Martha

Album: All Days Are Nights: Songs For Lulu (2010)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This turbulent mood-piece features conversational lyrics about Rufus' relationship with his younger sister, the singer Martha Wainwright. The song was inspired by the impending tragedy of their late mother Kate McGarrigle's. death. Wainwright explained to The Sun April 2, 2010: "I wrote it at a very intense time when my mother was in hospital and I was in Berlin. The song is about me trying to get hold of Martha. Everything was looking scary for Mum and I realized how important my relationship my relationship with my sister is.

    When you're dealing with the death of a parent, it makes sense why you're brother and sister. Martha loves the track though she's a bit annoyed with its tongue-in-cheek manner about never returning my calls. When she heard about it she said, 'Great, here I am pregnant and Mum's sick and you're attacking me on my phone etiquette. But once she heard the song she realized it was a love song and an emotional plea about us getting together. We'd fight when we were kids and Mum would say, 'You only have each other, so get over it' and now we know exactly what she meant."

Comments: 1

  • Serena Maile from Sudbury, Suffolk, U.k.Fabulous songs and songwriters and Amazing Artists. I love all of your Lyrics, Melodies and Beautiful and Soul inducing and Wonderful songs / Music. I can’t thank you and Martha and your parents etc. Enough !!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Church Lyrics

Church LyricsMusic Quiz

Here is the church, here is the steeple - see if you can identify these lyrics that reference church.

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.