One of the most popular African-American comedians of the late 1990s, TV star turned screen actor Jamie Foxx first became known for his many roles on Keenen Ivory Wayans’ long-running comedy variety show In Living Color. Since then, Foxx has played both raucous and sensitive nice-guy roles in a number of films, and earned particular acclaim for his portrayal of a talented but egotistical quarterback in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday.
Born Eric Bishop in the small town of Terrell, Texas, on December 13, 1967, Foxx was raised by his grandparents after his parents separated. He enjoyed a happy upbringing, going to church every day with his grandparents and excelling at everything from academics to music to football. During his teen years he had his first taste of the entertainment business as his church’s choir director and music director, and also started his own R&B band. Foxx studied music while a student at the U.S. International University in San Diego; it was during his college days that he got his start as a stand-up comedian. Attending a comedy club one night with some friends, he was encouraged to take the stage and perform some impersonations, which proved incredibly popular with the audience. Foxx’s enthusiastic reception led to his decision to move to L.A. and pursue a comedy career. At the age of 22 he was hired for In Living Color, and he subsequently landed a recurring role on Charles Dutton’s sitcom Roc in 1985.
Foxx was ultimately given his own show in 1996; that same year, he appeared in a supporting role in The Truth About Cats and Dogs, which cast him as a friend of Ben Chaplin. He was also featured in the boxing satire The Great White Hype, and the following year he got star billing opposite fellow comedian Tommy Davidson in the poorly received comedy Booty Call. After playing a DJ in Ice Cube’s The Players Club (1998), Foxx earned some of his best reviews to date for his role in Any Given Sunday (1999). He subsequently returned to straight comedy, starring in Antoine Fuqua’s crime comedy Bait as an ex-con trying to mend his ways, and as a man caught in a convenience stored robbery in Held Up.
In 2001, Foxx was given an opportunity to again flex the dramatic chops he displayed in Any Given Sunday with a role as Drew Bundi Brown in Michael Mann’s biopic Ali. Then, after a role in the barely seen 2003 Sylvester Stallone drama Shade, Foxx embarked on his busiest year yet. 2004 saw him star in no fewer than four films, the most noteworthy of them being the thriller Collateral. The tense summer flick not only saw Foxx again under the direction of Mann, but cast on an equal level with Hollywood uber-star Tom Cruise. His turn as a hapless cab driver who is forced into a menacing partnership slowly advancing Foxx’s dramatic screen presence, the role served as proof to many that his talents extended well beyond what many may have suspected. When it was announced shortly thereafter that Foxx would be donning the trademark sunglasses to essay the role of legendary blues pianist Ray Charles in Director Taylor Hackford’s eagerly anticipated biopic Ray, it was only a matter of time before audiences found out how deep Foxx’s talents as an actor truly ran. So effective was Foxx in recreating Charles’ unique style and unmistakable visage that many critics speculated an Oscar nomination may be in calling for the one-time funnyman turned dramatic powerhouse. When the star-studded evening in February did finally arrive and the envelope that would reveal the best actor of 2005 was breathlessly opened, Foxx did indeed take the prize — raising already stratospheric expectations regarding his future career to a fever pitch.
Foxx subverted expectations by capitalizing on his Oscar win with an R&B album that garnered respectable reviews and solid sales. He returned to films in the summer action flop Stealth — in a supporting role to would-be superstar Josh Lucas — and appeared as a leader of men in Sam Mendes’ Gulf War film Jarhead. In 2006 he reteamed with Michael Mann, starring as Tubbs in the big-screen adaptation of Miami Vice. Late in the year, he starred in the much-anticipated adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls, opposite fellow actor-musicians hyphenates Eddie Murphy and Beyoncé Knowles. He is also known for his big leading role in Law Abiding Citizen.
Rainman
Jamie Foxx Lyrics
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Call me ca call me rainman, rainman
There's no need for me to lay out my clothes,
When shes not around there's nowhere to go,
Make no attempts getting up out of this bed,
I'm wanna open my eyes but I just close the curtain instead,
Her thunder storms shuts my lights off oh,
I cant just catch a break
Everyday it rains when she ain't laying right here I
Can feel the coolness in the air I know my chances ain't far,
Everyday it rains would it be just my window seal
Sound reaches my ear go then it reappears,
Everyday it rains my heart starts drowning my vision gets cloudy
The flood moves around me
Everyday it rains no sign of the light as the time
Goes by 40 days and 40 nights
Just when I thought I gotten rid of you,
I turn my face to your pillow that's soaked in your perfume,
The waters raging no life vest and I cant swim through through no,
My heart, my mind, and my soul its lost somewhere in this deep
(Not sure, her thunder storms shut my lights off oh,
I got no missed calls maybe by tomorrow cause right now I cant get a break
Everyday it rains when she ain't laying right here I
Can feel the coolness in the air I know my chances ain't far,
Everyday it rains would it be just my window seal
Sound reaches my ear go then it reappears,
Everyday it rains my heart starts drowning my vision gets cloudy
The flood moves around me
Everyday it rains no sign of the light as the time
Goes by 40 days and 40 nights
Baby cut my lights (cut my lights) back on (back on baby)
Take me I'm ours (take me I'm yours) release me release me
Oh uh oh rainman, rainman, rainman
In Jamie Foxx's song "Rainman," the lyrics focus on the feelings of the singer when his lover is not around. The title, "Rainman," is likely a reference to the character from the movie of the same name, who is known for his exceptional memory but struggles with emotional connection. The main character in the song feels lost without his lover and cannot seem to move on. He describes how he cannot even bring himself to leave the bed or open the curtains when she is not there. He hears the sound of rain outside, and the metaphorical description of rain persists throughout the song, representing the feeling of sadness and loss he experiences without his lover.
The song goes on to describe how the singer feels like he is drowning, lost without his lover. He states that his heart, soul, and mind are lost somewhere in the depths of his sadness. The lyrics capture the cyclical nature of his emotions, as he goes through the same routine every day and feels the same sadness over and over again. However, he still cannot bring himself to move on, and he longs for his lover to "cut [his] lights back on" and "release [him]." Overall, the song evokes a sense of heartache and longing, as the singer struggles to come to terms with his lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Rainman, rainman, rainman, rainman
The singer is feeling beaten down by the metaphorical rain, and longs for relief from the overwhelming feeling of being immersed in water.
Call me ca call me rainman, rainman
By identifying himself as "Rainman," the singer is acknowledging that he feels powerless against the endless rain and the emotions it represents.
There's no need for me to lay out my clothes,
The singer's sadness and apathy have led to a lack of motivation in all aspects of his life, including getting dressed in the morning.
When shes not around there's nowhere to go,
The artist's emotional attachment to the subject of the song is so strong that he feels lost without her presence.
Make no attempts getting up out of this bed,
The artist is so overwhelmed by his emotions that he has lost the will to even get out of bed.
I'm wanna open my eyes but I just close the curtain instead,
The singer struggles with facing reality, and would rather remain in darkness than confront the problem head-on.
Her thunder storms shuts my lights off oh,
The emotional turmoil caused by the subject of the song is so intense that it has a physical effect on the singer, leaving him feeling powerless.
I got no missed calls maybe by tomorrow cause right now I cant just catch a break
The artist feels like he cannot catch a break from the emotional distress he is experiencing, and has no hope for change in the near future.
Everyday it rains when she ain't laying right here I
The artist's emotions become more intense every day that he is not with the subject of the song.
Can feel the coolness in the air I know my chances ain't far,
The artist senses that he is losing his chance to be with the subject of the song, as her presence becomes increasingly distant.
Everyday it rains would it be just my window seal
The rain outside serves as a constant reminder of the emotional turmoil the singer is experiencing.
Sound reaches my ear go then it reappears,
The artist hears sounds through the rain that are fleeting and ephemeral, reflecting his own emotional instability and sense of disorientation.
Everyday it rains my heart starts drowning my vision gets cloudy
The emotional distress the singer is experiencing makes it difficult for him to think clearly and maintain perspective.
The flood moves around me
The singer feels as though he is being overwhelmed by his emotions, which are likened to a flood that is swallowing him whole.
Everyday it rains no sign of the light as the time
The singer feels a sense of hopelessness, as though he will be trapped in this emotional turmoil forever.
Goes by 40 days and 40 nights
The passage of time seems especially cruel to the artist, as his own suffering continues unabated.
Just when I thought I gotten rid of you,
The artist thought he had moved past his emotional attachment to the subject of the song, but a reminder of her presence brings those feelings back in full force.
I turn my face to your pillow that's soaked in your perfume,
The singer seeks comfort in the physical reminder of the subject of the song, even though it only intensifies his emotions.
The waters raging no life vest and I cant swim through through no,
The emotional turmoil the singer is experiencing feels like an overwhelming flood that is carrying him away, and he feels like he has no way to protect himself from it.
My heart, my mind, and my soul its lost somewhere in this deep
The artist feels like he has lost himself to his emotions, and has no idea how to regain control of his thoughts and feelings.
Baby cut my lights (cut my lights) back on (back on baby)
The artist is asking for a glimmer of hope, something to give him the strength to continue on in the face of his emotional turmoil.
Take me I'm ours (take me I'm yours) release me release me
The artist feels trapped in his own emotional distress, and longs for a way to break free from it.
Oh uh oh rainman, rainman, rainman
The repetition of the chorus reinforces the singer's sense of exhaustion and powerlessness, as he feels as though he is caught in an endless cycle of emotional turmoil.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER A. STEWART, TERIUS YOUNGDELL NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind