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.
Never In Anger
Rainer Maria Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
jean briggs,
it's 1964, and language leaves me.
cold and quiet,
it's punishment
for trying to stand on your side.
eat snowflakes,
on thousands of layers old.
see sometimes i'm seasons
yet the closest place from hearth to home.
i can't imagine the sun never setting,
lives in the snow.
maybe i'll leave here.
been through a bad year.
too cold to die here.
The lyrics of Rainer Maria's song "Never In Anger" is quite enigmatic and an insightful interpretation of the same can only be surface level. The song is about a woman named Jean Briggs, who lived in the year 1964 and seemed to have difficulties in communicating with people. Language for her is cold and quiet, which suggests that she might be an introverted person.
The second verse of the song implies that Jean Briggs attempted to take someone's side, which led to her punishment with language leaving her completely. The line "eat snowflakes" might be a metaphor for the experience of being completely abandoned and helpless. The last few lines of the verse talk about being frozen in time, and the thousands of layers old suggest that the pain of isolation has been going on for quite some time.
The final verse of the song suggests that Jean Briggs is not happy living where she is and wants to leave. The reference to the sun never setting could represent the feeling of being trapped in the place with no escape. It seems like Jean Briggs has had a terrible year, and the cold weather is taking a toll on her. Overall, the song is about an individual who is feeling isolated, cold, and hopeless.
Line by Line Meaning
my name is jean briggs,
I am identified as Jean Briggs.
it's 1964, and language leaves me.
It is the year 1964 and I am unable to express my thoughts and feelings adequately.
cold and quiet,
My surroundings are devoid of warmth and sound.
it's punishment for trying to stand on your side.
This state of isolation is a consequence of identifying with someone else.
eat snowflakes,
I consume the minuscule water droplets found in snowfall.
fall down on thousands of layers old.
I sink into the layers of snow accumulated over the years.
see sometimes i'm seasons
Occasionally, I represent the changing seasons.
yet the closest place from hearth to home.
Despite embodying the changing seasons, I remain closest to what is familiar.
i can't imagine the sun never setting,
It is impossible for me to conceive of a world where the sun does not go down.
lives in the snow.
The essence of life for me is found in the snow.
maybe i'll leave here.
Perhaps, I will depart from this place.
been through a bad year.
I have experienced a difficult year.
too cold to die here.
It is too frigid to perish in this wintery environment.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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