On June 28, 2011, Cook released his second major-label studio album, entitled "This Loud Morning". Produced by Matt Serletic, the album consists of 14 tracks penned by Cook along with co-writers David Hodges, Ryan Tedder, Kevin Griffin and Marti Frederiksen, among others. The album title comes from a line in the song “Rapid Eye Movement” – “Give me one more quiet night, before this loud morning gets it right, and does me in.”
On May 10, 2012, Cook debuted a new, independently released single, The Last Song I’ll Write for You, on American Idol. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Cook denied this was written with his former record company in mind, despite the fact it was his first new song after losing his recording contract with RCA. He insisted it was a break-up song that came together very quickly.
Early Music Career: David Cook formed a band with his friend Bobby Kerr while at high school. The band was initially named Red Eye, later Axium. He wrote his first song titled “Red Hot” when he was fifteen. He was encouraged by Evan Sula-Goff of 8stops7 to make an album when he went to Cook’s school to judge a contest, Mr. Jaguar, where David Cook and his band performed Guns N’ Roses’ “Paradise City”. The band had some success when one of their songs, “Hold”, was selected to be played in movie theaters across the country, and they were named one of the top 15 independent bands in the country by “Got Milk?” contest as well as the best Kansas City band in 2004.
Axium however broke up in 2006 and David Cook moved to Tulsa where he joined Midwest Kings, a band he once opened for. Members of that band Andy Skib and Neal Tiemann later became part of David Cook’s post-Idol band The Anthemic. He recorded and self-released a solo album Analog Heart in 2006, which sold well regionally.He worked as a bartender prior to appearing on Idol.
In 2006, after obtaining a degree in graphic arts, Cook had to decide whether he wanted to be a musician or a graphic designer. “I gave myself every opportunity not to do music,” he says, “but it was always there. I couldn’t ignore it.” He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was in the early stages of recording his second album when his younger brother Andrew asked Cook to accompany him to Omaha and lend moral support while he tried out for American Idol. Andrew didn’t make the cut, but he encouraged a very reluctant David to try out. After Cook made it through the early auditions, he reportedly told his brother he’d drop out if Andrew didn’t want him to go through with it. “He threatened to beat my ass if I didn’t, so it’s entirely his fault that all this happened to me,” Cook says with a smile.
One week after being declared the winner with a record-breaking 56 percent of the nearly 100 million votes cast, Cook rewrote chart history when 11 of his songs debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart — the highest number of new entries in a single week by an artist since the Beatles in 1964. Topping the list was “The Time of My Life,” which debuted at No. 3, making it the highest new entry on the Hot 100 of 2008.
Cook’s self-titled major-label debut was released on November 18, 2008. His debut album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association for America (RIAA) for sales exceeding one-million units in January 2009.
In January 2009, Cook announced he would be embarking on a national tour in February. The Declaration Tour began on February 13, 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida, and was originally set to end in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 25, 2009. Due to strong ticket sales, the tour was extended several times, finally wrapping up on December 1, 2009 at The Fillmore in Charlotte, North Carolina, after 154 concerts in the U.S. and Canada. During 2009 Cook also took his show overseas to the Philippines, and performed for troops in Iraq with the USO.
On April 30, 2013, Cook released a new single, “Laying Me Low”, through XIX Recordings, the record label of American Idol creator Simon Fuller. The song was written by David Cook, Chris Reardon, and Andy Waldeck.
Eleanor Rigby
David Cook Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from ?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong ?
Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near.
Look at him working. Darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
David Cook's version of "Eleanor Rigby" is a soulful cover of The Beatles’ original 1966 classic. The song tells the story of two lonely individuals, both unconnected and unknown to each other. The first verse describes Eleanor Rigby picking up rice after a wedding. She lives in a dream state, waiting at the window for someone that never comes. She wears a mask of makeup, concealing her true self. The second verse is about Father McKenzie, who is writing a sermon that no one will hear. He works hard and mends his socks despite a life of solitude. Both are searching for connection, but their loneliness is palpable. The final verse is about Eleanor's death and her lonely funeral. Father McKenzie is by her side, but he is unable to save her or himself.
The lyrics of "Eleanor Rigby" are haunting and sad, but also reflective. The song is telling a broader story about loneliness in society. It raises the question of how many other people are out there, facing the same struggles as Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie, and how many of them pass us by unnoticed.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, look at all the lonely people
The singer is observing people who feel alone and disconnected from others.
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Eleanor Rigby is a lonely person who spends her time doing menial tasks in a place where others come to celebrate love.
Lives in a dream
Eleanor Rigby is not active in her own life; she is going through the motions without any sense of purpose or fulfillment.
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Eleanor Rigby puts on a facade for others, but her true emotions are kept locked up inside.
Who is it for?
Eleanor Rigby is questioning the point of her actions and whether they are truly benefiting anyone.
All the lonely people
The singer is addressing a group of people who feel disconnected and isolated from others.
Where do they all come from ?
The singer wonders where these lonely people come from and what has led them to this point in their lives.
Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
Father McKenzie is a marginalized figure who continues to do his job despite the fact that no one is listening or paying attention.
No one comes near
Despite his efforts, Father McKenzie is unable to connect with others or draw them to him.
Look at him working. Darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
Father McKenzie's day-to-day life revolves around mundane, solitary tasks - such as mending his socks - that are not appreciated by anyone else.
What does he care?
Father McKenzie is resigned to his solitude and does not see the point in trying to change things.
Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Eleanor Rigby's life ended in much the same way as it was lived - alone and disconnected from the people around her.
Nobody came
Eleanor Rigby died without anyone to mourn or honor her passing.
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
Father McKenzie carries out the duty of burying Eleanor Rigby, but he does so without any personal connection to her or the ceremony itself.
No one was saved
This line emphasizes the futility and isolation of these characters' lives; there is no hope or redemption for them in the end.
Contributed by Emily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andrew P
I went to the same high school as him and when he won, he came back and did a private concert for us. It was incredible. He did Van Halen's Hot For Teacher and he absolutely killed it!
A.L. Newman
That sounds awesome
Andrew Jackwaai27
He seems humble
Kara Brodsky
Ooo man that is so awesome. Ha, Hot for teacher, love it.
Brianna Huber
Okay, so looking at the comments, I'm apparently in a minority, but I loved this cover. After all these years, the two AI performances from David that have stuck with me are "Billie Jean" and "Eleanor Rigby." I prefer listening to the studio version of ER for the audio, but performance-wise, I love David's energy here and how stoked he seems. He's a cutie. :) And OMG, watching this now in 2015, he looks like a baby in the opening clip here! He was only one year older than I am now! He's continued to get more polished as he's gotten older and I love his versatility with his voice. He can pretty much do anything with it.
Daniel K
Agree
Andie Bunker
+Brianna Huber I am a huge Beatles fan and I like this cover way better than the original. I actually think David is one of the most underrated winners from American Idol
lejoe48
+Andie Bunker ..Beatles fan???...You are being satiric..Eleanor Rigby is a psych pop masterpiece. This cover is reactionary.
ZilchFan66
+Andie Bunker You are so right. He is so much better than Carrie Underwood (American Idol's golden girl).
Lisa Morandi
Brianna Huber I loved it too. He was so awesome on idol.