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.
summer and longer
Rainer Maria Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
this summer and longer ago,
i don't know the date.
i was hurt,
i couldn't get to the next room to save you.
i always wished for wishful thinking,
an abandoned rock quarry to swim in.
i don't want to be alone.
The lyrics to Rainer Maria's song 'Summer and Longer' reflect on a past experience that the singer had, six years ago. Despite the passage of time, the memories are still vivid, and the pain is still raw. The singer seems to be grappling with regret and guilt, as they reflect on a moment when they were unable to save someone they cared about. The song's lyrics convey a sense of powerlessness, with the singer unable to move beyond the trauma of the past.
The lyrics also hint at a desire for escape, both physical and emotional. The idea of an abandoned quarry to swim in could be seen as a metaphor for a place of refuge, a place to escape from the pain and hurt of the real world. The repetition of the line 'I don't want to be alone' also suggests a deep-seated fear of isolation, and a longing for human connection.
In many ways, 'Summer and Longer' is a deeply introspective song, exploring themes of regret, guilt, and the struggle to overcome traumatic events. The lyrics are sparse and carefully-chosen, conveying a sense of profound sadness and resignation. Yet, the music and melody of the song is also uplifting, almost hopeful, suggesting that there may be a way forward, even in the face of such overwhelming pain.
Line by Line Meaning
six years,
It has been a long time, specifically six years, since the event that inspired this song occurred.
this summer and longer ago,
The event occurred in the summer, but the emotional impact has lasted much longer.
i don't know the date.
The exact date is not important, as the emotional weight of the event remains with the singer.
i was hurt,
The event caused emotional pain for the artist.
i couldn't get to the next room to save you.
The artist was unable to help or protect someone close to them in the moment of the event.
i always wished for wishful thinking,
The singer has unrealistic desires and hopes to avoid the harsh reality of the event.
an abandoned rock quarry to swim in.
One of the singer's unrealistic desires is to escape to a deserted location, perhaps a nostalgic memory, to find solace.
i don't want to be alone.
The artist desires companionship, possibly as a means of coping with the emotional aftermath of the event.
Contributed by Skyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.