Their signature style is dreamy slow songs, with beautiful melodies.
The original band, including Mike Bitts (bass), and Steve Brown (drums), was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the early 80s when the members met during a Catholic school production of Godspell. Although all members of the band have contributed musically, Karen Peris does most of the group's writing.
Their eponymous debut album, released in 1989 (A&M Records), was produced by Larry Klein, then-husband of Joni Mitchell, and recorded in the couple’s basement recording studio. The album peaked on the Billboard charts at #167 in 1990, and the album’s second track, "Black Sheep Wall", released as a single in 1989, peaked at #22 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks. The album’s fifth track, "Clear to You", was used on the soundtrack of the pilot episode of Beverly Hills 90210. Klein also produced their 1991 follow up, Umbrella.
Their third and final A&M album, Glow, released in 1995 (A&M Records), Was produced by Dennis Herring, who had previously produced two records for Camper Van Beethoven. This album is a departure from Klein's heavier production style. Whereas the first two releases may have brought to mind The Sundays and The Cocteau Twins with their moody keyboards, Herring's lighter touch gave more emphasis to the group's guitar work and to Karen's vocals and lyrics.
Glow contains songs that appear on the soundtracks of the films Empire Records, and Dream for an Insomniac, as well as the television series Party of Five. The album’s second track, Bright as Yellow, peaked on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks at #33.
In 1999 the band recorded for a new label, Badman. Additionally, drummer Steve Brown left the band to pursue a career as a chef. On the subsequent album, Birds of My Neighborhood, Brown played drums and brushes on "Snow," but otherwise the group became a trio. Now bereft of drums, their sound took an even more acoustic direction. Some songs featured just Don and Karen, and a few, such as "She May Turn Around," featured only Karen's voice and instrumentation.
The 2000 release of Christ is My Hope, featuring religious music that had inspired them over the years, was independently released on their own website. Small Planes, released in 2001, featured outtakes from Glow and Birds of My Neighborhood. 2003's Befriended was their next "regular" album.
In 2004, the Innocence Mission released Now the Day is Over, a collection of lullabies. Except for "My Love Goes With You," all songs are cover versions, such as a stripped-down vocal and piano rendition of Henry Mancini's Moon River,
The Innocence Mission's new album We Walked in Song was released March 13, 2007.
And Hiding Away
The Innocence Mission Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
for the thoughts that flap and fly.
For staying in and reading by.
For sitting under.
I read a book of Madeline
and her friends in two straight lines,
in Paris, in a house with vines
over its old face.
Far, far is Paris...
and the sky is dark with mystery.
Try, catch the thoughts that flap and fly
in the cloudy, tearing sky,
that touch and stir and won't be tied-
and try to speak them.
I think of my old Flower Sky.
Of us, when we thought we were spies.
Of bobbing eggs in Easter dyes.
Of walks in London.
Try, try to hold my love for you,
it knows no measure.
This is a day for hearing bagpipes
somewhere playing.
This is a day for hearing sarabands
and hiding away.
Sky, I hold my tears if you do.
Starling thoughts, go over me.
The Innocence Mission's "And Hiding Away" is a whimsical and wistful song that captures the beauty and mystery of everyday life. The lyrics are a reflection of the singer's thoughts as they gaze up at the cloudy, tearing sky. The sky is a source of inspiration for the singer, as it is the place where thoughts and memories "flap and fly." The song's first verse speaks of the singer's appreciation for the sky's ability to evoke feelings of comfort and introspection.
The second verse of the song is a nod to Madeline, a popular children's book character who lived in Paris. The singer recalls reading about Madeline and her friends and imagines them living in a house with vines over its old face. The lyrics convey a sense of longing for something far away and mysterious, a feeling that is echoed in the song's refrain: "Try to catch the thoughts that flap and fly / in the cloudy, tearing sky."
The final verse of the song is a nostalgic reflection on the past, specifically on memories of the singer's old Flower Sky. The lyrics mention the singer's experiences of feeling like a spy and of dying Easter eggs. The verse ends with the plea to "try to hold my love for you, it knows no measure," a testament to the singer's deep feelings of love and devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
I prize the cloudy, tearing sky
I value the cloudy, teary sky
for the thoughts that flap and fly.
Because it inspires my imagination
For staying in and reading by.
For staying in and reading on a lazy day
For sitting under.
For sitting under the cloudy sky
I read a book of Madeline
I read a book about Madeline
and her friends in two straight lines,
About her friends standing in a line
in Paris, in a house with vines
In a Parisian house covered in vines
over its old face.
Covering up the signs of aging on the building's facade
Far, far is Paris...
Paris is far away
and the sky is dark with mystery.
The sky in the distance looks dark and full of secrets
Try, catch the thoughts that flap and fly
Try to capture the thoughts that come to mind
in the cloudy, tearing sky,
Inspired by the cloudy, teary sky
that touch and stir and won't be tied-
That stimulate and move me, and can't be contained
and try to speak them.
And try to express them
I think of my old Flower Sky.
I think about my past and reminisce over it
Of us, when we thought we were spies.
Of when we imagined ourselves as spy characters
Of bobbing eggs in Easter dyes.
Of decorating Easter eggs
Of walks in London.
Of walking through the streets of London
Try, try to hold my love for you,
Try, try to hold on to my love for you
it knows no measure.
It cannot be measured or contained
This is a day for hearing bagpipes
This is a good day for hearing bagpipes
somewhere playing.
If one can hear the pipes being played
This is a day for hearing sarabands
This is a good day for hearing sarabands
and hiding away.
And hiding away from the world
Sky, I hold my tears if you do.
I will refrain from crying if you do not witness me
Starling thoughts, go over me.
I have many thoughts passing through my mind.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD CHARLES JR. PERIS, KAREN PERIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind