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.
Bury Bury Bury Another
Rilo Kiley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were happy
Because we had jobs that we liked
Now it's just hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry us up
We got to get it done tonight
And the roads that you built
Won't get us there fast enough
They don't shade us enough from the beating-downs
Maybe distance might wash away your loved ones
That left you all at once, just because
It was bury, bury, bury, bury another
You'd wash your feet
As you make your way up
To some overly quiet place
You never looked hard enough
For your own last name or someone you liked at all
To keep you standing there with flowers
We had love then
We had attachments
And we had carelessness on our side
Now all the afternoons between romances
Keep us hanging on
We wish our ex was by our side
And the loves that you had, they didn't please you enough
Now your face is in your hands
And you wonder if anyone ever will, ever will, ever will
The first stanza of Rilo Kiley's "Bury Bury Bury Another" reflects on a time when the singer and their peers were content, primarily due to their fulfilling jobs. However, now they're overworked and under pressure, simply trying to get things done. The roads they've taken won't lead them to their desired destination efficiently, and the shadows on the hills aren't enough to relieve them of life's pressing struggles. The distance, however, might fade the memories of loved ones who have departed abruptly, leaving behind those who are struggling to move on. This is where the title of the song, "Bury Bury Bury Another," comes in, which suggests having to bury those they've lost and the pain that follows.
The second stanza moves towards a different angle of the singer's struggles, reflecting how in earlier times, they had love, attachments, and carefreeness, but now, as they engage with the spaces and afternoons between romances, they're left with feelings of longing and regret. They spend their days yearning for their exes to come back to them while they're simultaneously disappointed by the relationships they've had in the past. In essence, their current state isn't what they expected, and they wonder whether someone, anyone, can fill the gap they're currently feeling.
Overall "Bury Bury Bury Another" is a song that speaks to the pressure and difficulties that can often accompany growing up, becoming an adult, and dealing with the loss and change that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
We had jobs then
When we had jobs, we were content and happy.
We were happy
We felt joyful and fulfilled.
Because we had jobs that we liked
Our happiness stemmed from having fulfilling jobs.
Now it's just hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry us up
Currently, we feel rushed and stressed.
We got to get it done tonight
The pressure to complete tasks is mounting.
And the roads that you built
The paths we're on aren't leading us anywhere quickly.
Won't get us there fast enough
We feel we're not making enough progress.
And the shadows on the hills
Even the shelter of the hills isn't enough to cool us down.
They don't shade us enough from the beating-downs
Our problems are coming down on us hard and fast.
Maybe distance might wash away your loved ones
Perhaps absence will cause our loved ones to disappear from our memories.
That left you all at once, just because
The people we love sometimes leave us suddenly.
It was bury, bury, bury, bury another
We are so used to burying our cares and loved ones.
You'd wash your feet
We are often compelled to clean ourselves to be perfect.
As you make your way up
We yearn to progress upwards in life.
To some overly quiet place
We are on the search for an abnormally peaceful environment.
You never looked hard enough
We haven't made much effort to find what we truly want in life.
For your own last name or someone you liked at all
We don't even have anything or anyone we're passionate about.
To keep you standing there with flowers
We want to feel loved enough to attract adoration and respect.
We had love then
We used to have love in our lives.
We had attachments
We were connected to others.
And we had carelessness on our side
We could be casual about our life choices.
Now all the afternoons between romances
Now that we're single, we feel like we're wasting time.
Keep us hanging on
We are struggling to move on from our past loves.
We wish our ex was by our side
We miss our former beau's presence.
And the loves that you had, they didn't please you enough
Even the people we loved couldn't satisfy us enough.
Now your face is in your hands
We feel lost and alone.
And you wonder if anyone ever will, ever will, ever will
We worry if we'll ever find true love again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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