Right Down the Line – Ron Sexsmith (Gerry Rafferty)

The moment I heard Ron Sexsmith’s version of Gerry Rafferty’s hit Right Down the Line I knew I had to listen to more of this guy’s catalogue. He has sung Dylan covers and that was fun to delve into.
My mother’s maiden name is ‘Smith’, so Sexsmith is quite the intriguing surname for me at least, and clearly my father got a handle on it although I’m almost certain he never knew of Ron. Neither here nor there, I arrived to write about this song for you homies today. Not to linger too long on this point Sexsmith did say in the article below: ‘I had girlfriends in different cities‘ but he shares his birthday with David Bowie, so all is forgiven.

Right Down the Line is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty. Released as a single in July 1978, it reached No 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It’s just a fantastic restrained tune. Its easy-going rhythm, catchy melody, and relatable lyrics helped it endure as a staple on soft rock radio stations. As music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine aptly noted, “The beauty of ‘Right Down the Line’ is in its unpretentious honesty, a rare quality that makes it timeless.”

Released in 1978 as part of his second solo album, City to City, this song stands out as a tender ode to unwavering love and dedication. After the disbandment of Stealers Wheel, known for the iconic hit “Stuck in the Middle with You,” Rafferty embarked on a solo career that showcased his ability to blend rock, folk, and pop into something uniquely his own. More will come from Gerry Rafferty in this blog, so stay tuned.

[Verse 1]
You know I need your love
You’ve got that hold over me
Long as I’ve got your love
You know that I’ll never leave
When I wanted you to share my life
I had no doubt in my mind
And it’s been you, woman
Right down the line

[Verse 2]
I know how much I lean on you
Only you can see
The changes that I’ve been through
Have left a mark on me
You’ve been as constant as a Northern Star
The brightest light that shines
It’s been you, woman
Right down the line

[Chorus]
I just wanna say this is my way
Of telling you everything
I could never say before
Yeah this is my way of telling you
That every day I’m loving you so much more

[Verse 3]
Cause you believed in me
Through my darkest night
Put something better inside of me
You brought me into the light
I threw away all those crazy dreams
I put them all behind
And it was you, woman
Right down the line

[Verse 4]
If I should doubt myself
If I’m losing ground
I won’t turn to someone else
They’d only let me down
When I wanted you to share my life
I had no doubt in my mind
And it’s been you, woman
Right down the line

Reference:
1. Right Down the Line – Wikipedia
2. Ron Sexsmith: ‘I had girlfriends in different cities … it was stressful’ – The Guardian

About observationblogger

“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand