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...").
One Man Guy
Rufus Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The kind of a guy I am
They'll recognize just what I stand for and what I just can't stand
They'll perceive what I believe in
And what I know is true
And they'll recognize I'm a one man guy
Always was through and through
Hey that's just great
Trying to find the inner you
People depend on family and friends
And other folks to pull them through
I don't know why I'm a one man guy
Or why I'm a one man show
But these three cubic feet of bone and blood and meat are all I love and know
Cause I'm a one man guy in the morning
Same in the afternoon
One man guy when the sun goes down
I whistle me a one man tune
One man guy a one man guy
Only kind of guy to be
I'm a one man guy
I'm a one man guy
I'm a one man guy is me
I'm gonna bathe and shave
And dress myself and eat solo every night
Unplug the phone, sleep alone
Stay way out of sight
Sure it's kind of lonely
Yeah it's sort of sick
Being your own one and only
Is a dirty selfish trick
Cause I'm a one man guy in the morning
Same in the afternoon
One man guy when the sun goes down
I whistle me a one man tune
One man guy a one man guy
Only kind of guy to be
I'm a one man guy
I'm a one man guy
I'm a one man guy is me
The lyrics to Rufus Wainwright's song "One Man Guy" describe a person who prefers to be alone, leading an independent life without the influence or dependency on others, including family and friends. This person is self-sufficient, confident, and content with their own company, and they refuse to conform to society's expectations and norms. The person acknowledges that living alone can be lonely, but they prefer it that way, and they are willing to accept the consequences of their choices.
The song portrays the person as someone who embraces their individuality and is comfortable being their own support system. They refuse to compromise their freedom or give up their independence, even if it means living an unconventional life. They are satisfied with their own company, and they take pleasure in their own activities and interests.
Overall, "One Man Guy" is a song about individuality, independence, and self-acceptance. It encourages listeners to embrace their unique qualities and to be true to themselves, even if it means going against the norms of society.
Line by Line Meaning
People will know when they see this show
The audience will be able to understand who I am and what I stand for through my performance
The kind of a guy I am
I am unique and only one type of person
They'll recognize just what I stand for and what I just can't stand
The audience will comprehend my beliefs and values and what I am against
They'll perceive what I believe in
The audience will understand my ideology
And what I know is true
I have strong convictions on what I believe in
And they'll recognize I'm a one man guy
The audience will understand that I am self-sufficient and only need myself
Always was through and through
I have always been like this
People meditate
Some individuals engage in meditation practices
Hey that's just great
This is positive and acceptable behavior
Trying to find the inner you
Meditation can help one understand themselves better
People depend on family and friends
Some people rely on those close to them for support and guidance
And other folks to pull them through
Some people need help to overcome obstacles
I don't know why I'm a one man guy
I don't know why I prefer to be self-sufficient
Or why I'm a one man show
I don't know why I prefer to perform solo
But these three cubic feet of bone and blood and meat are all I love and know
I only know and love myself
Cause I'm a one man guy in the morning
I am self-sufficient all day long
Same in the afternoon
This applies to all times of day
One man guy when the sun goes down
I am self-sufficient even at night
I whistle me a one man tune
I entertain myself by singing to myself
One man guy a one man guy
I am only one type of person, self-sufficient
Only kind of guy to be
Being self-sufficient is the only way to be
I'm a one man guy
I am self-sufficient and only need myself
I'm a one man guy is me
Being self-sufficient is part of who I am
I'm gonna bathe and shave
I am going to perform self-care tasks
And dress myself and eat solo every night
I generally take care of myself when it comes to daily routines
Unplug the phone, sleep alone
I prefer to isolate myself and take care of my own needs without distractions
Stay way out of sight
I prefer to avoid the company of others and remain unseen
Sure it's kind of lonely
I understand that my behavior may lead to loneliness
Yeah it's sort of sick
Some may view my behavior as unhealthy
Being your own one and only
Being self-sufficient has its own drawbacks
Is a dirty selfish trick
Some may see my behavior as being self-centered and inconsiderate
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LOUDON WAINWRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind