Following the band's dissolution, singer and guitarist Guy Picciotto, guitarist Eddie Janney, and drummer Brendan Canty formed One Last Wish with Embrace alumnus Michael Hampton. The three later joined former Rites bassist Mike Fellows for a quasi-reincarnation of Rites of Spring named Happy Go Licky, releasing an LP/CD of various live concert recordings though never producing any studio work. Picciotto and Canty eventually teamed up with the former Embrace singer Ian MacKaye (owner of the band’s label, Dischord Records) in Fugazi.
Rites of Spring was the band’s self-titled debut album from 1985. Its twelve songs were recorded at Inner Ear Studios in February of 1985, and released on vinyl in June of that year as Dischord Records #16. The album was rereleased on CD and cassette in 1987, with an additional track from the same session, "Other Way Around", as well as the four songs from the Rites' follow-up EP, All Through a Life, Dischord #22. The CD and cassette originally retained the number "16" while the 1991 repress, as well as the 2001 remastered version of the same seventeen songs, were numbered "16CD" and given the new title End on End.
The band are named after Igor Stravinsky's famous ballet composition entitled The Rite of Spring/Le Sacre du printemps. The piece is widely dissonant and the context of the ballet is extremely bleak, revolving around pagan rituals.
By Design
Rites of Spring Lyrics
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Just fade away - And in these shifting tides of blame why
Are you surprised to see your name? It's such a drag,
Time got the best of you, things you gave you say were
Taken, explanation piled over excuse.
And so the story goes
But by your own design
Then my eyes will pass right through
Believe me I had wished, we could have avoided this
Please don't ask me to explain all the things that caused
Your pain - I only want you to realize, passivity
Equals compliance - let it slip right through your
Hands become the victim of other's demands.
The lyrics of Rites of Spring's song, "By Design", reflect the painful reality of trying to move on from self-inflicted wounds. The song starts off by declaring that time heals all wounds, but for those who have inflicted it upon themselves, it's not that easy. The lyrics suggest that these wounds never really fade away or get fixed, and one has to live with the consequences of their actions. The shifting tides of blame are mentioned, but the person seems surprised to see their name being associated with their actions. This line could be interpreted as the individual trying to blame others for their mistakes instead of taking responsibility.
The song then speaks of how time got the best of the individual, and they feel as though the things they gave were taken away from them. This could mean that the person feels like their actions have led to them being robbed of certain opportunities or things they once had. The lyrics then state that explanations have been piled up over excuses, indicating that the individual has been trying to justify their actions for a long time. But ultimately, it's by their own design that they find themselves in this situation. The lyrics seem to suggest that the individual is looking for someone to help them, but if they look to the singer to do so, their eyes will pass right through. The song ends with a plea for the individual to stop being passive and becoming the victim of other's demands.
Overall, "By Design" is a powerful song that delves into themes of regret, self-reflection, and the consequences of one's actions. The lyrics are raw and relatable, and the melody perfectly complements the emotions behind the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Time heals all wounds they say but the self-inflicted won't
Although people say that time is a great healer, it doesn't always work if the hurt was caused by one's own choices.
Just fade away - And in these shifting tides of blame why
The hurt won't just disappear and in a situation where there's fault-finding, why are you surprised to be implicated?
Are you surprised to see your name? It's such a drag,
It is unexpected that you're being blamed and it feels like a burden to carry this shame.
Time got the best of you, things you gave you say were
Time took control of your situation, and now you're saying that what you offered was taken away from you.
Taken, explanation piled over excuse.
You're trying to rationalize what happened by giving a long explanation, but it seems more like an excuse.
And so the story goes
This is a common occurrence and it has happened before.
But by your own design
This situation was caused by your own actions or decisions.
And if you look to me to find you
If you're expecting me to rescue you or give you answers,
Then my eyes will pass right through
I won't be able to help you or see things from your perspective.
Believe me I had wished, we could have avoided this
I wish we didn't have to go through this.
Please don't ask me to explain all the things that caused
Please don't expect me to give you a detailed explanation of everything that led up to this situation,
Your pain - I only want you to realize, passivity
I only want you to understand that being passive and not taking action will make you agree to other peoples' demands,
Equals compliance - let it slip right through your
And you will become a victim to their needs or requests instead of standing up for yourself.
Hands become the victim of other's demands.
You'll end up being controlled by others and their expectations of you, and that's not a good way to live.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
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