www.justinrutledge.com
Rutledge has released three albums, No Never Alone, The Devil on a Bench in Stanley Park and Man Descending. His fourth album, entitled, "The Early Widows" was released in May 2010 on Six Shooter Records.
Rutledge's musical style is often compared to that of American alt-country singer Ryan Adams. His influences, both of the literary and music world, include Leonard Cohen, Hank Williams, Richard Brautigan and E.E. Cummings.
In 2006, Justin Rutledge was named Toronto singer-songwriter of the year by NOW magazine.
Rutledge has toured Canada, the UK, the United States and Europe, and has played shows with Kathleen Edwards, Jim Cuddy, Blue Rodeo, Hawksley Workman, Luke Doucet and Dolly Parton.
His critically acclaimed lyrics are sometimes linked by music writers to his time as a university English major; he was editor-in-chief of a University of Toronto literary journal.
History
Early life
Justin Rutledge was born and grew up in the Junction neighbourhood in Toronto, a working class community centered around an intersection of four railway lines. He was raised in an Irish-Catholic family and grew up with aspirations of becoming a writer. To that end he studied English literature, with a major in modern poetry, at the University of Toronto. He dropped out after three years of school as his musical career got in the way. Rutledge told Macleans in an interview that his backup plan would be to finish his university studies in English "if this music thing doesn't work."
No Never Alone (2004-2005)
No Never Alone is Justin Rutledge's first album. In order to pay for the recording he worked as a bartender. Rutledge has remarked, "I would often do a studio session during the day, and then head straight to work until 4 or 5 in the morning"
The album earned Rutledge considerable praise, particularly in the UK, where he was compared to Ryan Adams by Comes With a Smile, who also proclaimed that "A major new talent has landed". Additional UK praise came from Uncut magazine who referred to Rutledge as “a master of gothic understatement” and NME describing the album as "an incredible breakthrough".
It was only receiving this attention in the UK that 'No Never Alone' was released in Rutledge's native Canada.
The Devil on a Bench in Stanley Park (2006-2007)
Rutledge's second album, "The Devil on a Bench in Stanley Park" was released through Six Shooter Records on October 6, 2006. "Devil on a Bench" is actually Rutledge's second attempt at a sophomore album - He spent a year recording his first attempt, tentatively titled In the Fall, before he scrapped it. He was unsatisfied with the album, and has explained, “I thought a sophomore album should have just a bit more of an assured sense about it. A second step forward should be a step up the ladder as opposed to just asserting your presence. You’re not just saying, ‘hey, I’m still here. You’re saying, ‘hey I’m here and I’ve challenged myself and I’ve hopefully done something that I haven’t done already. In order to challenge himself and create the album he wanted, Rutledge wrote a new batch of songs and recorded them in eight days with his band - opting for a more live recording style.
"The Devil on a Bench in Stanley Park" was nominated for a Juno award in the category "Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo" and received the Galaxie Rising Star Award at the Edmonton Folk Festival.
[edit] Man Descending (2008)
Man Descending
Justin Rutledge's third album, "Man Descending" was released on April 8, 2008 through Six Shooter Records. The album is named after a 1982 collection of short stories by Guy Vanderhaeghe, also called "Man Descending". Rutledge was inspired by a line from Vanderhaeghe's book, "A man descending is propelled by inertia; the only initiative left him is whether or not he decides to enjoy the passing scene." He says of the line, "It really resonated with me. As I continued to read the stories, I realized that all these characters in the book were dealing with the same kind of static or inertia in their lives. I kind of took little threads and wove them into songs."
The album features Ron Sexsmith, Jenn Grant, Catherine MacLellan, Hawksley Workman, Melissa McClelland, Joey Wright, Jim Bryson as well as "What Rutledge calls the best band in town; David Baxter, Bazil Donovan and Blake Manning; Burke Carroll and Bob Packwood."
"Man Descending" was long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize.[17] Other praise for "Man Descending" in 2008 included the #5 spot on Exclaim's Wood, Wires & Whiskey top 10 and a nomination for Contemporary Album of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
According to an interview, "Compared to 2006’s The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park, Rutledge feels Man Descending is a much more patient, intimate and mature album, despite recording it in just three days."
The songs "Alberta Breeze" and "San Sebastian" were written for "In The Fall:" - the album that Rutledge scrapped in 2006, and were rerecorded for Man Descending.
In 2009 Justin Rutledge took part in an interactive documentary series called City Sonic. The series, which featured 20 Toronto artists, had him reflecting on his time performing at the Cameron House.
The Early Widows (2010)
The Early Widows is Justin Rutledge's fourth album, released in May 2010 on Six Shooter Records. Justin wrote several songs with a single character in mind from author Michael Ondaatje's Novel Divisadero after collaborating with Ondaatje on a theatrical adaptation of the novel. Michael Onjaatje also co-wrote several of the songs receiving official credit for the single Be A Man.
The album is produced by Canadian singer-songwriter Hawksley Workman (also credited as a musician on the album) and also features Canadian singer-songwriter Oh Susanna.
1855
Justin Rutledge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Laying down among the blades of grass?
He'd turn the pages slow, as histories of snow
Speaking like each word would be his last
So I give you a ring
Made of fiddle string
And I can hear the trumpets from the hills
As flowers crowd the open windowsills
Everything depends
On a grove where the river bends
Where I imagine waking up with you
With you and I alive in 1855
Today the skies are colorblind and blue
The lighthouse keeper cheered
The old man and his beard
But he swallowed up the last of all our gin
He stumbled home alone, to the shipwrecks and the storm
Wishing he was where your voice had been
Everything depends
On the time when the money ends
When we ain't got a penny or a clue
With you and I alive in 1855
Today the skies are colorblind and blue
Everything depends
On the way that you move your hands
And draw the curtains wide to see the view
With you and I alive in 1855
Today the skies are colorblind and blue
The lyrics to Justin Rutledge's song "1855" depict a scene set in the past, specifically in the year 1855. The singer imagines what the historical person Walter would do if he encountered the person mentioned in the song. The setting is described as blades of grass, and the singer envisions Walter carefully turning the pages of a book, perhaps of historical significance, as if each word he speaks would be his last. This imagery suggests a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past.
The song continues with the singer offering a ring made of fiddle string, symbolizing a token of love or commitment, as they listen to the sounds of trumpets coming from the hills. The singer expresses a deep affection for the words spoken by the person mentioned, peeling back layers of vulnerability, likening it to flowers crowding open windowsills. This imagery evokes a sense of beauty and intimacy in their connection.
The next stanza depicts the lighthouse keeper, an old man with a beard, who cheers but also consumes the last of the gin. This portrays a sense of loneliness and longing for the person's voice. The lighthouse keeper, in this case, becomes a metaphor for the singer's yearning and isolation.
Throughout the song, the repetition of the phrase "Everything depends" implies that the singer's emotions and happiness rely on specific circumstances, such as the bend in a river grove or the absence of money. These elements serve as metaphors for the delicate balance of love and life. The mention of 1855 represents a desire to escape to a different time, perhaps an idyllic past or an alternative reality where love and connection are more accessible. The final line, "Today the skies are colorblind and blue," suggests a sense of longing and resignation, acknowledging that the present may lack vibrancy and meaning.
Overall, "1855" is a song that explores themes of nostalgia, longing, and the reliance of emotions on specific circumstances. Its evocative imagery and poetic language create a sense of yearning for a different time and a deep connection with another person.
Line by Line Meaning
What would Walter do if he'd run into you
If Walter were to come across you lying in the grass, he would approach with caution and curiosity
Laying down among the blades of grass?
Resting peacefully amidst the blades of grass
He'd turn the pages slow, as histories of snow
He would carefully read through the pages of your life, each one resembling the delicate and intricate patterns of falling snow
Speaking like each word would be his last
Uttering every word with a sense of urgency and significance, as if it might be his final opportunity to do so
So I give you a ring
As a symbol of my affection and commitment, I offer you a ring
Made of fiddle string
Crafted from the delicate strings of a fiddle, representing the beauty and harmony of our connection
And I can hear the trumpets from the hills
In my heart, I can hear the joyous sound of trumpets echoing from the distant hills as a celebration of our love
The words I love the best are the words that you undress
The most cherished expressions are the ones you reveal when you let go of pretense and show your true self
As flowers crowd the open windowsills
Just like a multitude of flowers adorning the open windows, the words you speak bring beauty and vibrancy to our surroundings
Everything depends
The outcome of everything is reliant on
On a grove where the river bends
The turning point lies within a tranquil grove where the river takes a curve
Where I imagine waking up with you
Imagining the blissful moment of starting each day together
With you and I alive in 1855
In this shared fantasy, we exist and experience life together in the year 1855
Today the skies are colorblind and blue
At present, the sky appears devoid of vibrant hues, only displaying a serene yet melancholic blue
The lighthouse keeper cheered
Filled with delight, the lighthouse keeper expressed his happiness through cheers
The old man and his beard
Referring to the elderly man with a long beard, symbolizing wisdom and experience
But he swallowed up the last of all our gin
However, he consumed the remaining gin, which was the final trace of our shared pleasure and indulgence
He stumbled home alone, to the shipwrecks and the storm
He made his way back to his residence, feeling lonely and faced with the chaos of shipwrecks and a storm
Wishing he was where your voice had been
Longing to be in the place where he last heard the sound of your voice
Everything depends
The outcome of everything is reliant on
On the time when the money ends
The crucial factor lies in the moment when financial resources become depleted
When we ain't got a penny or a clue
During a time when we lack both money and direction
With you and I alive in 1855
In this shared fantasy, we exist and experience life together in the year 1855
Today the skies are colorblind and blue
At present, the sky appears devoid of vibrant hues, only displaying a serene yet melancholic blue
Everything depends
The outcome of everything is reliant on
On the way that you move your hands
The key aspect lies in how you skillfully and gracefully use your hands
And draw the curtains wide to see the view
As you widen the curtains to behold the scenery outside, it signifies your willingness to embrace the beauty of the world
With you and I alive in 1855
In this shared fantasy, we exist and experience life together in the year 1855
Today the skies are colorblind and blue
At present, the sky appears devoid of vibrant hues, only displaying a serene yet melancholic blue
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Justin Rutledge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind