Whatever Happened To Us

Album: Unrequited (1975)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Loudon Wainwright III was stomping on the pieces of a crumbling marriage to folk singer Kate McGarrigle when he wrote "Whatever Happened to Us" for his fifth album Unrequited. "Anybody having a crappy love affair hopefully can identify with that one," he told the A.V.Club.

    Wainwright doesn't waste much time contemplating what once was or what might have been. He even throws a dig at Frank Sinatra, who crooned "you fell in love, and love is the tender trap":

    And it's a whole lot of crap about a tender trap
    What it is is a suicide snare
    And all I wanna do is to forget you and our lousy love affair


    The volatile lovers have recorded several other songs about each other. Wainwright wrote "On The Rocks" and "Mr. Guilty" while McGarrigle challenged him with "Go Leave" and "Blues in D."

    Soon after their divorce, McGarrigle's sister (and singing partner) Anna sang, "Pack up all your children, come home to our love and concern" in her song "Kitty Come Home."

Comments: 1

  • Ellie from Fla.I Believe ”WHATEVER HAPPENED TO US” was the best song Tammy n George recorded together
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.