I was intially surprised to see I hadn’t already posted today’s track, from Rufus Wainwright’s 1999 self-titled debut album.
In fact, I’ve posted only one song from this album, period, the opening cut ‘Foolish Love.’
Looking back at that post, I was reminded why Wainwright has had a relatively low profile on the blog (26 Songs of the Day, including six on Random Weekends). My regular readers, especially ten years ago, just didn’t like him very much.
Early posts were greeted with a lot of references to Wainwright’s voice as whiny and grating, a criticism I understand even if I don’t agree. Those comments died down in later years (in part because one-time frequent commenter Amy stopped chiming in as often) and recent reactions have been mostly complimentary.
Now the Random iTunes Fairy has dipped her toe back into that debut album to serve up a quintessential Rufus track (his own composition, not a cover of the Irish classic). Let’s see how the masses react!
Your skin is cold
But the sun shines within your hold
Your hair is gold
But you see through a goldfish bowl
I feel old, sick, and tired
[Verse 2]:
We walk the streets
Gently staring, wondering what to do
The sun in sheets
Pouring down those streets to eyes green and blue
[Pre-Chorus]:
And a ship with eight sails could come round the bend
Or a herd of bulls charging stoplights red
I’d be blind
You broke my heart, danny boy
Not your fault, danny boy
[Chorus]:
I was had at the doorstep
Played, like a two to a four-set
Had like poor Job in the Bible by God
[Verse 3]:
Day comes, I wake
I wake with a hard heartache
I go down to your place
[Verse 4]:
We sit and chat
Chat about new york and trips to the bayou
My smile, a trick
Tricking me and trying not to scare you
[Pre-Chorus]
[Chorus] (2x)
This sounds like a forgettable song from a Broadway musical. I’ve heard better from Rufus.
Ha! 26 features Is rare?! How many songs by Indigo Girls or Joni Mitchell have you featured? I’d say Rufus has been treated fairly and you’re welcome readers of the past ten years that I saved you from too many more of his songs. 🤣