you ? Didn't I love you ?
Didn't I say that it would be alright ?
Didn't I tell you ? Didn't I love you ?
Didn't I say that it would be alright ?

Didn't I tell you ? Didn't I love you ?
Didn't I say that it would be alright ?
...

. . .


When I was just a kid way back in my hometownThere was a crazy little man who once came aroundSyncopatin' Sandy was the stranger's namePlaying marathon piano, that was Sandy's game.
He played all day, he played all nightAfter 48 hours he was still alrightWe fed him whiskey from a paper cupAnd we wondered how long he could keep it up.
How long? how long?How long? how long?
Well his eyes are rollin' and he can't even speakThe spirit's willing but the flesh is weakHow long? how long?How long? how long?
People would come and the people would goAnd the people all agreed it wasn't much of a showThey all Sandy must be weak in the headAnd if he didn't stop soon he would drop down dead.
He played all day, he played all nightAfter 96 hours he was still alrightWe fed him whiskey from a paper cupAnd we wondered how long he could keep it up.
How long? how long?How long? how long?
Well his eyes are rollin' and he can't even speakThe spirit's willing but the flesh is weakHow long? how long?How long? how long?
(fade)How long? how long?

Drums: Liam GenockeyBass Guitar: Pete ZornKeyboards: Ian LynnWoodblocks: Frank RicottiAcoustic Guitar: Gerry RaffertyClarinets/Strings Arranged By: Wil MaloneString Leader: Gavin WrightVocals: Gerry Rafferty

. . .


Rafferty

[Bonsoir mes amis]
[Welcome to the Cafe Le Cabotin].

Now we come down to the sand and the sun
And it ain't been easy trying to get a day's work done
But tonight's the night we're gonna have ourselves some fun
We're gonna have some fun.

We're gonna go downtown to the Cafe Le Cabotin
Where the baron is waitin' to welcome the rock and roll band
And if we get a little crazy, the baron will understand
He'll understand.

Night and day, night and day
We will burn our boats and sail away
Ridin' high, ridin' high
We will leave our mark and say goodbye.

Now the place is jumping, the party has just arrived
Sing away the blues, put the light back in your eyes
Yes, on a night like this, it's good to be alive
Just to feel alive.

Night and day, night and day
We will burn our boats and sail away
Ridin' high, ridin' high
We will leave our mark and say goodbye.

But the daylight comes, it's time to let it be
Yes, the sun is up and shining on the sea
It was one more night and one more memory
Just a memory.

Night and day, night and day
We will burn our boats and sail away
Ridin' high, ridin' high
We will leave our mark and say goodbye.

. . .


Don't close the doorDon't leave here alone tonightI've been here beforeWaiting for the cold daylight.
Just wait a little longerJust wait a little longerDon't be running away.
Darlin' don't cryYou know my love belongs to you (baby)Don't say goodbyeYou know my love belongs to you.
Just wait a little longerJust wait a little longerDon't be running away.
Don't turn awayBut I'm feeling like a crazy man (baby)So much to sayTell me something I can understand.
Just wait a little longerJust wait a little longerDon't be running away.

Drums: Liam GenockeyBass Guitar: Mo FosterPiano/Organ: Pete WingfieldSlide/Lead/Chords: Bryn HaworthElectric Guitars: Richard BruntonVocals: Gerry Rafferty

. . .


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