Pike, who co-founded the band and wrote many of their early lyrics, died in Fairhaven, Massachusetts on June 3, 2007, drowning in Buzzards Bay shortly after a show in Providence, Rhode Island. The band decided to continue following Pike's death, but have never permanently replaced him and have subsequently had several drummers, including Cameron Wisch (on "The Rhumb Line") and Gabriel Duquette (on "The Orchard").
The released their debut full length album The Rhumb Line in 2008. The band released their second full length album, The Orchard on August 24th, 2010. In February 2012, cellist and keyboardist Alexandra Lawn, an original member of the group, left the band.
www.rarariot.com
The Orchard
Ra Ra Riot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We both had doubts
I found myself while I was away
All your life, now I understand
So many hours
And no company
But you imagine things
Through cold eyes of sleep
We both know about
All my life
You were important
And your father too
Wandering the orchard
Through budding dormant eyes
On a lamp lit plane
You imagine things
Why does this speak to me?
To you I know I'll only sail without?
My life is dull
And my body aches
Oh then what I have I seen this for?
Oh I imagine things
Through cold eyes of sleep
And I want things
Back more than I do
My life is dull
And my body aches
Oh this blood in my mouth
Makes me hate
How we both end up.
The lyrics of Ra Ra Riot’s “The Orchard” depict a bittersweet realization between two people about their relationship. “We both had doubts” is the opening line of the song and sets the tone of doubt that plagues both individuals. The singer, who is away from his lover, has found himself while away, whereas his lover has stayed the same. As he contemplates their relationship, he talks about the importance of his lover and her father in his life. The singer reminisces about wandering through the orchard, which is symbolic of their relationship, but now it feels like it’s dormant. It’s like he’s seeing everything with “cold eyes of sleep,” which means he sees everything in a new light, with no bias or clouded thoughts.
As the song progresses, the singer realizes that he wants things back more than his partner does. His life is dull, and his body aches, and the blood in his mouth makes him hate how both of them will end up. In the end, the singer imagines things, which is an indication that he’s not completely accepting the reality he faces, as he wants things to be like they were before.
Overall, the song describes the theme of change and acceptance. The singer has found himself while away, whereas his lover refuses to change. But now that he’s come around, he realizes that he doesn’t want things to be as they were before.
Line by Line Meaning
We both had doubts
Both of us had feelings of uncertainty
We both had doubts
Both of us had feelings of uncertainty
I found myself while I was away
During my absence, I discovered who I am
All your life, now I understand
I now comprehend how important you were to me all along
So many hours
There were countless hours
And no company
I was alone
But you imagine things
Your mind created thoughts and situations
Through cold eyes of sleep
With a tired, emotionless perspective
Then what have I seen this for
What was the purpose of what I witnessed
We both know about
We are both aware of it
All my life
Throughout my entire existence
You were important
You held significance to me
And your father too
Your father also held importance
Wandering the orchard
Walking aimlessly through the grove
Through budding dormant eyes
Viewing with eyes of anticipation and expectation
On a lamp lit plane
In a dimly lit and somber environment
You imagine things
You create scenarios in your mind
Why does this speak to me?
Why does this resonate with me?
To you I know I'll only sail without?
I understand that I will be without you
My life is dull
My existence is uninteresting
And my body aches
I am in physical pain
Oh then what I have I seen this for?
What was the point of what I witnessed?
Oh I imagine things
I create scenarios in my mind
Through cold eyes of sleep
With a tired, emotionless perspective
And I want things
I desire certain things
Back more than I do
More so than I realize
My life is dull
My existence is uninteresting
And my body aches
I am in physical pain
Oh this blood in my mouth
I am injured
Makes me hate
It causes me to feel anger
How we both end up.
Our eventual fate
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Alexandra Nicole Lawn, Mathieu Jordan Santos, Milo A Bonacci, Rebecca Alexandra Zeller, Wes Miles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@champbailey62
great song good bass and clarity!
@shutyersxymth
3 comments how many years later? Wow! Talk about a hidden treasure
@hiddenaether
ikr, i had the pleasure to see them back in 2015. crazy to think it’s a year short of a decade
@ip_logged4060
I thought I imagined this song
@_ThisaintGlen
What is this song about?
@shutyersxymth
About love and seeing someone as a person and the sum of all their parts