Justin Rutledge (born January 3, 1979) is a Toronto-based alt-country singe… Read Full Bio ↴Justin Rutledge (born January 3, 1979) is a Toronto-based alt-country singer-songwriter signed to Six Shooter Records.

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.

The Blackest Crow
Justin Rutledge Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The blackest crow that ever flew
Would slowly turn to white
If ever I prove false to you
Bright day would turn to night
Bright day would turn to night
My love, yellow moons would mourn
If ever I prove false to you
The seas would rage and burn

I wish my heart was made of glass
Wherein you might behold
That there your name was wrote
My love, in letters made of bone
There your name was wrote, my love

Believe me when I say that you are the only one for me
Until my dying day

Overall Meaning

In Justin Rutledge's song "The Blackest Crow," the lyrics convey a theme of loyalty, commitment, and the consequences of betraying a loved one. The metaphorical image of a black crow turning white symbolizes the singer's desire to remain faithful and true to their partner. The lyric suggests that if the singer were to ever prove false to their loved one, even the brightest day would turn to darkness and calamity would ensue.

The second verse further emphasizes the singer's devotion. The desire for a heart made of glass reflects a longing for transparency and honesty in the relationship. The reference to their name being written in bone suggests a deep and lasting love. The singer pleads for their partner to believe that they are the only one for them, and vows to remain faithful until the end of their days.

Overall, the song illustrates the importance of trust and loyalty in a relationship, suggesting that betrayal can have catastrophic consequences. It portrays a sense of devotion and commitment, underscoring the singer's desire to honor their love and remain faithful, highlighting the potential devastation of breaking that trust.

Line by Line Meaning

The blackest crow that ever flew
A symbol of darkness and negativity that is unfathomable

Would slowly turn to white
It would gradually change and become pure and innocent

If ever I prove false to you
In the case that I betray or deceive you

Bright day would turn to night
The brightness and joy of life would transform into darkness and despair

My love, yellow moons would mourn
Even the celestial bodies like the moon would lament and mourn

If ever I prove false to you
If I ever prove unfaithful or disloyal to you

The seas would rage and burn
The oceans would become tumultuous and engulfed in flames

I wish my heart was made of glass
I desire my emotions and innermost thoughts to be transparent and easily seen

Wherein you might behold
So that you can observe and understand

That there your name was wrote
That your name is engraved or written there

My love, in letters made of bone
In an everlasting and lasting expression of love made of something as strong as bone