Stephanie Rearick has been performing and recording since 1993, as frontwom… Read Full Bio ↴Stephanie Rearick has been performing and recording since 1993, as frontwoman for Your Mom, Your Mom SRO, The Coma Savants and currently The There Was A Mans and Ladyscissors, occasional side-musician and film scorer and, most consistently, solo artist.

Rearick's work is dark piano-driven classical/cabaret/pop. In addition to piano, Rearick sings, plays trumpet, and builds pieces with various sound sources live on a Boss Loopstation.

Rearick has been honored to have shared the stage with Faun Fables, Eugene Chadbourne, Rose Polenzani, The Detholz!, Stuart Davis and many others. She is often compared to The Dresden Dolls, Tom Waits, David Bowie and Regina Spektor.

Rearick's music is featured in "Saving Jackie," a film by SA Burks that screened at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

Recent Releases: her own Democracy, Eugene Chadbourne's Sacred Insects of Ancient Egypt, Year of the Chadfest and Leaders Split Crack (Blues 2005) and No Camouflage, a Madison Anti-war compilation CD.

Stephanie Rearick won the 2006 Madison Area Music Award (MAMA) for Best Unique Album (Star Belly) and Best Unique Artist, and the 2004 MAMAs for Best Classical Album (The Bucket Rider) and Best Classical Artist. Democracy was the 2008 nominee for Best Pop Album.

Elegy
Stephanie Rearick Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We were all alone
He was lying prone
And his eyes were closed,
My Dear
And he wore a suit
And he looked like you
My Dear

But I knew it wasn't you
He looked like you but didn't sigh like you
Or smile like you
No twinkle in his eye
He didn't even lie
Like you
Would lie

And his hands were clasped
Nothing in their grasp
My Dear
You were nowhere to be seen
Left me in my time of need
My Dear

Which you will always be
Forgiven for,
But not forgot
And you will always be

Invincible, irascible
Invisible, erasable

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Stephanie Rearick's song, Elegy, depict the singer's experience of being by the side of a man who was lying prone with closed eyes, wearing a suit that resembled her beloved, with whom she was not able to share the final moments. As she gazes on the man who looked like her partner but did not act like him, she realizes that he is not the same. This realization is profound because she is reminded of the personality traits of her late partner - the way he would sigh, smile, lie, and even hold things - that distinguish him from the man she is now watching. The absence of the expected behavior compounds her sad state and renewed feelings of abandonment. The last verse acknowledges the perpetual bond and occasional bitterness that she will continue to feel towards her partner.

The lyrics present deep emotions of grief and a sense of loss resulting from the departure of a loved one. The singer deals with their partner's death in a way that highlights the believability of the situation. Her heartfelt presentation of the story resonates with the listener, and anyone who has gone through similar mourning would connect with her. The lyrics are reflective, and the storytelling is masterful. In the end, the message becomes about life, death, memories, and the emotions that come along with them.

Line by Line Meaning

We were all alone
There were no witnesses around us

He was lying prone
The person was lying flat on his face

And his eyes were closed,
The person's eyes were shut down

My Dear
An expression of endearment and affection

And he wore a suit
The person was dressed in formal attire

And he looked like you
The person had a similar physical appearance to you

My Dear
An expression of endearment and affection

But I knew it wasn't you
I was aware that the person in front of me was not you

He looked like you but didn't sigh like you
Although he resembled you physically, he didn't express emotions like you do

Or smile like you
He didn't smile in the same way as you

No twinkle in his eye
He didn't have the same spark in his eyes as you do