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)
The Latest Toughs
Okkervil River Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, I woke up on a foggy morning. Hiding from the sun, he was hiding from the sun. But it came out and it shot its rays down. Burning everyone, it was burning everyone. But they were dying, anyway, to turn to ash, to feel their feelings flash and finally fade away, in a fabulous and fiery display.
Look, though, I don't know what notes you want to hear played, I can't think what lines you'd like me to sing or say, and I'm not sure what subjects you want mentioned. So pause and add your own intentions. We've included a form you can print out and fill out and send below:
All the latest toughs, well, we have seen that stuff, and we have seen enough blood in dying coughs, which means that we have lost. We have lost, and if you're crying to be tossed they'll toss you down the oubliette with all the old things that you let yourself forget because you'd like to love a star who'd throw you down below the ground he thinks you are.
The lyrics to Okkervil River's The Latest Toughs seem to be a warning against blindly following popular or powerful figures without questioning their motives or seeking proof of their claims. The "latest toughs" could be interpreted as these powerful figures who may try to lead people astray with their catchy refrains, leading them to their slaughter without a second thought. The line about needing proof even though the truth has been told ten thousand times speaks to the importance of critical thinking and not simply accepting what we're told without questioning it.
In the second verse, the imagery of the sun burning everyone could represent the harsh realities of life or the consequences of blindly following these toughs without questioning their intentions. The idea of dying to turn to ash could symbolize the ultimate sacrifice we make by blindly following others, only to have our individuality and agency burn away into nothingness.
The final verse seems to encourage listeners to take control of their own lives and intentions. The singer acknowledges that they can't know what their audience wants to hear or say, but instead urges them to add their own intentions and fill out the form provided. This could represent the importance of individuality and finding one's own unique path in life, rather than following the crowd.
Line by Line Meaning
All the latest toughs, you've got to shrug them off or shut them off.
New challenges or obstacles will arise, but you must learn to either overcome them or ignore them completely.
With ten-thousand-time-told truths, you've still got to ask for proof.
Even if something has been presented as truth many times over, it is important to question and seek proof for yourself.
Ask for proof, because if you're dying to be led they'll lead you up the hill in chains to their popular refrains until your slaughter's been arranged, my little lamb, and it's much too late to talk the knife out of their hands.
If you blindly follow without questioning, you may end up being led to your demise with no chance to turn back.
Well, I woke up on a foggy morning. Hiding from the sun, he was hiding from the sun. But it came out and it shot its rays down. Burning everyone, it was burning everyone. But they were dying, anyway, to turn to ash, to feel their feelings flash and finally fade away, in a fabulous and fiery display.
Sometimes we hide from challenges, but eventually they will catch up to us and may even bring about our demise in a dramatic fashion.
Look, though, I don't know what notes you want to hear played, I can't think what lines you'd like me to sing or say, and I'm not sure what subjects you want mentioned. So pause and add your own intentions.
It is important to take ownership of what you want to express and not rely on others to dictate what you should say or how you should say it.
All the latest toughs, well, we have seen that stuff, and we have seen enough blood in dying coughs, which means that we have lost. We have lost, and if you're crying to be tossed they'll toss you down the oubliette with all the old things that you let yourself forget because you'd like to love a star who'd throw you down below the ground he thinks you are.
We have experienced enough struggles and losses to know that blindly following those who may not have our best interests at heart will only lead to further pain and suffering.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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2020 I’m into rap but I’m here for the aestheticism, wonderful sounds, and relatable lyrics.
blittlewill
Love this one. To me, the song it's about emancipation.
2D Ronin
I'm really really into music and i listen to music from pop to classic to rock to indie to electro. But the lyrics of this song are so fucking great. It's one of my favorite songs of all time.
clagratrix
Love this song too. Plus, oubliette? Awesome.
Steven Spoerl
@Willzibob In multiple interviews Will's stated that while writing this he had an overwhelming desire to be semi-pretensious in lyric and cited that word choice as a specific example. Personally, I love it - and this remains one of my all-time favorite albums.
Willzibob
"An oubliette (from the French oubliettes - plural noun, literally "forgotten places") was a form of dungeon which was accessible only from a hatch in a high ceiling." Pretty obscure lyric but <3
vinyl hedgehog
i literally only know the meaning of that word because of the movie Labyrinth <3
clagratrix
Don't forget the spikes. Horrible! Awesome :)
Laubotje
good job thank u very very very much
Travis Keller
and my favorite section of the song :D