She has a daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche, by the singer Loudon Wainwright III (hence Lucy's half-siblings are Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright, also acclaimed singer-songwriters).
Rules
Suzzy Roche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you had to go away from your home
i never realized when i was a kid
how alone, how alone
yeah well back in your neighborhood
they knew you when you blew through town
behind your back they were putting you down
rules for this
rules for that
rule on top of rule
broke your back
once upon a time i was holding your hand
a lady off the street came up
she said hey mister i need some money
you can't give enough
i'll never forget the look in your eye
as you dug into your pocket to give
that look of love gave me a reason to live
there are
rules for this
rules for that
if you put rule on top of rule
you can break someone's back
break the rules
just the other day i was breaking a rule
my whole self was ashamed
i thought the sky would open and cry
thunder and rain
yeah well there are many reasons
i don't feel so good
i'd forgive if i could
but i got
rules for this
rules for that
rule on top of rule
to break my back
break the rules
break the rules
In Suzzy Roche's song "Rules," Roche sings about the difficulty in navigating through life when there are so many rules imposed on us by society. She begins by acknowledging the struggles of a friend who had to leave home and who was ridiculed behind their back by people in their hometown. Roche laments that as a child, she was unaware of the loneliness and isolation that her friend must have felt. Roche then goes on to talk about how rules govern almost every aspect of our lives, and how they can become suffocating and overwhelming.
Roche recalls a moment when her companion showed kindness and compassion to a woman in need. This act of generosity inspired Roche and gave her a sense of purpose. However, despite this moment of warmth and humanity, Roche returned to the theme of rules and their destructive power. She talks about how breaking a rule recently made her feel ashamed and how the weight of these rules can break us down. Ultimately, Roche concludes that sometimes, it is necessary to break the rules and to find a way to live free from their constraints.
Overall, "Rules" is a poignant reminder of the bleakness and uncertainty of life, as well as the need for compassion and understanding. The song speaks to the human condition and the sense of being trapped within societal norms and expectations. It emphasizes the importance of individuality and the courage to live outside the confines of rules and regulations.
Line by Line Meaning
you did everything you could
You made every effort
you had to go away from your home
You had to leave your home
i never realized when i was a kid
I didn't understand as a child
how alone, how alone
How lonely it must have been
yeah well back in your neighborhood
In your hometown, though
they knew you when you blew through town
They knew you when you visited
behind your back they were putting you down
They were saying negative things about you
they had
People had
rules for this
Expectations for behavior in situations
rules for that
Expectations for behavior in other situations
rule on top of rule
Many expectations stacked together
broke your back
Were overwhelming for you
once upon a time i was holding your hand
I held your hand in the past
a lady off the street came up
A stranger approached us
she said hey mister i need some money
She asked for money
you can't give enough
You gave as much as you could
i'll never forget the look in your eye
I'll always remember the expression on your face
as you dug into your pocket to give
As you searched for money to give
that look of love gave me a reason to live
That expression of kindness was inspiring
there are
There exist
if you put rule on top of rule
If expectations are piled on top of each other
you can break someone's back
They can be overwhelmed
just the other day i was breaking a rule
Recently, I broke a rule
my whole self was ashamed
I felt deeply embarrassed
i thought the sky would open and cry
I expected the weather to reflect my sadness
thunder and rain
Loud sounds and heavy rain
yeah well there are many reasons
There are many factors to consider
i don't feel so good
I don't feel well
i'd forgive if i could
I would forgive if possible
but i got
But I have
to break my back
Expectations that are causing me stress
break the rules
Disobey the expectations
Contributed by Amelia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.