Album: Release the Stars (2007)
Interpretata anche insime a Anohni nell'album Folkocracy del 2023

Obviously, in retrospect, it seems obvious one would sing protest songs against the Bush government and the war in Iraq, and really put your neck out there and make a statement. But the truth of the matter is, nobody really was and the backlash against you if you did was so profound. This was the Dixie Chicks-era of getting booed off stage. When I wrote Going to a Town it was right in the storm of that period and I think it was an important song for that time attacking the American government directly for how they were acting."

Read more: Rufus Wainwright on the eight songs that defined him

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The town Wainwright refers to in this song is Berlin, Germany, where he met his husband, Jorn Weisbrodt. He made much of the Release The Stars album there.

"The song is about going to a city that had... (Continues)

(2020)
Album: Unfollow the Rules

Una canzone secondo me bellissima sull'odio che può portare alle conseguenze più nefaste ma anche essere motore di rivolta e cambiamento.


I read you said that the lyrics on this album are your favorite lyrics you've written, which is pretty impressive after writing all of these albums and two operas. The next song that we're going to hear you perform is "Devils & Angels (Hatred)" — pretty provocative title. Is there anything lyrically you would like people to listen for in this song?

It's a song that I wrote years ago when I was faced with a very difficult human situation, something that we all go through. Whether it's going to court, whether it's being sick, whether it's dealing with death of a parent, as people we're faced with these fundamental moments where we have to really suit up for battle and win the fight. I wrote that song at that time,... (Continues)