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.
Spit and Fire
Rainer Maria Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
of you and i
burning out our true desires
with spit and fire
open up your chest
put my hand inside
it's dishwater warm,
and it flakes away like red rust
take those lazy drugs away
turn to me instead
i'm dishwater warm,
smooth as porelain,
and i'll flake away like red rust
everything expires
tonight there's no denying
even you and i will die,
so why are we hesitating?
knowing that you've opened up
yourself to me is no victory
but a consolation prize will suffice tonight
everything expires
tonight there's no denying
maybe you and i should try
all the things
we are too scared to try.
The lyrics to Rainer Maria's song "Spit and Fire" are introspective and contemplative. The "inside" of both the singer and the subject of the song are explored, revealing that they are "burning out" their true desires with "spit and fire" - a metaphor for their own self-destructive behavior. The singer then implores the subject to "open up [their] chest" and allow the singer inside, offering comfort and warmth that is compared to "dishwater" or "porcelain". However, this comfort doesn't last, as it "flakes away like red rust", indicating that the comfort is temporary and fleeting.
The second half of the song takes a more fatalistic turn, acknowledging that everything - including the two of them - will eventually come to an end. The line "knowing that you've opened up yourself to me is no victory" suggests that while intimacy may provide temporary relief, it's ultimately not enough to combat the inevitability of death. And yet, the singer proposes that rather than hesitating, they should try all the things they are too scared to try. This ending is both melancholic and hopeful, suggesting that even in the face of mortality, there is still time to make the most of life.
Line by Line Meaning
on the inside
Referring to internal feelings or emotions.
of you and i
Of both individuals involved.
burning out our true desires
Acts of self-destruction preventing the achievement of personal goals or desires.
with spit and fire
Aggressive and confrontational behavior towards others while masking one's own fears or insecurities.
open up your chest
To expose one's vulnerability and allow others to enter into their emotional space.
put my hand inside
The act of another person entering into one's emotional space.
it's dishwater warm,
A lukewarm response, expressing a lack of enthusiasm or passion for the other person.
smooth as porcelain,
A surface-level appearance of perfection that masks deep-rooted flaws or emotions.
and it flakes away like red rust
A facade that slowly reveals one's true nature or intentions over time.
take those lazy drugs away
The rejection of temporary fixes or distractions in favor of dealing with underlying emotional issues.
turn to me instead
To rely on another person for emotional support.
everything expires
A reminder that all things come to an end, including relationships and personal experiences.
tonight there's no denying
Acknowledging the present moment and the inevitable reality of endings.
even you and i will die,
A reminder that mortality is an inescapable aspect of life.
so why are we hesitating?
A question regarding the hesitancy to fully experience life or take risks.
knowing that you've opened up
A recognition of the other person's vulnerability and the trust that has been placed in the artist.
yourself to me is no victory
The act of opening up should not be seen as a conquest or victory over the other person.
but a consolation prize will suffice tonight
Acknowledging that a temporary connection or comfort with another person is better than nothing and can provide temporary relief.
maybe you and i should try
A call to action to take risks and try new things together.
all the things
Any and all experiences or opportunities that have previously been avoided or deemed too risky.
we are too scared to try.
The fear of failure or negative consequences preventing one from taking risks or pursuing their desires.
Contributed by Adam N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.