Stewart grew up in the coastal resort town of Bournemouth, Dorset. According to Songfacts, in days of youthful folly Stewart played in a beat group with later BBC DJ Tony Blackburn before moving to the capital to seek fortune and fame.
Having bought his first guitar from future Police guitarist Andy Summers, Stewart traded in his electric guitar for an acoustic guitar when he was offered a weekly slot at Bunjies Coffee House in London's Soho in 1965. From there, he went on to compete at the Les Cousins folk club on Greek Street, where he played alongside Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, Van Morrison, Roy Harper and Ralph McTell
Although he had his share of the breaks, including a tenure at Bunjees coffee house and a record deal with CBS, life wasn't always easy for the young troubadour; his first serious love affair ended in disaster, and he experienced all the usual insecurities of the stranger in the big city trying to find his way.
In January 1970, Melody Maker named his second release Love Chronicles its Folk Album Of The Year, but in spite of his obviously carving out quite a name for himself, it was not until Year Of The Cat - the single and even more so the monster album - that he really shot to fame.
He emigrated to the United States as his career took off in the mid 1970s, and still lives in California. While studio albums are now few and far between, he still tours extensively in the United States, and, most years, in Europe. Recordings of concerts are often made available through his fan clubs.
Rain Barrel
Al Stewart Lyrics
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This shaft of light is so narrow I can't see much at all
Outside I hear the feet running
And voices all around
Foot soldiers with their guns coming
I can't make a sound
But if Mr. Williams keeps his word
I might live to see a time
When all these roads are paved
But if they break inside these walls
You won't see me again
But if Mr. Williams keeps his word
Somewhere, my story will be heard
I'm living in a strange country, it's so hard to find
It's not on any map, you carry it in your heart and mind
Outside I hear the ground shaking up from underneath
It's only when the empire's breaking
That you see their teeth
But if Mr. Williams keeps his word
My life could still be saved
I might live to see a time
When all these roads are paved
But if they break inside these walls
You won't see me again
But if Mr. Williams keeps his word
Somewhere, my story will be heard
I'm hiding in a rain barrel with one small patch of sky
Don't think I'm going to see tomorrow
Going to bid this world good-bye.
The lyrics in Al Stewart's "Rain Barrel" describe a person hiding in a rain barrel inside consul walls while foot soldiers with their guns are running and their voices surround him. The person cannot make any noise or they will be discovered by the soldiers. The song describes how this person's life could still be saved if Mr. Williams keeps his word but also acknowledges the possibility of not making it out alive. The lyrics convey a sense of fear and uncertainty, as well as hope and resilience in the face of a difficult situation.
The song is likely inspired by political unrest and conflict. The mentions of foot soldiers and empires breaking suggest a war or a revolution. The line "It's only when the empire's breaking, that you see their teeth" suggests that those in power will fight to maintain their position, even when everything around them is crumbling. Additionally, the line "I'm living in a strange country, it's so hard to find, it's not on any map, you carry it in your heart and mind" suggests that the person may be in a place that is unfamiliar or dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm hiding in a rain barrel inside these consul walls
The singer is hiding in a rain barrel inside a government building.
This shaft of light is so narrow I can't see much at all
The only light entering the barrel is a narrow beam, making it difficult to see.
Outside I hear the feet running
The singer hears the sounds of approaching foot soldiers.
And voices all around
The artist hears voices of people outside the barrel.
Foot soldiers with their guns coming
The approaching soldiers are armed.
I can't make a sound
The singer is unable to make any noise.
But if Mr. Williams keeps his word
The singer is hoping that someone named Mr. Williams will keep their promise.
My life could still be saved
If Mr. Williams keeps his promise, the artist may be saved.
I might live to see a time
If the artist is saved, they may live to see a certain time in the future.
When all these roads are paved
In the future, all the roads may be paved.
But if they break inside these walls
If something happens inside the walls, the singer may not survive.
You won't see me again
If something happens inside the walls, the artist won't be seen again.
Somewhere, my story will be heard
If the singer doesn't survive, their story will still be heard by someone, somewhere.
I'm living in a strange country, it's so hard to find
The singer feels like they are living in a place that is difficult to locate or understand.
It's not on any map, you carry it in your heart and mind
This place isn't marked on any map, but it exists in the memory of those who know about it.
Outside I hear the ground shaking up from underneath
The artist hears the ground shaking as if something big and heavy is approaching.
It's only when the empire's breaking
The shaking of the ground is a sign that the empire is beginning to crumble.
That you see their teeth
In times of crisis, you get to see the true nature of those in power.
I'm hiding in a rain barrel with one small patch of sky
The singer is hiding in a barrel with only a small opening to the outside world.
Don't think I'm going to see tomorrow
The artist doesn't think they will survive until tomorrow.
Going to bid this world good-bye.
The artist is preparing to leave this world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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