Baker Street

[Rudy4]

Ever go back and re-visit one of those songs you thought you'd be quite happy to never hear again?

Such is the case for me with Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street. I accidentally heard it being played on the local PBS station during a pledge drive special, and it gave me pause to wonder exactly what I previously found so annoying...

Giving it another serious listen I decided that I actually liked the song as well as the history and Gerry Rafferty's story.

Here's a quick version of only the acoustic guitar to demonstrate what I figured out for it in Drop D tuning. It's not a note-for-note version, but part of what I enjoy about working out a tune or song is doing it in a manner that fits my style of play better.

The song is chock full of areas that can be embellished with slides, hammer-ons, and pull offs, so it's a good tune to stretch out on.

I'm capoed at 3 and playing in F which is where I'm more comfortable singing, but play it un-capoed for the original key of D if you wish.



Baker Street Gerry Rafferty Key: F 3DD
INST INTRO

Winding your way down on Baker Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well, another crazy day
You'll drink the night away
And forget about everything

This city desert makes you feel so cold
It's got so many people, but it's got no soul
And it's taken you so long
To find out you were wrong
When you thought it held everything

You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're tryin', you're tryin' now
Another year and then you'd be happy
Just one more year and then you'd be happy
But you're cryin', you're cryin' now (INST)

Way down the street there's a light in his place
He opens the door, he's got that look on his face
And he asks you where you've been
You tell him who you've seen
And you talk about anything

He's got this dream about buying some land
He's gonna give up the booze and the one-night stands
And then he'll settle down
In some quiet little town
And forget about everything

But you know he'll always keep movin'
You know he's never gonna stop movin'
'Cause he's rollin', he's s rolling stone
When you wake up, it's a new mornin'
The sun is shinin', it's a new mornin'
You're goin', you're goin' home (INST)

[started with 1]

Rudy,
This came out great! Such a memorable song with that great sax part. But as you captured in your cover, the chord progressions are quite pretty.

[Railroad Bum]

That was great. I love Gerry Rafferty, and I always thought that tune was killer. I love your arrangement, man.

[Rudy4]

Thanks for the kind comments.

Drop D is probably my favorite tuning and tons of stuff fits easily with its use. I encourage anyone to experiment with it, as it provides instant access to providing your guitar with added depth, provided you don't mind the limitations it also imposes and you don't mind using a capo!

[AlyKat]

Really nice ! Great job!!

[rémy64]

Nice job

[Rudy4]

Thanks, glad it's enjoyed!