A graduate of St. Andrew's School, Wainwright is best known for a 1972 novelty song hit Dead Skunk (in the Middle of the Road), with pianist Teddy Wender and for playing Captain Spalding (the "singing surgeon") on three episodes of the American television show M*A*S*H in its third season (1974-1975), but his musical reputation is much deeper. Using a witty, self-mocking style, Wainwright has recorded over twenty albums on eleven different labels. Two of his albums have been nominated for Grammy awards.
He is also a regular actor in Judd Apatow movies. His biggest role was playing the father on Judd's show, Undeclared.
In 2012 his latest offering Older Than My Old Man Now was released.
Official website : http://www.lwiii.com/
Ready or Not
Loudon Wainwright III Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I realize that all this time I′ve held the winning hand
And it's looking like my master plan is gonna pan right out
How did it all unfold, I'm dying to find out
Ready or not, I′m readier now than I′ll ever be
I'm just so ripe, gravity finally pulled me right off of the tree
The light at the end has lit the tunnel right up
Now I can feel it taste it see it smell it, it's right under my nose
And I think that I can handle it, although, Lord only knows
I′ve been waiting, I've been praying, it feels like eternity
Now a cure has finally been found for my dread disease
Ready or not, I′m readier now than I'll ever be
I'm just so ripe, gravity finally pulled me right off of the tree
The light at the end has lit the tunnel right up
Praise the Lord, and pass the ammo, I′m all shook up
Now there′s more gold to be gotten on this marry-go-round ride
And there's questions to be answered on the quiz show deep inside
Darwin′s a monkey's uncle, and a big gun had a son
It′s not over till it's ended, and you know we′ve just begun
Ready or not, I'm readier now than I'll ever be
I′m just so ripe, gravity finally pulled me right off of the tree
The light at the end has lit the tunnel right up
Praise the Lord, and pass the ammo, I′m all shook up
The first verse of Loudon Wainwright III's "Ready Or Not" speaks to the singer's sudden realization that they have held the winning hand all along. The singer is acknowledging that they have been unaware of their own strength and power, but now they see it clearly. They are confident about their "master plan" which is about to "pan right out." The excitement and anticipation in the singer's voice are palpable as they express their eagerness to find out how everything has unfolded for them.
In the second verse, the singer is reveling in their newfound confidence and ability to face any challenge. The lyrics convey a sense of ripeness, as though they have been waiting for this moment for a long time, but finally, "gravity finally pulled [them] right off of the tree." The singer can now see the light at the end of the tunnel and feels that they can handle whatever comes their way. The phrase "praise the Lord, and pass the ammo" serves to emphasize the fact that the singer is both spiritually and emotionally fortified, ready for whatever challenges come their way.
The final verse of the song reflects a certain optimism about the future, suggesting that even more riches could be waiting down the line. The singer seems to be acknowledging the mysteries and unanswered questions that lie ahead, but they are not afraid to confront them. The line "it's not over till it's ended, and you know we've just begun" speaks to the singer's sense of infinite possibility, and willingness to take on whatever the future holds.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Lord, don't I know it, I don't need to understand
I am aware of my good fortunes and do not require an explanation
I realize that all this time I've held the winning hand
I have been fortunate throughout my life and am now reaping the benefits
And it's looking like my master plan is gonna pan right out
My carefully thought-out scheme seems to be working as planned
How did it all unfold, I'm dying to find out
I am eager to learn the details of how everything came together so successfully
Ready or not, I'm readier now than I'll ever be
I am fully prepared for whatever lies ahead
I'm just so ripe, gravity finally pulled me right off of the tree
I am at the peak of my abilities and ready to take on any challenges that may come my way
The light at the end has lit the tunnel right up
I can see a clear path to success and am confident in my abilities to navigate it
Praise the Lord, and pass the ammo, I'm all shook up
I am grateful for my blessings but also aware that there will still be obstacles to overcome
Now I can feel it taste it see it smell it, it's right under my nose
Success is within reach, and I am acutely aware of it through all my senses
And I think that I can handle it, although, Lord only knows
While I am confident in my abilities, I also understand that there are many unknowns in life
I've been waiting, I've been praying, it feels like eternity
I have been working hard and anticipating success for a long time
Now a cure has finally been found for my dread disease
I have overcome a major obstacle and can now move forward without fear or hindrance
Now there's more gold to be gotten on this merry-go-round ride
There are still many opportunities for success and prosperity in my future
And there's questions to be answered on the quiz show deep inside
There are still mysteries to unravel and challenges to overcome, both within myself and in the world around me
Darwin's a monkey's uncle, and a big gun had a son
The world is full of unexpected and surprising things
It's not over till it's ended, and you know we've just begun
There is still much to accomplish in life and many adventures to be had
Writer(s): Loudon Iii S Wainwright
Contributed by Jack N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.