The meaning behind this Song : Song Meaning This is what the song is about- and it comes from the liner notes of RIGHT DOWN THE LINE- the Best of Gerry Rafferty cd. The song is referring to people in the record biz- management people and executives of record labels- they are the clowns and jokers referred to in the lyrics. If you know about Gerry Rafferty you know he has had major issues with the record biz all his life. The band (Stealers Wheel) was signed to their label and attended a signing party at a fancy London restaurant. Rafferty described the scene as like "the Last Supper", with everyone sitting around a long table. The song is about the weasels in the record industry, the guys (band) getting drunk, and trying to get out of the entire thing- which they detested. That is the gist of what the song is about.
Once you hear this song, it's hard not to think of this song during strange times in your life. Be it with friends, at the bar, at family functions, out in public..
Gerry Rafferty from Stealers Wheel later went solo and had a huge hit BAKER STREET that had a great sound and the instrumental portion memorable. Stuck in the Middle With You was a one hit number for Stealers Wheel but they did release a few other singles like STAR and LATE AGAIN. Personally I thought STAR wasn't too bad.RIP Gerry who left us too soon
The lead vocal on the song is by Gerry Rafferty, but it's Joe Egan lip syching it in the video. Gerry did not participate. Another great song by this band is "Star."
@@lokisan100 Me too. I remember Star from when I was a kid but didn't know who did it until the advent of Google. There is a hilarious video of Gerry and Joe singing Star to an audience in Germany? Catch the guy at the very end, the only dude grooving to the music in the crowd, it's called Stealers Wheel - Star (1974) HD 0815007
"I imagine when people saw this..." I have known this song since it came out but never saw the video until RU-vid came along. Videos just weren't much of a thing in 1973. What we had was the radio.
Many of Ferry's songs reflect his life at the time. Right down the line - tribute to his wife for supporting him thru alcoholism. City to city - Travelling from Glasgow to London for Legal meetingd SITMWY - his impression of those meetings Baker St - where he dossed down in London Night Owl - Red Eye from JFK to LHR and many more.
The song is about a party that Rafferty and Egan were invited to by record execs who clearly had no idea about rock music at all - they felt that they were literally surrounded by clowns and jokers. Gerry's song "Get it right next time" should be your next hit - one of the most hypnotic basslines in rock. As fotr Stealers Wheel, they're often regarded as a one-hit wonder, but they had quite a few good songs - try "Everything will turn out fine". The cover artist is still going, and did a lot of cover art - Rafferty's early solo song "Patrick" is about him.
Their best songs are the songs that weren’t hits like Outside looking in, next to me, who cares, johnnys song, another meaning, this morning, list is long. Guys do yourself a favor and buy all three SW albums and don’t forget about can I have my money back which is Gerrys first solo album, basically a forerunner of SW.
@@bodoor8172 everyone forgets that album, but it's got some great tracks on it like "Sign on the dotted line". His early folk duo with singer and comedian Billy Connolly, The Humblebums, also had some nice moments, such as "Her Father Didn't Like Me Anyway". As for SW, I'm a fan of a deep bluesy cut of theirs called "Wishbone".
Hahahaha...you guys had me in stiches. And your right to ponder over the idea about the video... It was well known that Gerry was an alcoholic. RIP: Gerry U R Missed💔🙏 culture was different back in the day...counterculture was expressed differently. 🤔😏 Such a fun song makes you want to dance, but these two Joe Egan & Gerry Rafferty both had huge personalities and sometimes a room is only big enough for one personality at a time. lol A great throw-back...here's another by Gerry "Gerry Rafferty - Get It Right Next Time" and if want to hear another band similar to them "Orleans - Dance With Me (Live Mid-Night Special 1975)" enjoyed your reaction, thanks
I heard that the song was about the promotional parties and lunches with record label bosses that Rafferty and Egan had to attend and kind of schmooze the big wigs to get their records played and recorded. They hated it !
That's not actually gerry in the video, it's Joe Egan. Gerry had already left the band before recording the video. So it's Gerrys voice you can hear, but Joe's lip syncing. (Just stumbled across this video so I don't know if anyone else has stated that it's not Gerry Rafferty in the vid) Great reaction though guys. 😄
Great song!!! I've always enjoyed it and was on the radio all the time back in the day...my problem is I can't stop laughing at you guys laughing😂😂😂😂 it's so much fun as always guys❤
Joe Egan had to fill in and mime for Gerry Rafferty who had left the band at that time, He later returned but by then he and Joe Egan were the only two members remaining. Gerry Rafferty who wrote the song with Joe Egan and sang lead vocals. The song and Rafferty's lyrics are a dismissive tale of the music industry which he detested, and refused to get involved with. The song was produced by Leiber and Stoller who also produced Elvis.
Just a fun song! And you had fun watching it... Cringy when you watch the style back then. Also videos were not popular in the 70's - so for them to do one was ahead of it's time.
I just caught that Ryan never heard this. That is amazing!!! This song has always been so prevalent! It 's not a bad thing - it is just a pure reaction, which is surprising! The 3 Stooges! 😂😂😂
Nick, you literally blushed 😆 🤣. This song's rhythm is top notch...even the clunk of the cowbell, which adds an extra comic layer to the song. As for your reaction, the video was a huge distraction from the musicality and excellence that you may have overlooked. Play it without the video. This is a song that immediately goes on blast when I'm on the road, for example.
Came here to say this! I’ve never seen the video til just now. I did NOT expect this video. The video adds to the song for me, but I can see how he’d be off put haha. LISTEN AGAIN NO VIDEO ! 👁👄👁
Worth looking up & learning a bit of that small Nation that is Scotland...some World greats...e.g. John Logie Baird & the TV, Alex Fleming & Penicillin etc.
Listen to Gerry Cinnamon and his tune Belter, preferably live. A modern Scottish performer who may go global like Sam Fender except he’s a geordie (from Newcastle)
Hey there gentlemen, listen to the songs Seed Of A Memory, Faith To Arise, To Be Treated Rite by Terry Reid. Not many people listen to Terry Reid. I heard these songs in the movies Devil's Rejects and Three From Hell. I fell in love with the songs.
Such a shame that songs can become about the video that goes with them - especially when the video is a cheesy as this one and the song so good. I would always advocate listening to the song and not being distracted by the video.
Joe's lipsyncing for Gerry who doesn't appear in the video. Joe didn't want to lipsync as you can tell. That is amazing guitar work. It's a song about a record executive deal meeting in which the band feels like they are getting nothing while the execs are taking everything. It's about Gerry feeling like they are stuck in the middle of this meeting and wanting out of negotiating and just being who he is, an artist and how it shouldn't be that hard to make music and get paid. The suits are ruining and taking everything! The song is awesome, we LOVE it in Canada! Love Gerry Rafferty! My favourite song when I was ten. Everyone's favourite back then. It annoyed me when people thought it came from "Reservoir Dogs." I've never seen that movie and don't want to. Don't like gangster movies. You're paying too much attention to the video, fella in pink tee-shirt, sorry I didn't understand your name, (I think they're saying, Ryan) not meaning to be rude. The song is fantastic!
Damn. I've never seen the video for the song before, and now I understand why. That is one weird, semi-gross video. I love the song, but this video is what happens when you have a ten-quid budget and a wealth of kooky ideas. Now PLE-E-EE-E-se do Gerry's "Home And Dry." You will all love that song. I promise.
Stealers wheel had a wad of quality songs but not hits, though their other modest hit "STAR" I think is a better song than "stuck in the middle" worth a listen!
