Wainwright was born in Rhinebeck, New York, USA, to folk singers Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle (they divorced while he was a child). He began to play the piano at age six, and by age thirteen he was touring with his sister Martha Wainwright, mother Kate, and aunt Anna as the McGarrigle Sisters and Family.
His song I'm A-Runnin', which he performed in the movie Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller (in which he also played a minor character), was nominated for the 1989 Genie Award for Best Original Song and earned him a nomination for the 1990 Juno Award for Most Promising Male Vocalist.
He lived in Montreal with his mother for most of his childhood and briefly attended McGill University, where he studied both classical and 'rock' piano. Some of his songs feature his mastery of French. Wainwright still maintains a residence in Canada.
He came out as gay while still a teen.
Wainwright became interested in opera throughout his adolescent years (for instance, his track Barcelona features lyrics of Giuseppe Verdi). He also became an enthusiast of such performers as Édith Piaf, Al Jolson and Judy Garland.
After having been a fixture on the Montreal club circuit, Wainwright cut a series of demo tapes, one of which found itself in the hands of DreamWorks executive Lenny Waronker. The label signed him and he released the self-titled Rufus Wainwright album in the spring of 1998. This album received much critical acclaim in Canada, and was recognized by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the best albums of the year. Wainwright's second album, Poses (2001), brought similar acclaim.
Wainwright's first main exposure to the American public came as an opener to singer Tori Amos in 2001 and 2002. He garnered praise for his performance and began touring as a main act shortly afterwards. He has frequently toured as the opener for Sting and co-headlined with Ben Folds and Guster in the summer of 2004. He still often performs with his sister Martha Wainwright (now herself an emerging artist) on backup vocals. Despite a growing cult following and critical acclaim, Wainwright has experienced only marginal commercial success in the United States.
In addition to being a pianist, Wainwright is a guitarist, often switching between the two instruments when performing live; however, his mastery of the guitar does not approach his talent with the piano within the Piano rock genre. While some of his most moving songs feature just Wainwright with his piano, many of his songs display complex layering and harmonies, occasionally comprising hundreds of individual parts. Wainwright is an avid opera fan, and the influences on his music are evident, as well as his love of Schubert 'Lieder'; his music has been described as "Popera" (Pop Opera) or "Baroque Pop." His lyrics are filled with allusions to opera, literature, pop culture, and, more recently, politics (in songs such as Gay Messiah and Waiting for a Dream). Wainwright is a recovering crystal meth addict and a rape survivor; he uses the press to bring awareness to these societal problems.
His talent has been widely recognized and praised by such artists as Elton John, Morrissey, John Mayer, and Sting, and he continues to influence artists like Keane, Alanis Morissette, Scissor Sisters, and Ben Folds.
Wainwright's Want Two, from which four songs were released as the EP Waiting for a Want, was released by DreamWorks/Geffen on November 16, 2004. It is a companion to the 2003 release Want One. His latest, a live iTunes Sessions EP entitled Alright Already, was released March 15, 2005. A DVD entitled All I Want, featuring a biographical documentary, music videos, and live performances, was released on both sides of the Atlantic in summer 2005. The same year was also notable for two major contributions as solo vocalist to a pair of important records: the Mercury Prize winning I am a Bird Now and At This Time.
The pair of Want albums was repackaged as Want for a late November 2005 release to coincide with the start of a British tour. The version of Want One is that which contains the two extra songs Es Mus Sein and Velvet Curtain Rag. The Want (Want One and Want Two combined) package in the UK has two new extra tracks: Chelsea Hotel No. 2 and In with the Ladies, which replace Coeur de Parisienne — Reprise d'Arletty and Quand Vous Mourez de Nos Amours from 2004's augmented edition.
Rufus' fifth studio album Release the Stars was released by Geffen on May 15, 2007. The album was executive produced by Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys and featured Richard Thompson, Teddy Thompson, Martha Wainwright, Kate McGarrigle, Neil Tennant, Joan Wasser, Julianna Raye, Larry Mullins - pka Toby Dammit and Sian Phillips.[14]. It reached number 2 in the UK and debuted at number 23 in the USA. The first single of the album, "Going To A Town" was released on April 3, 2007 on the iTunes music store.
Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall is his sixth album. It is a live recording of his June 2006 tribute concert to Judy Garland. Backed by a 36-piece orchestra under the conduction of Stephen Oremus, Wainwright recreated Garland's April 23, 1961 concert, often considered "the greatest night in show business history." After overcoming many personal problems, her comeback performance of 25+ American standards spawned the double album, "Judy at Carnegie Hall."
As well as Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller, Wainwright has appeared in the films The Aviator and Heights. Rufus has music in the film Brokeback Mountain, for which he recorded The Maker Makes and King of the Road, as well as a minor cameo as a guitar player.
Wainwright released his sixth studio album All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu in March 2010. In stark contrast to the lush ornamentation of Release The Stars, the album is a simple voice and piano rendition of a song cycle that includes versions of three Shakespeare sonnets, and an excerpt from his 2009 opera Prima Donna.
The Lulu figure of the title is said by Wainwright to be "the dark, brooding, dangerous woman that lives within all of us", similar to the Dark Lady character in Shakespeare's sonnets. The first part of the title comes from the final couplet of William Shakespeare's "Sonnet 43" ("All days are nights to see till I see thee...").
Everybody Knows
Rufus Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes, everybody knows
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long stem rose, everybody knows
Everybody knows that you love me, baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah, give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Without your clothes and everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes, everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes, everybody knows
And everybody knows that it's now or never
Everybody knows that it's me or you
And everybody knows that you live forever
Ah, when you've done a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton
For your ribbons and bows and everybody knows
And everybody knows that the plague is coming
Everybody knows that it's moving fast
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Everybody knows the scene is dead
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
That will disclose what everybody knows
And everybody knows that you're in trouble
Everybody knows what you've been through
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
To the beach of Malibu
Everybody knows it's coming apart
Take one last look at this sacred heart
Before it blows and everybody knows
And everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes, everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes, oh, everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes, everybody knows
Everybody knows
The song Everybody Knows by Rufus Wainwright represents a harsh reality of life. It starts with a premise that everybody knows that the dice are loaded and success is not always attained by honest means. The song asserts that no matter how much one tries, the outcome is already pre-determined. Even though people know that the war is over, everyone acts as if it's still being fought. This means that everyone is still holding onto old grudges and past animosities.
Then the song shifts focus to how individuals behave in their personal lives. People are aware that their relationships are failing, but they choose to stay in them anyway. It's not because they are incapable of attaining love or intimacy, but because they fear the unknown. The song explores themes of infidelity and how everyone knows that their partner has been unfaithful to them. Yet, people choose not to confront the issue or break off the relationship.
The song also touches upon more extensive issues like environmental degradation and the vast income gap between the rich and the poor. Wainwright's melody and lyrics combine to create a melancholic and haunting mood that sticks with the listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Every situation is rigged and biased towards certain outcomes.
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Despite the odds being against them, people hope for the best.
Everybody knows the war is over
Peace has been achieved, but with a sense of hopelessness.
Everybody knows the good guys lost
The outcome wasn't what people hoped for, the victorious party is not necessarily the just one.
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The outcome was predetermined, it wasn't a fair fight.
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
Socio-economic advancement is difficult, if not impossible, for some while others keep accumulating wealth.
That's how it goes, everybody knows
This is just how the world works, and it's an undeniable fact.
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
There is something wrong that needs attention, and ignoring it will only make it worse.
Everybody knows that the captain lied
The person in charge can't be trusted, and has probably been dishonest before.
Everybody got this broken feeling
A sense of sadness and despair is omnipresent.
Like their father or their dog just died
The feeling of loss is comparable to the pain of losing a loved one.
Everybody talking to their pockets
People feel ignored and unheard, and often don't have anyone to talk to.
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
People want something sweet to make them feel better, even if it's just momentarily.
And a long stem rose, everybody knows
A symbol of love, romance, and passion - something that people still believe in, even amidst all the gloom.
Everybody knows that you love me, baby
It's a well-known fact that someone loves someone else deeply.
Everybody knows that you really do
There's no doubt about the truthfulness of someone's feelings.
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Someone has been true to their partner throughout the relationship.
Ah, give or take a night or two
However, there might have been some infidelity, but it wasn't anything serious.
Everybody knows you've been discreet
Someone has been very careful not to get caught, and has been secretive about their actions.
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Nevertheless, there were many temptations that couldn't be passed up.
Without your clothes and everybody knows
As a result of these liaisons, someone has been intimate with a lot of people, and it's not exactly a secret.
That's how it goes, everybody knows
This is just how life is, and it's not always fair or just.
Everybody knows that it's now or never
It's a critical moment, and the opportunity might not arise again.
Everybody knows that it's me or you
There's a zero-sum game at play, and someone has to come out on top.
And everybody knows that you live forever
Some actions and experiences can have a profound impact on a person, and form a permanent memory.
Ah, when you've done a line or two
These life-changing moments often involve some sort of drug use, which is almost expected.
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
There's something corrupt and dishonest going on, and everyone seems to know about it.
Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton
Historical injustices and inequalities still exist, and aren't being addressed properly.
For your ribbons and bows and everybody knows
Inequity is perpetuated in subtle ways, and the people who benefit from it aren't hiding their wealth or privilege.
Everybody knows that the plague is coming
There's a sense of impending doom, and a large-scale disaster is on the horizon.
Everybody knows that it's moving fast
Things are happening at an alarming pace, and it's hard to keep up.
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Nudity used to be taboo, but it's becoming more and more normalized.
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Culture is constantly evolving, and the things that used to be important or frowned upon are now antiquated relics.
Everybody knows the scene is dead
A once-vibrant community or movement is now stagnant and unproductive.
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
Death is unavoidable, and it's coming for everyone.
That will disclose what everybody knows
Death can reveal secrets or personal details that someone tried to keep hidden.
Everybody knows that you're in trouble
Someone is facing adversity and hardship, and it's evident to everyone.
Everybody knows what you've been through
People are aware of the challenges and obstacles someone has faced.
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
A religious reference to Jesus' suffering on the cross, highlighting the severity of the challenges someone has faced.
To the beach of Malibu
From the very worst to the very best moments of someone's life.
Everybody knows it's coming apart
Things are falling apart, and it's not clear how to fix them.
Take one last look at this sacred heart
Reflecting on the past, and recognizing the importance of certain memories and experiences.
Before it blows and everybody knows
It's not possible to keep everything contained forever, and eventually the truth will come out.
That's how it goes, everybody knows
This is just how life is, and it's not always easy or fair.
Everybody knows, everybody knows
All of these things are widely recognized and understood.
That's how it goes, everybody knows
This is just how life is, and it's not always pleasant or desirable.
Everybody knows, everybody knows
These are things that everyone is aware of.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen, Sharon Robinson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maroon chic to chic
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long-stem rose
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Oh, give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Without your clothes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
And everybody knows that it's now or never
Everybody knows that it's me or you
And everybody knows that you live forever
When you've done a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old Black Joe's still picking cotton
For your ribbons and bows
And everybody knows
And everybody knows that the plague is coming
Everybody knows that it's moving fast
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Everybody knows the scene is dead
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
That will disclose
What everybody knows
And everybody knows that you're in trouble
Everybody knows what you've been through
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
To the beach of Malibu
Everybody knows it's coming apart
Take one last look at this Sacred Heart
Before it blows
Everybody knows
pat merewether
I love the way Rufus puts his own flavor into the song, yet still stays true to the whole 'Cohen-ness' of the song. love it!
Bonita Stjulienlepauvre
Rufus is a wonderful singer; love his version of this!
Liz I.
I've listened to Rufus Wainwright sing this song a million times, and loved it. But to see him sing it is just bliss. What a perfect rendition.
Sharron Belson
I just love the way Rufus sings this...and how he moves while he is doing it.
Baturalp Aslan
what a song what a cover great singer great composer great performence
terri purcell
Someday the world is going to know about Rufus, but untill then I'll just go on enjoying him
Camillo A.
helloperson from the past
pacificoast82
What a wonderful interpretation of this song. Just the perfect feel. I love Rufus' voice and stage presence.
The Camera eye
Never heard of Rufus Wainwright before this documentary but now I think he's just brilliant!
imhereformoz
Wow, I think he had fun with that! :) Rufus has such a talent for making Cohen's songs his own, while still staying true to their essence. What a fab combination of artists.