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...").
I Eat Dinner
Rufus Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the light that switches on
I eat leftovers with mash potatoes
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger's gone
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
And I wash it down with pop
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger stops
Never thought that I'd end up this way
I who loved the sparks
Never thought my hair'd be turning to gray
It used to be so dark, so dark
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger's gone
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger's gone
When the hunger's gone
Never thought that I'd end up like this
I who loved the light
Never thought I'd be without a kiss
No one to turn off the light
Turn off the light
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
By the light, the tv screen
I eat leftovers with mash potatoes
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the plate is clean
When the hunger's gone
When the hunger's gone
The lyrics of "I Eat Dinner (When the Hunger's Gone)" describe a sense of loss and loneliness as the singer eats alone at the kitchen table, with no candlelight, romance, or small talk to accompany the meal. The repetition of the phrase "no more" reinforces the feeling of something being lost or missed. The song expresses regret and a sense of resignation about how life has turned out, with the singer never having imagined ending up alone and isolated.
The line "never thought my hair'd be turning to gray, it used to be so dark, so dark" is particularly poignant, as it suggests a loss of youth and vitality, and a sense of time moving inexorably forward. The phrase "no more small talk" also reinforces the idea of isolation and a lack of connection with others.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a life that has not lived up to expectations, and of the quiet sadness that accompanies that realization. The choice of simple, everyday imagery - eating leftovers at the kitchen table, washing it down with pop - reinforces the sense of ordinary, unremarkable decline, rather than a dramatic tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
I consume my evening meal while sitting at the table in the kitchen.
By the light that switches on
I am illuminated by the artificial light that is controlled by a switch.
I eat leftovers with mash potatoes
My dinner consists of reheated food that was not consumed during the previous meal, served with mashed potatoes.
No more candlelight, no more romance
There is no longer any romantic atmosphere created by the use of candles.
No more small talk when the hunger's gone
Once I have finished eating and my physical hunger is satiated, there is no longer any desire or energy for conversation.
And I wash it down with pop
I drink a carbonated, sweetened beverage to accompany my meal.
Never thought that I'd end up this way
I did not imagine that my life would unfold in this manner.
I who loved the sparks
As someone who enjoyed the thrills and excitement of life.
Never thought my hair'd be turning to gray
I did not anticipate that my once-dark hair would be replaced with gray hairs.
No more candlelight, no more romance
The lack of romantic ambience previously mentioned is emphasized again.
No more small talk when the hunger stops
Conversation is only sustainable during the time when hunger is being addressed.
I who loved the light
Previously, I was someone who enjoyed the bright aspects of existence.
Never thought I'd be without a kiss
I did not anticipate that I would be lacking romantic intimacy.
No one to turn off the light
There is no longer anyone present to turn off the light after a romantic encounter.
By the light, the tv screen
The television display is the only source of light for my evening meal.
No more small talk when the plate is clean
As soon as my dinner plate is empty, any inclination towards conversation dissipates.
When the hunger's gone
Once the physical sensation of hunger has been satisfied.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KATE MCGARRIGLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CLAUXX28
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
By the light that switches on
I eat leftovers with mashed potatoes
No more candlelight
No more romance
No more small-talk
When the hunger's gone
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
And I wash it down with pie
I eat leftovers with mashed potatoes
No more candlelight
No more romance
No more small-talk
When the hunger stops
Never thought
That I'd end up this way
I who loved the sparks
Never thought my hair'd be turning to gray
Used to be so dark
So dark
No more candlelight
No more romance
No more small-talk
When the hunger's gone
No more candlelight
No more romance
No more small-talk
When the hunger's gone
When the hunger's gone
Never thought
That I'd end up like this
I who love the night
Never thought I'd be without a kiss
No one to turn out the light
Turn out the light
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
By the light of the TV screen
I eat leftovers with mashed potatoes
No more candlelight
No more romance
No more small-talk
When the plate is clean
When the hunger's gone
When the hunger's gone
@louisemases2153
I LOVE this song. It should be on Spotify!!!
@Cubicgym
Why is it that so many good songs don't go on Spotify?
@gregorydshapiro
It’s on Spotify now!
@prettypaper87
@@gregorydshapiro not in Germany!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱😱
@ivy2222222222
It's the saddest song I've ever heard! I love it... it's wonderful in Rufus & Dido's voices! Just perfection! Makes me cry always!
@talalbk7416
Dido the best Singer for all times 💗 Singer from another planet
@gingerjones5931
Love... I've loved this ever since I heard it long ago. It's one of those songs that my mind sings back to me in my normal moments such as when I'm eating,,, yes, alone. And it's okay. It's only life Mama.
@Revelian1982
It conjures up a very distinct picture of loneliness in the company of others. To me this song signifies the end of the spark in a relationship, when two people are simply going through the motions, kind of like Eternal Sunshine.
@lucy798
Bridget Jones- Edge of Reason :D
@catalinabusla1151
Thank you both Rufee and Dido!