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Candles Lyrics
I tried to do all that I can
But the churches have run out of candles
I tried to give you all I own
But the bankers have run out of loaners
It's always just that little bit more
That doesn't get you what you're looking for
I tried to block the cabin door
But the churches have run out of candles
I tried to lend a helping hand
But the rooms have all run out of pamphlets
I tried to cook it up and turn
The kitchen has run out of canned bits
It's always just that little bit more
That doesn't get you what you're looking for
I tried a beggin' on a cabin floor
But the churches have run out of candles
Turn one day in the cathedral
I finally lit you a candle
And all along the vaulted halls
The Virgins did smile from their mantles
It's always just that little bit more
That doesn't get you what you're looking for
But gets you where you need to go
But the churches have run out of candles
It's always just that little bit more
That doesn't get you what you're looking for
But gets you where you need to go
But the churches have run out of candles
It's always just that little bit more
That doesn't get you what you're looking for
But gets you where you need to go
But the churches have run out of candles
But the churches have run out of candles
I tried to give you all I own
But the bankers have run out of loaners
That doesn't get you what you're looking for
I tried to block the cabin door
But the churches have run out of candles
But the rooms have all run out of pamphlets
I tried to cook it up and turn
The kitchen has run out of canned bits
That doesn't get you what you're looking for
I tried a beggin' on a cabin floor
But the churches have run out of candles
I finally lit you a candle
And all along the vaulted halls
The Virgins did smile from their mantles
That doesn't get you what you're looking for
But gets you where you need to go
But the churches have run out of candles
It's always just that little bit more
That doesn't get you what you're looking for
But gets you where you need to go
But the churches have run out of candles
That doesn't get you what you're looking for
But gets you where you need to go
But the churches have run out of candles
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I think this song is about lighting a candle and accepting the death of a loved one you didnt get along with. Rufus being gay faced im sure hostility, as all LGBTQ+ people do, even from family members. I dont know too much about his personal relationships other than what his wiki article stated, with him and his parents never really talking about his sexuality: 'Wainwright later said in another interview that his "mother and father could not even handle me being gay. We never talked about it really."' His father is still alive, but his mother died in 2010, 2 years before the release of this song. The article does mention several of his songs have been written about family members as well.
Rufus does all he can to make up for the rocky relationship he has had with this person that was never resolved before their death.
Then one day in the cathedral I finally lit you a candle And all along the vaulted halls The virgins did smile from their mantles
It’s always just that little bit more That doesn’t get you what you’re looking for But gets you where you need to go
The Gods have smiled down upon his kind action and even though he wasnt able to resolve the conflict while the person was living, this action has helped him move on, forgive himself, and "gets you where you need to go"
I could be completely wrong but there has been other comments thus far on a fantastic and haunting song and thought I would get the conversation started
Rufus has stated that there was a time when he had a rocky relationship with his mother who had a hard time accepting his homosexuality. One day she popped into a church and lit a candle and prayed and heard a voice tell her (paraphrasing) "He's a person. You have to accept him and be nice to him." After that their relationship was great.
Rufus took up the practice of lighting a candle in whatever church he could find when he was traveling, hoping to have the sort of epiphany she experienced. After his mother died of cancer he had a hard time and one evening he desperately wanted to light a candle for her, but the churches were all out of candles.