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)
Song Of Our So-Called Friend
Okkervil River Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now he isn't on the phone, and his story might as well be so.
Well, loving is as loving does, and I'd say we should know, because we both have loved, have lost, and are alone. Your face's falling tears, to me they're lovely and they're dear, though you don't love me and it's clear that I will never see you in my arms. There's no room in your heart for even this finely-sharpened dart; although I had started to think there might be hope, it isn't so.
So wake up, make up some new song again around the same tune. The water cools, the leaves they fall, the sun it bends, the summer ends; our so-called friend doesn't need you.
So proceed out the door and down the street. December's lying near, but in the oven's heat this house is now a home. Sixty days of trips and stays you took to tell me, dear, that you cannot love me because you secretly still love a stone. Although I put my lips to your face, trying to push his kiss out of its place, although my heart started to race, now it has slowed, I'll let it go.
The lyrics of Okkervil River's Song Of Our So-Called Friend express themes of unrequited love and betrayal. The song is written from the perspective of someone who has feelings for another person but knows they will never be returned. The lyrics describe a situation where a third party, a so-called friend, has caused trouble, but the person being addressed at the start of the song forgave the friend anyway. The song suggests that the friend's actions were motivated by a desire to control how his actions were perceived.
The lyrics go on to describe the pain felt by the person being addressed, who is still in love with someone who cannot return those feelings. Despite this, the singer still finds the tears of the person he loves to be beautiful. The song suggests that the singer still hopes to make a connection with the person he loves, but ultimately he must accept that it is not possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when our so-called friend would not call out to you while tumbling loosely out a hole punched through your home?
Do you remember when that friend of ours didn't even yell out to you when he fell out of your house? It's obvious that you heard him, but you realized that he would tell the story his way and not yours.
It's pretty clear, though you could hear, you truly finally knew, in time, he'd tell his tale the way he'd like it told.
You knew that the story would be told in his own way, even though you heard everything.
Now he isn't on the phone, and his story might as well be so.
He's not talking to you anymore, and his story might as well be forgotten.
Well, loving is as loving does, and I'd say we should know, because we both have loved, have lost, and are alone.
Since we've both loved and lost, and are now alone, we know that loving is an action, not just a feeling.
Your face's falling tears, to me they're lovely and they're dear, though you don't love me and it's clear that I will never see you in my arms.
Although you don't love me, I still find your tears beautiful, even though I know that I'll never be able to hold you.
There's no room in your heart for even this finely-sharpened dart; although I had started to think there might be hope, it isn't so.
Even though I thought there was a chance, there's no way that you have any space left in your heart for me.
So wake up, make up some new song again around the same tune.
Let's create a new song, even if it follows the same pattern as before.
The water cools, the leaves they fall, the sun it bends, the summer ends; our so-called friend doesn't need you.
The seasons change and time passes by, and our friend who betrayed you no longer has any importance in your life.
So proceed out the door and down the street.
Just walk out the door and leave this behind.
December's lying near, but in the oven's heat this house is now a home.
Even though winter is approaching, this house is still warm and welcoming.
Sixty days of trips and stays you took to tell me, dear, that you cannot love me because you secretly still love a stone.
You spent sixty days with me, only to reveal that you can't love me because you still secretly love someone else who doesn't even reciprocate that love.
Although I put my lips to your face, trying to push his kiss out of its place, although my heart started to race, now it has slowed, I'll let it go.
Even though I tried to kiss you and forget about the person you still love, my heart has finally slowed down and I am ready to move on from this.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
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