In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
By the light that switches on
I eat leftovers with mash potatoes
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger's gone
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
And I wash it down with pop
I eat leftovers with mash potatoes
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger stops
Never thought that I'd end up this way
I who loved the sparks
Never thought my hair'd be turning to gray
It used to be so dark, so dark
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger's gone
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger's gone
When the hunger's gone
Never thought that I'd end up like this
I who loved the light
Never thought I'd be without a kiss
No one to turn off the light
Turn off the light
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
By the light, the tv screen
I eat leftovers with mash potatoes
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the plate is clean
When the hunger's gone
When the hunger's gone
By the light that switches on
I eat leftovers with mash potatoes
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger's gone
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
And I wash it down with pop
I eat leftovers with mash potatoes
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger stops
Never thought that I'd end up this way
I who loved the sparks
Never thought my hair'd be turning to gray
It used to be so dark, so dark
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger's gone
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the hunger's gone
When the hunger's gone
Never thought that I'd end up like this
I who loved the light
Never thought I'd be without a kiss
No one to turn off the light
Turn off the light
I eat dinner at the kitchen table
By the light, the tv screen
I eat leftovers with mash potatoes
No more candlelight, no more romance
No more small talk when the plate is clean
When the hunger's gone
When the hunger's gone
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You could say that, or you could say that it was actually written by Rufus' mum, one of the McGarrigle sisters. Although, in fairness he has changed the lyrics, skipping the slightly inappropriate "I eat dinner/ at the kitchen table/ with my daughter/ who is thirteen" lyric in favour of the TV screen/ plate clean verse. Not sure it's about world hunger personally, the original seems to be more about old age, and knowing Rufus this version is probably about the 'hunger' of desire and love. Still, the original is worth a listen too if you can find it.
Hmm . . . I always thought it was about lost love. "No more candlelight, no more romance / No more small talk when the plate is clean." And the whole balancing of male and female singing shows that a break-up/divorce affects both parties, leaving them to sit at the kitchen table (not a fancy restaurant) watching T.V. (not each other) and eating leftovers and instant mashed potatoes.
Maybe I'm taking this song too literally, but I just think it's about finding yourself without love and how lonely that is. "No more small talk when the hunger's gone," this line reminds me of how when you go on a date or something and you're done eating, you don't just get up and leave...you might have a conversation with your lover, because eating dinner can also double as a social activity. Here, he's saying that dinner has become just another necessary life function, because even though he's done eating, dinner can really only consist of that. He has no one to talk to or love to make it anything else.
kate DID write this, in 1990. she read a bit in a book about frida (somebody),and frida's husband had just left her. there was this storng imagery that frida used when she wrote that she was in the kitchen by candlelight.
i know this by watch/listening tis radio show: kcrw.com/cgi-bin/db/kcrw.pl
you cant skip forward, it has to go gradually but she says this at about 19minutes in to the show (rufus wainwright is on the show but she and rufus do "i eat dinner" together) i think it's so much more beautiful with herin it, rather than dido.
but if you are on here, chance is you wont mind watching 19 minutes of rufus to get to the song.
I heard it for the first time on Bridget Jones' Diary soundtrack. Lovely song. Thanks to this song I found out about Rufus and his amazing music ;)
A compilation between Dido and Wainwright offers a nice piece of easy-listening music, perfect for wasting away evenings
Not much depth into the song, however, it is easily compensated by underlying tones of poverty and desire for equality. (Maybe an insight into his beliefs). In the song, Rufus exclaims that when the hunger is gone (i.e. in 3rd world poverty) is the time that allows him to no longer feel guilty about the wealth of western supercountries. Before that time will come (i.e. the debt is repaid) we have to cover and submerse our guilt with 'romance' and 'candlelight' etc. when eating our food. But when equality prosperes is the time that requires 'no candlelight' and 'no smalltalk' anymore. His point is valid yet feeble until we hear the concurring female vocals of Dido, to come and reinforce the point that the desire for equality is a widespread consensus, dreamed of by everyone except the government.
The song is ofcourse a metaphor and stands for wider isses that divides global society as we speak. The main point of the song? Drop the debt.
In addition - 'drop the debt' is hinted to in the song by 'when the plate is clean'. - A pun reffering to when the slate is clean. Wow.