Lewis and Sennett are former child actors and were introduced to each other by Tara Subkoff, a mutual friend, in 1993. In 2001, original drummer Dave Rock left the band and was replaced by Boesel.
They began their career on Barsuk Records, releasing Take Offs And Landings in 2001. They moved to Omaha-based indie label Saddle Creek for their second album, 2002's The Execution of All Things. But come time for their third release, More Adventurous in 2004, the band left Saddle Creek for Brute/Beaute, a Warner Bros. imprint.
2004 saw a great increase in recognition for the band, as Sennett and Boesel released an album with their band The Elected and Lewis sang backup on Ben Gibbard's (Death Cab For Cutie) indie electronic side project The Postal Service. Lewis toured with The Postal Service before heading out on two tours in support of Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous in the summer and fall of 2004. The album spent late 2004 high on Billboard Magazine's Heatseekers Chart, success only furthered by appearances on the Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel Live. The band opened for Bright Eyes on the international leg of Conor Oberst's tour for 2005's i'm wide awake, it's morning. In Fall 2005, Rilo Kiley were the opening act for the North American dates of Coldplay's Twisted Logic Tour.
Lewis released her first solo album in January of 2006, with Leigh and Chandra Watson as Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins. The album, entitled Rabbit Fur Coat, was co-produced by Clifford M Ward and Mike Mogis. Furthermore, The Elected released their second album, sun, sun, sun on the same day as Lewis' album.
The 4th Rilo Kiley LP, Under the Blacklight, was released in August 2007. This has a more pop-influenced sound and received mixed reviews.
The band broke up in 2011 after vague statements made by Blake Sennett comparing the band to a "corpse" and referring to disagreements among members.
Accidntel Deth
Rilo Kiley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But what you need is a new body
It feels your brain has lived a thousand lives before
And the skin you call your home
Holds a heart that quits
And knees that buckle in
And lungs that can't breathe when they're alone
And the days come to you like sailors
You watch them as they drift away
They meet the sunrise out at the horizon
And it's neither sink nor swim
Least the water's beneath your chin
There's blood spilled on the floor
Everyone's staring at you what for?
Till you realize the blood is probably yours
You feel you lost something, you want it back
You're lying motionless on your back
And your legs aren't taking anymore requests
Those disobedient brats
How you cared for them as they carried you
From class to class and coast to coast
When you owed rent and you were broke
Through recessions and addictions
It's just your accidental death
Your accidental death
It's just your accidental death
You're the Indian in the cougar's nest
Your fright gives way to memory
Having coffee with your love
Or the story your father told you long ago
He was hunting with his own father
For deer. he pointed and spotted her
And tripped over some roots or some dead trees
The gun went of it was a mistake
And my father was only eight
And as he watched the dying deer he was changed
'Cause he felt sorry for what he'd done
And then he put down his gun
Will you feel sorry for what you've done?
Will you put down your gun?
It's just your accidental death
Your accidental death
But there's no accidental death
When you're the Indian in the cougar's nest
It's just your accidental death
Your accidental death
It's just your accidental death
You're the Indian in the cougar's nest
The song "Accidntel Deth" by Rilo Kiley explores the concept of mortality and the inevitability of death. The chorus, "It's just your accidental death, your accidental death, but there's no accidental death when you're the Indian in the cougar's nest," evokes the image of being casually consumed by death, as if it's just a natural part of life that can come at any moment. The verses describe the body's limitations and vulnerabilities, such as the heart and lungs that can fail, and the legs that eventually stop working, reinforcing the idea that our physical form is temporary and subject to decay.
The song also touches on the cycle of life and death, as highlighted by the lines "It feels your brain has lived a thousand lives before," and "And the days come to you like sailors, you watch them as they drift away. They meet the sunrise out at the horizon." The imagery of the passing of days like ships on the ocean further reinforces the idea that our time on earth is limited and fleeting.
The song's title, with its deliberate misspelling, adds to its message of death being an unexpected and unpredictable event. It suggests that even though death may seem accidental, it is a part of the natural order of things and cannot be avoided or escaped.
Line by Line Meaning
You're obsessed with finding a new brain
You're trying to change who you are by altering your consciousness
But what you need is a new body
Your physical self is what's holding you back, not your thoughts or emotions
It feels your brain has lived a thousand lives before
You have experienced so much that your mind is overwhelmed and exhausted
And the skin you call your home
Your body is where you reside, but it's not necessarily where you belong
Holds a heart that quits
Your heart is weak and can't handle the stresses of life
And knees that buckle in
Your body is giving out on you
And lungs that can't breathe when they're alone
Your breathing is labored and shallow, reminding you of your own mortality
And the days come to you like sailors
Time passes quickly, but with a sense of purpose
You watch them as they drift away
You're aware of how fast time moves, but you can't stop it from slipping away
They meet the sunrise out at the horizon
Things always come to an end, even if you can't see it coming
And it's neither sink nor swim
Life is neutral and can go either way
Least the water's beneath your chin
You're in a precarious position, but you're not drowning yet
There's blood spilled on the floor
Something violent has happened
Everyone's staring at you what for?
You feel judged and isolated
Till you realize the blood is probably yours
You're the one who caused the injury or harm
You feel you lost something, you want it back
You've experienced a devastating loss and want to go back to the way things were
You're lying motionless on your back
You're incapacitated and helpless
And your legs aren't taking anymore requests
Your body is shutting down and not responding to your commands
Those disobedient brats
Your body is acting up and not doing what you want it to do
How you cared for them as they carried you
You used to take your body for granted, but now you realize how much you depended on it
From class to class and coast to coast
You've been through a lot with your body, and it's been with you everywhere
When you owed rent and you were broke
You've been through tough times before and relied on your body to help you through them
Through recessions and addictions
You've struggled with mental and physical health, but your body has been there to support you
It's just your accidental death
Your death may not have been intentional, but it was still the result of your actions
Your accidental death
You didn't mean for things to end this way
You're the Indian in the cougar's nest
You're vulnerable and exposed, and danger is all around you
Your fright gives way to memory
Your fear turns into nostalgia as you reflect on your life
Having coffee with your love
You remember happy moments spent with someone you care about
Or the story your father told you long ago
You think back to cherished memories of your childhood
He was hunting with his own father
You remember your own family and the traditions that have been passed down through generations
For deer. he pointed and spotted her
Your father was teaching you how to hunt and survive in the world
And tripped over some roots or some dead trees
Even the best-laid plans can go awry, and accidents happen
The gun went of it was a mistake
Your father made a mistake, but it wasn't intentional
And my father was only eight
Your father was a child himself when this happened, highlighting how even the innocent can make tragic mistakes
And as he watched the dying deer he was changed
The experience affected your father profoundly and shaped who he became as a person
'Cause he felt sorry for what he'd done
Your father realized the gravity of his actions and felt remorse
And then he put down his gun
Your father learned from his mistake and chose not to repeat it
Will you feel sorry for what you've done?
Will you take responsibility for your actions and learn from them?
Will you put down your gun?
Will you stop doing things that harm yourself or others?
But there's no accidental death
Every death is the result of something, whether it was intentional or not
When you're the Indian in the cougar's nest
When you're in a vulnerable position, you're more likely to suffer the consequences of your actions
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind