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)
Lady Liberty
Okkervil River Lyrics
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hall where the singer can wash out their lying eyes, suggesting they have been deceived by their lover. The singer admits they didn't really know the other person at all, and imagines them in a stranger's bed, trying to appear mysterious. The singer addresses Lady Liberty, symbolizing their lover and the values they represent, telling her that while he understands she has felt used and betrayed, he wished she could have extended the same courtesy to him. He suggests she stay with him until she regains her strength to leave, and imagines her questioning whether she should ask his permission to spend the night.
As the song continues, the singer becomes more resigned to the end of the relationship. He tells Lady Liberty not to contact him again because he can't bear to see her insincere words in writing. He reflects on how they had tried to bring their love back to life, but wonders if it was even worth it. The song ends with the singer alone, facing the wall and listening to the sound of his lover's breathing.
This song is likely a reflection of the complexities of relationships and the difficult emotions that come with the end of them. The use of Lady Liberty as a symbol for the lover suggests a sense of national pride and freedom, but also the irony and difficulty of standing for these values in personal relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
You can wash out your lying eyes in the bathroom down the hall.
You can try to wash away the lies you've told me in the bathroom, but they won't disappear.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
I'm not entirely shocked by your behavior.
I guess I didn't know you at all.
You weren't the person I thought you were.
I can picture you inside some stranger's house, inside some stranger's bed - you're trying to seem mysterious, the covers pulled over your head.
I imagine you in someone else's home, trying to be enigmatic while hiding under the covers of their bed.
It's all right, lady liberty, it's just too bad you couldn't do the same for me.
It's okay that you're doing these things, but I wish you had treated me the same way.
You say you've been used, you've been betrayed. Yeah, and that old bed's been newly made.
You claim to have been taken advantage of, but you've clearly moved on to someone else.
You just stick around awhile with me until you're strong enough to leave.
Stay with me for a while until you're able to move on completely.
And I can picture you the first time you decide to spend the night - you wonder if you should give me a call and ask me if it's all right.
I imagine you considering if it's appropriate to spend the night with me, wondering if you should ask permission.
Don't call me or send me any more letters, baby. I just can't stand to see your hand writing things that you don't mean.
Please don't contact me anymore, I don't want to see your handwriting without meaning.
I waited, our faded love growing even more faded.
I waited for our love which was already dissipating, to fade even more.
The shades were down, I faced the wall, and I could hear you breathing.
I turned away from you, hiding my face and closing the curtains so I wouldn't have to see you breathe.
I tried to bring us back to life. I gave my heart so many times. And was it worth it after all?
I did my best to revive our relationship and put my heart on the line more times than I can count. But was it worth it in the end?
There is a bathroom down the hall.
There's a bathroom nearby.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHANNA DEAN HALL, JOHN JOSEPH HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind