Nobody's Off The Hook
Rufus Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sitting here, walking the line
Well, that's okay; I ain't no book
'Cause nobody's off the hook
See you looking so sad
Trying to live your life in style
Well, that's okay; you ain't no crook
'Cause nobody's off the hook
I remember you when, looking like a teenager
How you have become a man with all the power
Running the moon aground
Who would ever have thought, hanging with a homo and hairdresser
You would become the one desired in every woman's heart
But you never will lose your heart with those little boys
Haven't fallen down in a while
Sitting here, walking the line
Well, that's okay 'cause I have looked
And nobody's off the hook
'Cause life will take that little heart and bring you to your knees
Threatening to break it for the final time
And you'll believe it
Yes, you will believe it
But look
Nobody's off the hook
The song "Nobody's Off The Hook" by Rufus Wainwright is a contemplative and poignant ballad with deeply introspective lyrics. The song is primarily about the inevitability of difficult times and how no one is immune to the hardship of facing difficult situations, but one can still maintain a sense of hope in those moments. The opening lines, "Haven't fallen down in a while, sitting here, walking the line" suggest that the songwriter has been successful in navigating his life without stumbling, but is also aware that this could change at any moment. He goes on to sing, "That's okay; I ain't no book 'cause nobody's off the hook", meaning that he doesn't have all of the answers, and no one is immune to life's challenges.
The second verse is directed towards someone the songwriter knows, who is trying to live their life in style, but is struggling. The lyrics "Well, that's okay; you ain't no crook 'cause nobody's off the hook" reassures the person that it's okay to not have everything figured out and no one should feel guilty for struggling. The third verse is a reflection on the journey of life and how it can lead us in unexpected directions. The songwriter reminisces about the person he is addressing when he was younger and how he has developed power and influence. However, the songwriter also acknowledges that life has a funny way of turning things around, and it's important to stay grounded and not lose oneself in the process.
Overall, the song conveys a message of hope and resilience in the face of life's difficulties. No one is immune to hardship, and it's essential to acknowledge that fact and find ways to keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Haven't fallen down in a while
I haven't had a major setback or failure in some time
Sitting here, walking the line
Taking things slowly and cautiously, trying to avoid any missteps or mistakes
Well, that's okay; I ain't no book
I don't have everything figured out or planned, but that's fine
'Cause nobody's off the hook
No one is exempt from the trials and difficulties of life
See you looking so sad
I notice that you seem unhappy or troubled
Trying to live your life in style
You're attempting to present yourself in a certain way to the world
Well, that's okay; you ain't no crook
You're not doing anything wrong, it's okay to be who you are
'Cause nobody's off the hook
Everyone experiences challenges and hardships, it's a part of life
I remember you when, looking like a teenager
I recall a time when you appeared much younger
How you have become a man with all the power
You've grown into a person with significant influence or authority
Running the moon aground
You've achieved something amazing or seemingly impossible
Who would ever have thought, hanging with a homo and hairdresser
It's amazing how far you've come, considering how you used to associate with unconventional people
You would become the one desired in every woman's heart
You've become incredibly attractive or appealing to many women
But you never will lose your heart with those little boys
You won't be taken advantage of or lose your way by pursuing young or immature partners
Haven't fallen down in a while
I haven't had a major setback or failure in some time
Sitting here, walking the line
Taking things slowly and cautiously, trying to avoid any missteps or mistakes
Well, that's okay 'cause I have looked
It's alright because I've been through struggles and challenges too
And nobody's off the hook
Everyone faces hardship or difficulties from time to time
'Cause life will take that little heart and bring you to your knees
Life has a way of breaking you down and humbling you
Threatening to break it for the final time
It can feel like your heart might give out or that things will never get better
And you'll believe it
You'll start to doubt yourself or your ability to recover
But look
Take a step back and get some perspective
Nobody's off the hook
No one is exempt from the struggles of life, but that's just how it goes
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind