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)
Savannah Smiles
Okkervil River Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn't know what it might be 'til it was open
I only read one page and then put it away
Talk about your big mistakes, hey, Shan, nice going
Photos show no tears, in her eyes
All those pretty years gone by
I just cannot believe, could do that to a child
Shannon just flew down, four days back in town
She sleeps and lies around and then she goes up
And then one day she's gone, what should I have done?
Joe turns the TV on with all the lights out
Photos on the wall
She's my baby, she's my baby doll
Is she someone I don't know at all?
Is she someone I betrayed?
It's a great day in the fall
And the radio's singing down the hall
And I rise to turn it off ?cause all I'm seeing is her face
Age eight, eight
The lyrics of Okkervil River's song Savannah Smiles describe a haunting and painful story of betrayal and tragedy. The singer, likely a parental figure, discovers his daughter Shan's diary and finds out about her big mistakes, which he could not believe she could do to a child. The lyrics also talk about Shan's photos hanging on the wall, and how the singer cannot recognize the person she has become. Meanwhile, Shannon, presumably the same child, visited town for four days, sleeping and lying around before disappearing without a trace. The lyrics contain a sense of loss, regret, and shame, as the singer reflects on his past actions and their impact on his family.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight late last week, my daughter's diary
Late at night, last week, I found my daughter's diary.
Didn't know what it might be 'til it was open
I wasn't sure what it was until I opened it.
I only read one page and then put it away
I only read one page before I stopped and put it aside.
Talk about your big mistakes, hey, Shan, nice going
The page I read was about a big mistake that Shannon made, and I am disappointed.
Photos show no tears, in her eyes
Looking at old photos of Shannon, I see that she wasn't crying in them.
All those pretty years gone by
It's sad to think about how many years have passed since those happy times in the photos.
I just cannot believe, could do that to a child
I'm having a hard time believing that Shannon could have done something so bad to a child.
A child, a child
I keep thinking about the innocent child who was hurt.
Shannon just flew down, four days back in town
Shannon recently came to visit for four days.
She sleeps and lies around and then she goes up
Most of the time, Shannon just sleeps and lounges around.
And then one day she's gone, what should I have done?
Suddenly, Shannon is gone and I'm left wondering what I could have done differently.
Joe turns the TV on with all the lights out
To distract himself from these thoughts, Joe turns on the TV in a dark room.
Photos on the wall
Looking at the photos on the wall brings back memories and emotions.
She's my baby, she's my baby doll
Shannon will always be my little girl, no matter what mistakes she has made.
Is she someone I don't know at all?
Despite knowing her for so long, I still wonder if there's a side to Shannon that I don't know about.
Is she someone I betrayed?
Perhaps I contributed to Shannon's poor choices in some way, and I feel guilty for that.
It's a great day in the fall
The present day is beautiful and cheerful, despite Joe's inner turmoil.
And the radio's singing down the hall
The sound of music wafts through the house, almost taunting Joe with its carefree attitude.
And I rise to turn it off 'cause all I'm seeing is her face
The memories brought up by the music are too strong for Joe to handle, so he stands up to turn it off.
Age eight, eight
The memory that Joe is dwelling on is when Shannon was just eight years old.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: WILL ROBINSON SHEFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind