Shipyard Town is the third song to be presented here from Scottish singer songwriter Gerry Rafferty after his highly acclaimed 70’s hits Baker Street and Right Down the Line. He was a founding member of Stealers Wheel, whose biggest hit was Stuck in the Middle with You. Today’s featured track is not nearly as well known as those three, but this Shipyard Town is in a class of its own. I love its pronounced Celtic sound and how it speaks of the working class. I’m surprised it wasn’t a smash hit. It was one of the singles from his sixth studio album North and South and it also was released on several compilation albums.
Most of the following information was extracted from the Wikipedia article below. It is highly abridged and is not reflective of Rafferty’s extensive musical career, so I would encourage to read from the source for more information:
Heavily influenced by folk music and the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan, Rafferty started to write his own material. He worked in a variety of modest jobs in the early 60’s, but he explained in an interview, “But there was never anything else for me but music. I never intended making a career out of any of the jobs I did.” In the mid 1960s Rafferty earned money, for a time, busking on the London Underground. In 1969 he became the third member of a folk-pop group, the Humblebums, along with comedian Billy Connolly. In 1971 he recorded his first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back? which was a critical success but did not enjoy commercial success. According to Rafferty’s daughter Martha, it was around this time that her father discovered, by chance, Colin Wilson’s classic book The Outsider, about alienation and creativity, which became a huge influence both on his songwriting and his outlook on the world: “The ideas and references contained in that one book were to sustain and inspire him for the rest of his life.“
Rafferty eventually did achieve fame and commercial success with he songs highlighted at the beginning of this article. Fast forward to 1983, Rafferty sang the Mark Knopfler-penned song The Way It Always Starts on the soundtrack of the film Local Hero which featured here at Friday’s Finest in April 2023. Also in 1983, Rafferty announced his intention to take a break and devote more time to his family: “It dawned on me that since Baker Street I had been touring the world, travelling everywhere and seeing nowhere. Whatever I do in the future, it’s at my own pace, on my own terms.”
At a 16th-century Tye Farm in Hartfield, near the Kent-Sussex border closed himself to the rest of the world to concentrate on recording. According to his former wife Carla, who discouraged visitors: “He was just stalling for time. Maybe some new project would suddenly happen, but I knew he’d crossed the line as far as the record business went.” His next album, North and South, was released in 1988 which received mixed reviews. Shipyard Town stood out as a reflective piece, drawing inspiration from Rafferty’s deep connection to Scotland and the people whose lives were tied to its industrial heritage. It evokes a sense of melancholy but also pride. It’s a lament for an era slipping away, yet it’s equally a tribute to the workers who defined it.
In a dance hall by the river, I was singing in a travelling band
Just another small town night, with a silver moon shining
I remember when I saw you, that first moment when it all began
You looked across a crowded room, and stole my heart away
And we stood out in the moonlight, in the shadow of a factory wall
Music playing soft and low, and a gentle breeze sighing
And the light on the river was magic, yes a magic that I still recall
Moments come and moments go, but these moments still remain
Remember how we met, down by the waterside
How easily we forget, all the love that we knew
So we married our fortunes together, and we sealed it with a golden band
But somewhere down along the road, we could see the flame dying
Now an exiled heart gets weary, like two strangers in a foreign land
We reached the point of no return, a long long time ago
Remember how we met, down by the waterside
How easily we forget, all the love that we knew
References:
1. Gerry Rafferty – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I’ve not heard this song before, but I like it’s beautiful melody and exuberant Scottish flair. And of course, Rafferty’s vocals are marvelous as always.
Thanks for commenting Jeff and I’m elated you liked it. I point you to the longer version on You Tube below which I probably enjoy more because it goes all Celtic haha:
That is such a great song, Matt! My dear German music buddy Gerd first introduced me to it at the time Gerry Rafferty’s “North and South” album came out.
Before then, I had only known the magnificent “Baker Street”, as well as “Right Down the Line,” another song I’ve always liked. And, not to forget, the great Dylan parody “Stuck in the Middle With You” Rafferty had done with Steelers Wheel. This makes me want to revisit the entire “North and South” album.
It’s sad Rafferty couldn’t shake off the demons of alcoholism, which not only ruined his marriage but eventually also cost him his life!
When I was researching the song, I looked up your blog again to see if it was you that had posted about it, but I couldn’t find anything. As I said to Jeff in his comment here, I point you to the longer audio version of ‘Shipyard Town’ which I enjoy more than the shorter version here.
It’s weird how I never got a vibe of Dylan from his ‘Stuck in the Middle With You’, but I can see the similarities (I s’pose) with Dylan’s ‘Stuck in a mobile…’.
It appears based on some of the comments of ‘Shipyard Town’ they consider his ‘North and South’ album his masterpiece (despite what the critics said) and for that alone requires a listen. So I can see how you are drawn to it.
I decided not to allude to Rafferty’s personal problems with alcohol, but it’s fitting you added it here to add some scope and awareness of him.
You’re right, Matt, to date I’ve only covered Rafferty’s magnificent “Baker Street” and Steelers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle With You.” I’m going to make a note to myself about “North and South.” Thanks! 🙂