Rafferty, Gerry - Family Tree Lyrics






When we were young we used to sing
And we could feel the harmony
You'd sit there waiting in the wings
How long have you been waitin' to let your light shine?

Many years have gone since then
Seen us go our different ways
But now we sit here once again
Tonight we're gonna sing out, tonight our light will shine.

This is the time and place
To bring out our memories
It's written on every face
I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

In all the years we had
As part of a family tree
We knew the good and bad
I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

I know it's left its mark on you
I see the same things in myself
You know there's nothin' we can't do
We've been a long time waitin', but some things never die.

It's time to leave all that behind
It's time to lay that ghost to rest
We can't deny the ties that bind
Tonight we're gonna sing out, tonight our light will shine.

This is the time and place
To bring out our memories
It's written on every face
I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

In all the years we had (when we were young we used to sing)
As part of a family tree (we could feel the harmony)
We knew the good and bad
I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

When we were young we used to sing...





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Rafferty, Gerry Family Tree Comments
  1. J.... 1....

    "Family Tree"

    When we were young we used to sing
    And we could feel the harmony
    You'd sit there waiting in the wings
    How long have you been waitin' to let your light shine?

    Many years have gone since then
    Seen us go our different ways
    But now we sit here once again
    Tonight we're gonna sing out, tonight our light will shine.

    This is the time and place
    To bring out our memories
    It's written on every face
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

    In all the years we had
    As part of a family tree
    We knew the good and bad
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

    I know it's left its mark on you
    I see the same things in myself
    You know there's nothin' we can't do
    We've been a long time waitin', but some things never die.

    It's time to leave all that behind
    It's time to lay that ghost to rest
    We can't deny the ties that bind
    Tonight we're gonna sing out, tonight our light will shine.

    This is the time and place
    To bring out our memories
    It's written on every face
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

    In all the years we had (when we were young we used to sing)
    As part of a family tree (we could feel the harmony)
    We knew the good and bad
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

    When we were young we used to sing...
    jo ji 1Corinthians 5:3

  2. E.... T....

    Gerry had that unique talent, which made people happy with texts, simple and beautiful words, accompanied by high-class music, a genie is gone! R.IP

  3. L.... C....

    Family Tree - Gerry Rafferty


    When we were young we used to sing
    And we could feel the harmony
    You'd sit there waiting in the wings
    How long have you been waitin' to let your light shine?
    Many years have gone since then
    Seen us go our different ways
    But now we sit here once again
    Tonight we're gonna sing out, tonight our light will shine.
    This is the time and place
    To bring out our memories
    It's written on every face
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.
    In all the years we had
    As part of a family tree
    We knew the good and bad
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.
    I know it's left its mark on you
    I see the same things in myself
    You know there's nothin' we can't do
    We've been a long time waitin', but some things never die.
    It's time to leave all that behind
    It's time to lay that ghost to rest
    We can't deny the ties that bind
    Tonight we're gonna sing out, tonight our light will shine.
    This is the time and place
    To bring out our memories
    It's written on every face
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.
    In all the years we had (when we were young we used to sing)
    As part of a family tree (we could feel the harmony)
    We knew the good and bad
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

    When we were young we used to sing...


    Drums: Liam Genockey
    Bass Guitar: Mo Foster
    Keyboards: Graham Preskett
    Fiddle: Graham Preskett
    Electric Guitars: Richard Thompson
    Acoustic Guitar: Richard Brunton / Gerry Rafferty
    Solo Guitar: Richard Brunton
    Accordion: John Kirkpatrick
    Recorders: Richard Harvey
    Pipe Organ: Richard Harvey
    Lead Vocals: Gerry Rafferty
    Backing Vocals: Gerry Rafferty / Barbara Dickson

  4. D.... C....

    Love the guitar solo at the end. Of course the rest of the song's great as well, lol.

  5. S.... W....

    We will never get this again xx Thankyou for giving us a part of you Gerry You are sooo missed xx

  6. D.... W....

    I find it difficult to rank Gerrys songs,Ilove so many of them.
    This is a great song,how he managed to write so many outstanding songs is truly outstanding.

    What a solo at the end

  7. M.... M....

    Rest in Peace Lawrence McIver- the man who wrote this song.

  8. J.... C....

    I love this song! *"Family Tree"* has become a favourite song next to *"Baker Street."*

  9. A.... G....

    I’m here to write here today because I owe in to my grandad. Gerry rafferty dis not write this song it was in fact my grandad laurence Mcliver who died on the 27th April 2018. He liked to write songs during his lifetime and he wrote this song by and ended up showing it to the lead singer of the Corries who are a Scottish band. The singer he gave it too never used it or gave it back to him so my grandad forgot about it. When the album ‘night owl’ came out my grandad (who was a big fan of music) bought it and rushed home to listen... he got to a song that seemed overly familiar to him. He went digging in his drawers and found on a piece of paper the song ‘family tree’ he wrote about his family. He was very exited and looked at the back of the album to see if he was mentioned... the words read “all songs written by Gerry rafferty” because he has now passed away and he didn’t have the money to hire a law team to fight for the rights to the song he gave up and forever had to live with someone else stealing his creativity so I am here to spread the word. PLEASE SHARE

    A.... G....

    Didn't. Know that. God bless. Him. My. Favorite song 😢😢

    A.... G....

    Played. This. Song at. My daughter's. Funeral. UV. Made me. Cry. 😢😢😢 Xx

  10. N.... A....

    Kind of weird how songs you heard and loved in your mid to late teens still strike you so hard when you are now in your 50s!

    N.... A....

    ... and 60's ... known as the 'Quiet Genius' ... he still sends shivers through my soul.

    N.... A....

    That is very true

    N.... A....

    and in your 40's

    N.... A....

    At 65 too!

  11. C.... V....

    This song gives you the security of a worm coat ...just play it loud !

    C.... V....

    1 van zijn mooisten

    C.... V....

    A "worm" coat?? There's a Freudian slip for you!

  12. A.... b....

    Merveilleuse chanson !

  13. n.... ....

    "Family Tree"

    When we were young we used to sing
    And we could feel the harmony
    You'd sit there waiting in the wings
    How long have you been waitin' to let your light shine?

    Many years have gone since then
    Seen us go our different ways
    But now we sit here once again
    Tonight we're gonna sing out, tonight our light will shine.

    This is the time and place
    To bring out our memories
    It's written on every face
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

    In all the years we had
    As part of a family tree
    We knew the good and bad
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

    I know it's left its mark on you
    I see the same things in myself
    You know there's nothin' we can't do
    We've been a long time waitin', but some things never die.

    It's time to leave all that behind
    It's time to lay that ghost to rest
    We can't deny the ties that bind
    Tonight we're gonna sing out, tonight our light will shine.

    This is the time and place
    To bring out our memories
    It's written on every face
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

    In all the years we had (when we were young we used to sing)
    As part of a family tree (we could feel the harmony)
    We knew the good and bad
    I can see it in you, you can see it in me.

    When we were young we used to sing...

    n.... ....

    Awesome lyrics! A masterpiece in music!

  14. J.... C....

    I agree. he's a genius. I have Baker Street on cd, and I've almost literally worn it out. I also have Night Owl. I'll have to see if I can find more cds by Gerry Rafferty.

  15. M.... ....

    One of his very best.

  16. x.... ....

    No way! This guy is a repeat genius! Have you heard of The Ark, Home and Dry? C'mon!

    x.... ....

    I totally agree.

    x.... ....

    Stealing time

  17. l.... ....

    This song reminds me of the film the Seventh Continent (1989) in which the family destroys their vinyls including Night Owl by Gerry Rafferty.

  18. B.... B....

    Awesome Song...R.I.P...Gerry Rafferty....

  19. s.... ....

    how long have you been waiting to let your light shine......

  20. b.... ....

    Fantastic song from the great Gerry Rafferty :-)