Isaak's music can be described as a blend of country, blues, rock'n'roll, pop and surf rock.
He signed a contract to Warner Brothers Records in 1984 for his first album "Silvertone". Isaak's contract was renewed in 1988 when Warner moved him to their Reprise Records label.
His best-known song is "Wicked Game". Though released on the 1989 album "Heart Shaped World", an instrumental version of the song was later featured in the David Lynch film 'Wild at Heart' (and also years later in the 2000 film The Family Man). An Atlanta radio station DJ began playing the full version and it quickly became a nation-wide top ten hit. The music video for the song was directed by Herb Ritts and was a big MTV and VH1 hit; shot in black and white, it starred Isaak and model Helena Christensen rolling on the beach, embracing and whispering in each others' ears.
In 1999, Isaak's "Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing" was featured in Stanley Kubrick's final film 'Eyes Wide Shut', starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
In 2001, Chris Isaak starred in his own television show, 'The Chris Isaak Show'. It aired from March 2001 to March 2004 in the United States on the cable television network Showtime. This adult comedy show featured Chris Isaak and his band playing themselves with the episode plots based on fictional accounts of the backstage world of Chris Isaak - the rock star next door.
In 2004, his track "Life Will Go On" was featured on the 'Chasing Liberty' soundtrack, which starred Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode.
He hosted a talk show on the Biography cable channel in the United States in 2009 that offered a unique twist - each guest was a musical artist, and both Chris and the artist performed various songs throughout each show. Eight episodes aired in early 2009, featuring guests Trisha Yearwood, Stevie Nicks, Glen Campbell, Michael Buble, Chicago, The Smashing Pumpkins, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), and Jewel.
Isaak has also appeared in numerous films, mostly playing minor cameo roles, though he starred with Keanu Reeves and Bridget Fonda in the 1993 Bernardo Bertolucci-directed 'Little Buddha', and also played a major role in David Lynch's 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me' (1992). Other motion pictures include 'Married to the Mob' (1988), 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991), 'That Thing You Do!' (1996), and 'A Dirty Shame' (2004). He also guest-starred on the Super Bowl Sunday (1996) edition of the television sitcom Friends and on the HBO miniseries, From the Earth to the Moon (HBO).
Chris is also an amateur boxer, avid surfer and a former Golden Gloves champion.
Washington Square
Chris Isaak Lyrics
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And I wish you would hear it's Christmas
And it's way past the late mass
I'm saying a prayer
I can picture you here last Christmas
I know you're so far from home
But you know that you're never alone
Till you're home safe again I'll just pray
Oh, it's Christmas again
But it won't be without you
Oh, it's Christmas again
I'm so lonely without you
I'm turning my collar to the cold and the wind
Till you're home safe again
And it's Christmas
We're saving your present, it's under the tree
When you're with me, you'll see
It's Christmas
I know you're so far away
But you know that I still feel the same
I know you're so far from home
But no matter how far, you're never alone
Oh, it's Christmas again
But it won't be without you
Oh, it's Christmas again
I'm so lonely without you
I'm so lonely without you
I'm so lonely without you
In Chris Isaak’s “Washington Square,” the singer is writing a letter to someone they care about who is away from home during Christmas. The singer expresses their loneliness without the person, while also acknowledging their distance and reassuring them that they are not alone. They reference last Christmas, picturing the person being near and missing their presence. The singer turns their collar to the cold and the wind, hoping for the person’s safe return home, stating that they have saved their present under the tree.
Throughout the song, the singer is longing for their loved one’s company during the holiday season. While there is an emphasis on feeling lonely, the singer makes it clear that they still hold onto hope, praying that the person will return home safely. The song’s melancholic feel is heightened by the repetitive lyrics in the chorus, emphasizing the singer’s longing and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm writing a letter to say I still care
I want you to know that I still have feelings for you
And I wish you would hear it's Christmas
I hope that you'll get my letter in time to spend Christmas together
And it's way past the late mass
It's already late at night, the mass is over, and I'm still hoping you'll come home
I'm saying a prayer
I'm praying for your safe return home, and for us to spend Christmas together
I can picture you here last Christmas
I remember how we spent Christmas together last year, and I wish we could do it again
I know you're so far from home
I understand that you're away from home
But you know that you're never alone
I want you to know that you're always in my thoughts and never alone
Till you're home safe again I'll just pray
Until you're safely back home, I'll continue to pray for you
Oh, it's Christmas again
It's already another Christmas, and I'm missing you
But it won't be without you
Christmas won't feel complete without you by my side
I'm turning my collar to the cold and the wind
I'm braving the cold and the wind, hoping that you'll come back soon
We're saving your present, it's under the tree
We've kept your present under the tree, waiting for you to open it with me
When you're with me, you'll see
Once you're home with me, you'll see the Christmas spirit in full effect
But no matter how far, you're never alone
No matter how far away you are from me, you'll never be alone
I'm so lonely without you
I feel so lonely without you by my side
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRIS ISAAK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind