Paint's Peeling

Rilo Kiley · The Execution Of All Things [2002]

The paint's peeling off the streets again

And I drive and I close my eyes in Michigan.

And I feel nothing, not brave.

It's a hard day for breathing again,.



The heat is chasing off all your friends

And their scattered bodies part to the shore again.

And I feel nothing, not sane.

It's a hard day for dreaming again,.



I'm not going back to the assholes that made me

And the perfect display of random acts of hopelessness.

I wish I could stay here but I think we're all ready.

I think we're all ready,.



And I feel nothing, not safe.

It's a hard day for dreaming again,.



Now that you've seen almost all of America,

All you can say is, "where is all the water?"

And the war has been over for years since you gave up.

And last night, where the road had started

And last night, when my hands were choking you.

Last night, when the room and your mood was dipping

And last night, when the ropes were pulling you in,.

You said, "Hey, how could you love me this way?"

You said, "Hey, I think we're all ready,."

I think we're all ready.

Paint's Peeling

From Rilo Kiley's 2002 album The Execution Of All Things, "Paint's Peeling" stands as a defining track of the band's mid-career evolution. The song blends the group's signature indie-folk sound with a more polished, radio-ready production that marked a shift from their earlier raw acoustic style. Lyrically, the track explores themes of impermanence and the passage of time, using the metaphor of deteriorating paint to reflect on changing relationships and memories. Released during a period where Rilo Kiley was navigating the transition from underground darlings to mainstream indie darlings, the recording captures a specific moment in late 90s/early 2000s alternative rock. Its enduring appeal lies in its melancholic yet melodic structure, which has cemented its place in the band's discography as a quintessential example of their songwriting maturity.