Daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, and the sister of Rufus Wainwright, she has frequently appeared on recordings by her family members, the McGarrigle Sisters and Family and has released several independent EPs. Wainwright released an independent cassette, Ground Floor, in 1997. The following year, her song "Year of the Dragon" appeared on The McGarrigle Hour, an album released by Kate & Anna McGarrigle. Shortly after this recording, Martha began singing backup vocals for her brother, and released the six-song EP Martha Wainwright in 1999.
Her full length self-titled first album was released in 2005, followed in 2008 by I Know You're Married but I've Got Feelings Too, and in 2009 by Sans fusils, ni souliers, à Paris: Martha Wainwright's Piaf Record. The Prosperpina Songfacts reports that her 4th album, Come Home To Mama, was recorded at Sean Lennon's studio in New York City. Speaking about the album, Wainwright said: "This record is a culmination of my life experiences so far. Everything changed for me a couple of years ago and this record is a representation of that and a return to the reason I started writing songs."
Tower Of Song
Martha Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, oh, oh
I was scared and you held me tight
Oh, ohhh
It was like we were in black and white
As clear as day, as dark as night
Oh, ohhh
There was no longer peace of mind
Just fear of the unknown, and the unkind
And then when he undressed me
And took my body
I was resolute to be fine
Now the soldiers are all on fire
And our hearts, are dead from desire
And when you say it has nothing to do
Nothing to do with you, you're a liar
Now the sky is filled with dust
Of those we loved and those we lost
Oh, ohhh
Rebuild the tower
Make it last longer
Make it stronger
Give up your power
The lyrics to Martha Wainwright's "Tower of Song" depict a relationship that begins with love and hope but ends in destruction and disillusionment. The first few lines indicate the purity of the relationship between the two lovers, as they share visions that bind them together. However, the mood shifts quickly, and the relationship becomes distorted, as the truth becomes a lie, and fear replaces peace of mind. In the second verse, the destructive elements of war become apparent as the soldiers are on fire, and the hearts of the lovers are dead from desire. The third verse contains a plea for life to be rebuilt and for the destruction to end.
The song's chorus, "Rebuild the tower, make it last longer, make it stronger, give up your power" can be interpreted in various ways. In a metaphorical sense, the "tower" could represent a relationship or society, and the plea for rebuilding it could signify a desire to heal the wounds caused by conflict. In another sense, the "tower" could be a symbol of personal strength, and the call to make it stronger could signify a desire to prevail over adversity. The song reflects the need to be strong in the face of all-encompassing threats.
Line by Line Meaning
We had visions, in the night
In our dreams, we saw our future
I was scared and you held me tight
In times of fear, you provided comfort
It was like we were in black and white
The clarity of our situation was crystal clear
As clear as day, as dark as night
Both the good and bad were equally evident
And the truth became a lie
When reality set in, the facts became distorted
There was no longer peace of mind
Mental unrest set in
Just fear of the unknown, and the unkind
The uncertainties ahead were daunting and cruel
And then when he undressed me
And took my body
I was resolute to be fine
After being violated, I made the decision to continue despite the trauma
Now the soldiers are all on fire
And our hearts, are dead from desire
The passion of the soldiers contrasts the numbness of our emotions
And when you say it has nothing to do
Nothing to do with you, you're a liar
When you deny involvement in a situation, you're dishonest
Now the sky is filled with dust
Of those we loved and those we lost
The memory of those who are gone still lingers
Rebuild the tower
Make it last longer
Make it stronger
Give up your power
We must fix what has been broken, transforming it into a solid structure, relinquishing control for the greater good
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Martha Wainwright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
hulazen69
Well, my friends are gone and my hair is grey
I ache in the places where I used to play
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on
I'm just paying my rent every day in the Tower of Song
I said to Hank Williams, how lonely does it get?
Hank Williams hasn't answered yet
But I hear him coughing all night long
Oh, a hundred floors above me in the Tower of Song
I was born like this, I had no choice
I was born with the gift of a golden voice
And twenty-seven angels from the Great Beyond
They tied me to this table right here in the Tower of Song
So you can stick your little pins in that voodoo doll
I'm very sorry, baby, doesn't look like me at all
I'm standing by the window where the light is strong
Ah, they don't let a woman kill you, not in the Tower of Song
Now, you can say that I've grown bitter but of this you may be sure
The rich have got their channels in the bedrooms of the poor
And there's a mighty judgment coming, but I may be wrong
You see, you hear these funny voices in the Tower of Song
I see you standing on the other side
I don't know how the river got so wide
I loved you baby, way back when
And all the bridges are burning that we might have crossed
But I feel so close to everything that we lost
We'll never, we'll never have to lose it again
Now I bid you farewell, I don't know when I'll be back
They're moving us tomorrow to that tower down the track
But you'll be hearing from me baby, long after I'm gone
I'll be speaking to you sweetly from a window in the Tower of Song
Yeah, my friends are gone and my hair is gray
I ache in the places where I used to play
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on
I'm just paying my rent every day in the Tower of Song
Michael Smits
This is not someone covering a great song, this is Martha telling Leonard's story, like a daughter who uses the wisdom of her father to reach out and enrich your and my life. It is the way it was supposed to be.
Brenda Dale
I agree, Martha is just as Leonard's daughter could/should be. She does this song just as I would expect to hear from Leonard!
Paul Donohoe
yes exactly This comment is just right. The words of a teacher of an angel
Gregor Miller
Sometimes more is said in a few hour of silence, then ever said....
A Mcmenemy
Martha's dad's called Louden. 😁🇨🇦😁.
Michael Smits
@A Mcmenemy yes dear I know and she hated daddy Louden. So maybe Leonard payed so moe attention to her than daddy Louden. Did she ever covered any of his songs? I don't. Anyone?
Billy J. Crawford
This song has helped in extracting the negativity from my hear lately. I close my eyes and shout "F the BS" Be strong and never give up on happiness. Be true to yourself. Sometimes you have to fight demons to re-light your inner fire. May we all fight the good fight.
Lisa Colbert
Ah , Billy ... sigh
boybuddha
Love this version.
Third Wonder
Beautiful rendition of a beautiful song that was featured in the beautiful documentary film "I'm Your Man". This version is just as beautiful, and I hope they build statues to all the Wainwrights someday.