The band self-released their first album, Stars Too Small to Use, which led them to the South by Southwest music festival. After recording their first album in a garage, they signed with Jagjaguwar. Okkervil River continued by releasing four more albums, including critically lauded concept album Black Sheep Boy.
After a period of touring for Black Sheep Boy, Okkervil River followed up with The Stage Names. The album sold 10,000 in its opening week in the United States. The group released a free covers album, Golden Opportunities Mixtape from their live performances.
The band has garnered positive critical reception. Especially noted are each song's lyrics, intricate instrumentation, and thematic albums. In addition, they were featured on the talk show Late Night with Conan O'Brien and have performed with high profile bands such as The Decemberists, The New Pornographers, The National, and Lou Reed.
Okkervil River released their most recent album The Silver Gymnasium on September 3, 2013.
Discography:
* 1998 Bedroom EP – Jound
* 1999 Stars Too Small to Use - Jound
* 2002 Don't Fall in Love with Everyone You See - Jagjaguwar
* 2003 Down the River of Golden Dreams - Jagjaguwar
* 2003 Julie Doiron/Okkervil River (A split CD with Julie Dorion) - Acuarela
* 2004 Sleep and Wake-Up Songs (EP) - Jagjaguwar
* 2004 Sham Wedding/Hoax Funeral (A split CD with Shearwater) - Jagjaguwar
* 2005 Black Sheep Boy - Jagjaguwar
* 2005 Black Sheep Boy Appendix (EP) - Jagjaguwar
* 2006 Overboard and Down (EP) – Inertia, Australia-only tour EP
* 2007 The Stage Names - Jagjaguwar
* 2008 The Stand-Ins - Jagjaguwar
* 2011 I Am Very Far - Jagjaguwar
* 2013 The Silver Gymnasium - ATO Records
* 2016 Away - ATO Records
* 2018 In The Rainbow Rain - ATO Records
Current band members:
* Will Sheff - acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica (keyboard occasionally)
* Travis Nelsen - drums, misc. percussion
* Scott Brackett - trumpet, coronet, keyboards, organ, tape player, misc. percussion
* Patrick Pestorius - bass, piano, woodblocks
* Justin Sherburn - keys, guitar
* Lauren Gurgiolo - electric guitar, pedal steel, mandolin
Past band members:
* Seth Warren - guitar
* Zachary Thomas - vocals, bass
* Jonathan Meiburg - vocals, banjo, guitar, accordion, piano, organ
* Mark Pedini - drums
* Brian Cassidy - electric guitar, pedal steel, mandolin, melodica (keyboard and accordion when on tour without Jonathan)
A Glow
Okkervil River Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come into the den
You've got a glow
You've got a glow
Climb into my arms
With blood on your clothes
You've got a glow
And you're no ones but mine
And nobody knows
The lane where he's lying
No heat in his bones.
No heart that was mine
No hand that I'd hold
And you've got a glow
You've got a glow
And there's no escaping
The thing that is making its home
In your radio
Your light and alive
You're lithe and you're strong
And you've wanted to do that, my love
For so long
My live and dead men
Come into the den.
You've got a glow
You've got a glow.
No heart that was mine
No hand that I'd hold
And you've got a glow
You've got a glow
In Okkervil River's song "A Glow," the lyrics describe a person entering into a den with another person who has a glowing quality about them. The second stanza reveals that the person has blood on their clothes, indicating that they may have been in danger or involved in something risky. However, the glow on this person seems to attract the attention and affection of the other person, who declares that the glowing person is their own.
The lyrics also mention a lane where someone is lying without heat in their bones. This could be interpreted as a person who has passed away, and the first person is acknowledging that they are not theirs to hold, unlike the glowing person. The third stanza talks about the thing that is making its home in their radio, which could be interpreted as a metaphorical representation of the hard-to-ignore pull the glowing person has on them.
The final stanza brings in the element of live and dead people entering into the den, which could also be interpreted as someone finding solace or comfort in something that is not fully understood by others. Overall, the lyrics indicate a strong attraction between two people, with one having a captivating and almost otherworldly quality about them.
Line by Line Meaning
Come into the den
Come closer to me, into my intimate space
You've got a glow
You emit a bright, fascinating light that draws my attention and interest
Climb into my arms
Show me that you need my protection, care and love
With blood on your clothes
You've been through a traumatic and violent experience
And you're no ones but mine
You belong to me, you're my exclusive possession
And nobody knows
Our love is hidden and secret to the outside world
The lane where he's lying
The place where a third person is currently resting or sleeping
No heat in his bones
The third person is dead and has no signs of life anymore
No heart that was mine
The third person had no emotional connection or significance to me
No hand that I'd hold
The third person was not someone I cared for or had any personal attachment to
And there's no escaping
You can't avoid or ignore something that is present and looming
The thing that is making its home
An idea, feeling or situation that has settled down and become familiar
In your radio
An imagery that represents a constant source of noise, distraction or interference
Your light and alive
You are vibrant, full of energy and vitality
You're lithe and you're strong
You possess agility, flexibility and power
And you've wanted to do that, my love
You've expressed a desire or a goal that I can help you achieve
For so long
You've been wishing or waiting for a long time
My live and dead men
The people who have influenced, loved or hurt me in life and death
Come into the den.
Enter my private space and share my secrets and emotions
You've got a glow
You have something special and intriguing that captivates me
You've got a glow
You have a unique quality or aura that attracts and fascinates me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRADLEY JAMES FAFARA, MIGUEL RASCON, MIKE COX, RAYNA FOSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind