The band’s latest effort, Into the Shallows, is their full-length debut. Primarily recorded in their cramped LA rehearsal space, The Rare Occasions bring their northeast sensibilities with them to California. The record delves deeper into the musical and lyrical concepts which have come to define the band’s aesthetic, from buzzing highs to sulking lows.
The Rare Occasions first turned heads in their native Providence, Rhode Island when they won the WBRU Rock Hunt, headlined the Summer Concert Series at Waterplace Park, and performed in front of packed audiences at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel and The Met. Meanwhile, they tore through the Boston club circuit, building a dedicated following across the northeast.
The Rare Occasions went on to perform for festival audiences at SXSW and CMJ, as well as open for international touring acts, including Guster, Dirty Heads, and Knox Hamilton. “Dysphoric” took home the coveted ‘Song of the Year’ award in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Backwards
The Rare Occasions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is looking back at you from the arms of another
And oh sure, you're happy for her
But it's not what you wanted, it's not what you wanted
Pining it tends to wreck you
Timbers scatter as your hull shatters
And you feel like an inconvenience
Something don't quite belong in this sequence
Your world is ripped apart
And the room is spinning faster
Should've seen it from the start
But there is no going backwards
It was months ago you lost her
Shoulda been phoning her up but you were thinking it over
No sense in waiting around
So get over yourself and your boring feelings
Something don't quite belong in this sequence
Your world is torn apart
And the room is spinning faster
Should've seen it from the start
But there is no going backwards
And from the caverns
To the shore
Run around in circles
Forevermore
Cuz she was the light above the candle
You're sometimes dealt more than you can handle
So face it, it's never gonna happen
Cuz all you want don't matter if you don't believe it
Your world is torn apart
And the room is spinning faster
Should've seen it from the start
But there is no going backwards
Your world is torn apart
And the room is spinning faster
Should've seen it from the start
But there is no going backwards
In the song "Backwards" by The Rare Occasions, the singer describes the pain of seeing someone they love with another person. While they try to be happy for their loved one, the singer can't shake the feeling that it's not what they wanted. The emotion is so overwhelming that the singer feels like they're wrecked and don't quite belong in the situation. The world is torn apart, and the room is spinning faster, creating a sense of chaos and confusion. The singer acknowledges that they should have seen the loss coming from the start, but now, there is no going back.
The song also touches on the idea that sometimes in life, we're dealt more than we can handle. The singer compares their lost love to a light above a candle, implying that the love they had was bright and beautiful. However, the singer knows that they can't have it back, and they must face that reality. They encourage themselves to get over their boring feelings and move forward because dwelling in the past won't change the outcome. The song ends with the repetition of the line "there is no going backward," an affirmation that it's time to accept what has happened and find a way to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it's a sorry sight when the one you love
It's a painful experience to see the person you love in someone else's arms.
Is looking back at you from the arms of another
Seeing the person you love with someone else is a difficult sight to bear.
And oh sure, you're happy for her
Although you are happy for her, it does nothing to stop the pain of losing her.
But it's not what you wanted, it's not what you wanted
Even though you are happy for her, it does not change the fact that it's not what you wanted.
Pining it tends to wreck you
Longing for someone can take a toll on you both emotionally and physically.
Timbers scatter as your hull shatters
You feel like your entire world is falling apart, and you are left broken.
And you feel like an inconvenience
You feel like you do not belong in this situation, and it only makes things worse.
Something don't quite belong in this sequence
Something feels off or wrong about the situation, and you cannot quite grasp it.
Your world is ripped apart
Your world feels as though it has been completely shattered and destroyed.
And the room is spinning faster
Your emotions are overwhelming and clouding your judgment, causing everything to feel like it's spinning out of control.
Should've seen it from the start
Looking back, it is now clear that there were signs pointing to the inevitable end.
But there is no going backwards
Even if you could go back in time, you cannot change what has already happened.
It was months ago you lost her
The pain of losing her still feels fresh, even though it has been months since it happened.
Shoulda been phoning her up but you were thinking it over
You regret not reaching out to her, but at the time you were too busy second-guessing yourself.
No sense in waiting around
There is no point in holding onto something that you cannot have.
So get over yourself and your boring feelings
Stop wallowing in self-pity and move on with your life.
And from the caverns
From the depth of your emotions.
To the shore
To the surface of your thoughts.
Run around in circles
Feeling stuck or lost in your emotions, unable to find a way out.
Forevermore
The pain of losing her will continue to linger, perhaps forever.
Cuz she was the light above the candle
She brought brightness and hope to your life, but it was fleeting.
You're sometimes dealt more than you can handle
Life can be overwhelming, and sometimes it feels like too much to bear.
So face it, it's never gonna happen
Accept the reality that she is gone and move forward with your life.
Cuz all you want don't matter if you don't believe it
It doesn't matter how badly you want something if you don't think it's possible.
Your world is torn apart
The pain and sorrow of losing her is still raw and all-consuming.
And the room is spinning faster
The overwhelming emotions of losing her are causing everything to feel like it's spinning out of control.
Should've seen it from the start
Hindsight is always 20/20, and now it's clear that there were signs pointing to the inevitable end.
But there is no going backwards
Even if you could go back in time, you cannot change what has already happened.
Contributed by Lucy V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Angela
on Notion
What is the meaning of this song like what's it about
v
on Notion
This songs probably about the belief of a higher being like god. I also believe it’s slightly directing to nihilism, It seems like positive nihilism too.