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.
Does He Love You?
Rilo Kiley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep the wind to your back and the sun on your face
All the immediate unknowns
Are better than knowing this tired and lonely fate
Does he love you?
Does he love you?
Will he hold your tiny face in his hands?
I guess it's spring, I didn't know
It's always seventy-five with no melting snow
A married man, he visits me
I receive his letters in the mail twice a week
And I think he loves me
And when he leaves her
He's coming out to California
I guess it all worked out
There's a ring on your finger and the baby's due out
You share a place by the park
And run a shop for antiques downtown
And he loves you
Yeah he loves you
And the two of you will soon become three
And he loves you
Even though you
Used to say you were flawed if you weren't free
Let's not forget ourselves good friend
You and I were almost dead
And you're better off for leaving
Yeah you're better off for leaving
Late at night
I get the phone
You're at the shop sobbing all alone
Your confession it's coming out
You only married him
You felt your time was running out
But now you love him
And your baby
At last you are complete
But he's distant and you found him
On the phone pleading saying "Baby I love you
And I'll leave her and I'm coming out to California"
Let's not forget ourselves good friend
I am flawed if I'm not free
And your husband will never leave you
He will never leave you for me
The song "Does He Love You?" by Rilo Kiley is about a woman who is reflecting on her past relationship with a married man who visits her occasionally. She wonders if he loves her and if he will ever leave his wife for her. The lyrics suggest that she knows deep down that this relationship is not sustainable or healthy, but she is still drawn to the man and the attention he gives her.
As the song progresses, the perspective shifts to the married man's wife, who is pregnant and has settled down with him. The lyrics suggest that she may have married him because she felt her time was running out, but she loves him nonetheless. However, she has discovered that he has been unfaithful and is torn between wanting to believe his promises to leave her and feeling trapped in the situation.
The chorus, which asks "does he love you?", is repeated throughout the song and serves as a poignant reminder of the complicated and messy emotions at play in these relationships. The song ultimately suggests that it's important to prioritize self-love and not lose sight of what truly matters.
Line by Line Meaning
Get a real job
Find a legitimate means of employment
Keep the wind to your back and the sun on your face
Stay positive and optimistic in life
All the immediate unknowns
The uncertain future is better
Are better than knowing this tired and lonely fate
It's better to face the future uncertainties than endure a sad and unfulfilling life
Does he love you?
Is he truly in love with you?
Will he hold your tiny face in his hands?
Will he cherish and care for you?
I guess it's spring, I didn't know
It's the spring season and I am not aware of it
It's always seventy-five with no melting snow
The climate is always pleasant with no adverse weather conditions
A married man, he visits me
A man who is already married comes to see me
I receive his letters in the mail twice a week
I receive letters from him twice a week
And I think he loves me
I believe he loves me
And when he leaves her
When he decides to leave his wife for me
He's coming out to California
He plans to move to California with me
I guess it all worked out
Everything turned out fine
There's a ring on your finger and the baby's due out
You're engaged and expecting a baby
You share a place by the park
You and your partner live near a park
And run a shop for antiques downtown
You own a business that sells vintage items in the city center
And he loves you
Your partner truly loves you
Even though you
Despite the fact that you
Used to say you were flawed if you weren't free
Previously, you thought you were defective if you weren't independent
Let's not forget ourselves good friend
We shouldn't neglect ourselves, my dear friend
You and I were almost dead
We were once nearly lifeless
And you're better off for leaving
You're happier now after leaving that situation behind
Late at night
During the late hours of the night
I get the phone
You call me on the phone
You're at the shop sobbing all alone
You're crying by yourself at the store
Your confession it's coming out
You're ready to reveal something you've been holding inside
You only married him
You only married your partner
You felt your time was running out
You were afraid that you were running out of time to get married
But now you love him
But now you love your partner
And your baby
And you love your child
At last you are complete
You feel whole and content now
But he's distant
But your partner is distant from you lately
And you found him
You discovered your partner
On the phone pleading saying "Baby I love you
On the phone, he is begging and confessing his love for you
And I'll leave her and I'm coming out to California"
He promises to abandon his wife and relocate to California with you
I am flawed if I'm not free
If I am not independent, I feel inadequate
And your husband will never leave you
Your husband will never abandon you
He will never leave you for me
He will not abandon you for me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind