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...").
he ain't heavy he's my brother
Rufus Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
His welfare is my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy he's my brother
If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another.
It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy
He ain't heavy
He ain't heavy
He's my brother
He's my brother
He's my brother
Rufus Wainwright's song "My Brother" is a powerful message that communicates the importance of helping one another. The first stanza of the lyrics highlights the uncertainty and unpredictability of the road of life, how it can be winding and leads us to unknown places at unknown times. However, the singer is strong enough to help his brother, take care of him and carry him along the way, and he does not consider it a burden. The next stanza emphasizes the fact that the welfare of his brother is his priority, and he does not feel weighed down by the responsibility of looking out for him. The singer asserts that his brother is not a hindrance to him and that they will reach their destination together.
The chorus line, "He ain't heavy, he's my brother," is a powerful message that underscores the theme of the song that love and compassion for one another should make the journey of life lighter. It communicates the idea that no matter the location, circumstance, or burden, one should look out for their fellow man and carry their weight alongside them. The third stanza of the lyrics reveals the singer's sadness that not everyone's hearts are filled with the gladness of love for one another, which makes life's journey a bit tougher for some. The last stanza enforces the idea that life's journey is long and arduous, but it would be more bearable if we helped one another and shared the load.
Line by Line Meaning
The road is long
Life is full of challenges and unknowns.
With many a winding turn
There are many twists and turns in life that can lead us astray.
That leads us to who knows where
We never really know where life will take us.
Who knows when
We never really know when things will happen.
But I'm strong
Despite these uncertainties, I have inner strength.
Strong enough to carry him
I have the strength to help my brother when he needs it.
He ain't heavy, he's my brother.
My brother is not a burden, but someone I love and care for.
So on we go
We keep moving forward in life.
His welfare is my concern
I care for my brother's well-being.
No burden is he to bear
I do not see my brother as a burden to carry.
We'll get there
Together, we will make it through difficult times.
For I know
I believe in my brother and his ability to overcome challenges.
He would not encumber me
My brother's struggles do not weigh me down.
If I'm laden at all
If I am carrying any weight at all,
I'm laden with sadness
It is the sadness of others that weighs on me.
That everyone's heart
The emotional state of all people.
Isn't filled with the gladness
Is not full of joy and love.
Of love for one another.
The love and care we feel for one another can lighten the burden of life.
It's a long, long road
Life can be a difficult journey.
From which there is no return
Once we have lived and passed on, there is no going back.
While we're on the way to there
While we are still alive and moving through life,
Why not share
Why not share the journey and help each other along the way.
And the load
The burden of life and its challenges.
Doesn't weigh me down at all
The love and support of my brother helps me carry the load.
He ain't heavy
My brother is not a burden to me.
He's my brother
He is someone I care for deeply and will always be there for.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Bob Russell, Bobby Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jk8226
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another
It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy he's my brother
He's my brother
He ain't heavy, he's my brother, he ain't heavy
@AaronHarkonnen
got a pic of me in 1981, brothers on my lap and thats what was written on the bottom of the Polaroid
@casperbass68
Strings. Vocals. The whole thing. ❤️
@dleew1774
I love Rufus..this version is so good. Shout out for the arrangement and the background vocalists...Just beautiful...
@frannynobrain
That voice! If your having a bad moment, just listen to Rufus...Beautiful.
@Gabreya
I heard this song on "Zoolander". Such a very beautiful and moving song.
@hughmiller9839
Rufus should just cover every song ever made. He has one of the greatest voices of all time. He the very definition of underrated.
@wrathofme03
yup. agreed
@3riversgirl777
I agree! Great voice & arraignment
@catalinabusla1151
Incredible talent! Amazing voice! Gorgeous Rufus
@claumouz
Rufus' voice is so special because it touches people's hearts. It's not only technique, but sensitivity