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...").
Out Of The Game
Rufus Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been out for a long time now
I'm lookin' for something
Can't be found on the main drag, no
I'm out of the game
I've been out for a long time now
I'm looking for something
Can't be found on the main drag, no
Look at you, look at you, look at you
Look at you, suckers
Does your mama know what you're doin'?
Look at you, look at you, look at you
Look at you, suckers
Does your mama know what you're doin'?
You're only a child
With the mind of a senile man
You're only a young thing
'Bout to sleep with a sea of men
Just hangin' around
Wearin' somethin' from God knows where
Just havin' a ball
Makin' all of the thin cards fall
Look at you, look at you, look at you
Look at you, suckers
Does your mama know what you're doin'?
Look at you, look at you, look at you
Look at you, suckers
Does your mama know what you're doin'?
Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da
Say, come over here
Let me smell you for one last time
Before you go out there (out there)
And ruin all of the world, once mine
I'm out of the game
I've been out for a long time now
I'm lookin' for something
That can't be found on the main drag, no
Look at you, look at you, look at you
Look at you, suckers
Does your mama know what you're doin'?
Look at you, look at you, look at you
Look at you, suckers
Does your mama know what you're doin'?
The lyrics of “Out of the Game” by Rufus Wainwright tell the story of a man who has been out of the game for a long time and is looking for something that can't be found on the main drag. The song seems to be addressing two different groups of people - the singer himself and those who have remained in the game. The singer feels that he is no longer in the same league as the so-called “suckers” who are still playing the game. They are only children with the mind of a senile man and he is looking for something deeper and more meaningful than what they are pursuing.
The repeated line of “Does your mama know what you’re doing?” seems like an indictment of those who are more concerned with image than with substance. The singer is looking for something that can't be found in the superficiality of the main drag. The final stanza takes on a more personal and intimate tone, as the singer suggests that he wants to smell someone for one last time before they go out there and ruin all of the world that was once his. This may be a hint that the song is about a relationship that has ended or is in the process of ending.
In conclusion, “Out of the Game” by Rufus Wainwright is a song about disconnection and the search for something deeper and more meaningful than what can be found on the surface. The lyrics suggest that those who remain in the game are just going through the motions, while the singer wants something more authentic and genuine.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm out of the game
I have rejected the conventional way of life
I've been out for a long time now
It's been a while since I chose to live differently
I'm lookin' for something
I am searching for an alternative to the mainstream
Can't be found on the main drag, no
It cannot be found in the prevailing culture
Look at you, look at you, look at you
People, pay attention to yourselves
Look at you, suckers
You naive fools
Does your mama know what you're doin'?
Are you aware of the consequences of your actions?
You're only a child
You lack maturity and life experience
With the mind of a senile man
You have a closed and narrow view of the world
You're only a young thing
You are inexperienced and naive
'Bout to sleep with a sea of men
You are about to engage in promiscuous behavior
Just hangin' around
You are wasting your time
Wearin' somethin' from God knows where
Your appearance is strange and inappropriate
Just havin' a ball
You are having fun at the expense of your future
Makin' all of the thin cards fall
You are making careless and risky decisions
Say, come over here
Listen to me
Let me smell you for one last time
Let me remember your essence before you change
Before you go out there (out there)
Before you face the uncertain world
And ruin all of the world, once mine
And destroy everything that was once important to me
That can't be found on the main drag, no
I am searching for something uncommon and unpopular
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Rufus Wainwright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roseylovegood197
I'm so in love with Helena I'm just 1000% dead
@sholaglazzard9347
Same😍
@michaelobryan1968
Just rewatched A Room with a View. If you haven't seen it and you love Helena, you have a bit of watching to do!
@aeongies
HELLO FELLOW POTTERHEAD AND HELENAIST
@orlaane.g2268
Rosey Lovegood me to
@catiaborba6539
her first movie is a pattern of roses
@josebonito6013
God she's so gorgeous, and what makes her so is not only physical in itself, but the exuberant and copious talent she exudes every time she's in front of the lense.
@teresaribeiro9886
Who? She or him? Love them bota but this song is great. Só happy and joyfull dont matter what...🙃😊🙃
@doortech8227
I completely agree. I'm absolutely smitten with Helena B.C
@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp
This song is epic on so many levels! The lead guitar lick, Helena Bonham Carter's performance and Rufus' voice are all so damn good!