In its earlier days, the band had duel vocals performed by De Marrais and Fischer; later, De Marrais would become the lead vocalist in the majority of their songs. The band's many tours and intimate live shows at venues such as Brooklyn's Northsix (now Music Hall of Williamsburg), Washington, D.C.'s The Black Cat, Bowery Ballroom in NYC, and Chapel Hill's Cat's Cradle helped to grow its fan base and fuel album sales.
On November 6, 2006, the band announced, through Pitchfork Media, that the December 16th show at New York City's Bowery Ballroom would be their last. They played one more show on December 17th at Northsix, which De Marrais referred to as "home" because it also served as the band's rehearsal space.
The band reformed in 2014 with a reunion show at Bowery Ballroom on December 31. Additional shows were added for February 14 and April 18, 2015 at Lincoln Hall in Chicago and Union Transfer in Philadelphia, respectively.
In 2017 the band released S/T, their first album in 11 years.
Ear Ring
Rainer Maria Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
have faith
in the blue
lady
strange how
the ears ring
after a night
strange how
the arms sting
when you're left
holding nothing
you need contact daily
your conscience is failing
and you already love her
In "03 ears ring in 2-3," Rainer Maria sings about the aftermath of a night of wrongdoing. The singer sings to themselves to have faith in the blue lady, who can be interpreted as a representation of hope or redemption. The song examines the physical and emotional discomfort after making mistakes, with the ears ringing and the arms stinging. The release of the song is accompanied by a raw emotion that leaves the listener feeling almost exposed. The idea of wrongdoing and the aftermath can easily be related with the current times, where individuals might feel the same emotions after a night of wrong moves or even during the time of the situation/pandemic. The longing for human connection and seeking solace can be seen as the most relatable aspect of the song.
The phrase "have faith in the blue lady" can be interpreted in several ways. Some suggest that the "blue lady" is a reference to the Virgin Mary, a symbol of peace and healing. Meanwhile, others believe that the "blue lady" could indicate depression or sadness, given their association with the color blue. However, the overall meaning kept by Rainer Maria is the hope to reconcile for wrongdoing.
Moreover, the song could also shed light on the aftermath of a failed romantic relationship or even preparing for it. Listeners can link the line "you need contact daily, your conscience is failing" to the feeling of dependence or addiction towards the person they love. In the end, they are reassured that they already love this person, even though the relationship might have failed.
Line by Line Meaning
have faith
Hold onto hope, keep believing
have faith
Hold onto hope, keep believing
in the blue
Believe in the healing power of a calming presence
lady
Female figure who represents peace, hope, and restoration
strange how
Unusual or unexpected is the sensation of
the ears ring
A constant reminder of the poor decisions made the night before
after a night
Following a period of time when mistakes were made
of wrongdoing
Actions taken that were likely harmful to oneself or others
strange how
Unusual or unexpected is the feeling of
the arms sting
Painful sensation felt when left empty-handed after putting effort into something
when you're left
The experience of being alone or betrayed
holding nothing
Coming up empty-handed, with nothing to show for one's efforts
you need contact daily
Being in constant communication is required to maintain a relationship
your conscience is failing
Feeling guilt or moral struggle about past decisions and behaviors
and you already love her
Despite the negativity and uncertainty, there is a strong emotional attachment to this person
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
chupacabra
anyone notice the book in the drummer's hand? pretty sure it's sartre's no exit, in which three people who despise each other are forced to spend eternity with one another. i think it fits well and reveals some info on the lyrics as well as makes the ending to the video more haunting
hulkhatepunybanner
Wow. I was just looking at the singer.
damageinc 1985
Yeah u nailed it.. that last scene when the door doesn't open...
TheGirlsAre
I will never get sick of this song. It's amazing. Her voice is incredible - sweet, but really powerful. Amazing. We at The Girls Are a little obsessed. This was our song of the week a little while back, and we also featured Rainer Maria in our top 5 'bands we miss the most' article. Brill.
Jess Kio
One of my favorite songs. Saw them live once. She was absolutely gorgeous.
unknownfrost
I know I just found this several days ago, but I think this has to be one of my favorite songs ever. I probably have listened to it at least eight times today alone. I love it...GET BACK TOGETHER!!
SeraphSnow
yes it is. my english teacher actually showed my class this song/video when we were studying no exit and told us the video based on that story. :) and as a random side thing, he and half of my class actually hears the first line as "half-baked" xD (but yes, he did tell us that it's actually "have faith")
Amen. Amen.
You are smart.
Jordan Soccorsi
I remember waiting for the night this album came out in college……awesome!!!!
myotaku
I really like the song and the video. I'm surprised I haven't heard of this band before.