The band was formed by two members of Okkervil River, back-up vocalist and accordion/keyboard player Jonathan Meiburg and singer and guitarist Will Sheff, so they could write quieter songs. Beginning in 2005, Sheff lessened his role in the band, leaving Meiburg as the band's songwriter from Palo Santo on.
Band members today include Jonathan Meiburg, Thor Harris, Kim Burke, Lucas Oswald, with many contributions from others. The touring band in 2012 featured producer/drummer Danny Reisch and guitarist/vocalist Mitch Billeaud of The Lemurs and Christiaan Mader of Brass Bed.
To date, Shearwater has released nine full-length albums The Dissolving Room, Everybody Makes Mistakes, Winged Life, Palo Santo, Rook, The Golden Archipelago, Animal Joy, and Jet Plane & Oxbow as well as EPs Thieves and The Snow Leopard, and a split LP with Okkervil River entitled Sham Wedding/Hoax Funeral, as well as an album of covers of former touring partners, Fellow Travelers, released in November 2013.
As an ornithologist and writer, Meiburg has a unique perspective. The songs of Palo Santo were partly written at the Galápagos Islands in the footsteps of Charles Darwin. Rook was influenced by studies in the Falklands Islands and by the current mass extinction we are living through. The Golden Archipelago examined the destruction of island cultures in the 20th century and beyond. Animal Joy returned to more personal concerns; Meiburg stated repeatedly in interviews that the foundational idea is that life is most real when "the blood flows fastest and closest to the surface." Fellow Travelers started as a small home EP and expanded into a full album celebrating relationships with the other bands they've met along the way.
I'm so glad
Shearwater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Such a strong back
Such a hard return
Of the backhand blows
Of life
I know that sometimes
I'm like a stranger
But I'm so glad you reached me
I'm so glad you reached me
I'm so glad
I was a live one
I was a cold light
But you were piercing my heart
With your lucid eye
And I'm so glad you reached me
I'm so glad you reached me
I'm so glad
I'm so glad you reached me
I'm so glad you reached me
I'm so glad
You reached me
The lyrics of Shearwater's song "I'm So Glad" express deep gratitude and appreciation towards someone who has been a supportive presence in the singer's life. The opening lines describe this person as having a "loud voice" and a "strong back," suggesting that they are a powerful and steadfast presence in the singer's life. However, the subsequent lines reveal that life has dealt the singer some rough blows - perhaps a reference to difficult experiences or relationships - and this supportive person has been there to help them weather the storms.
The second verse introduces a note of vulnerability as the singer describes themselves as sometimes feeling like a "stranger" and hiding from others. However, the chorus returns with the refrain "I'm so glad you reached me," which seems to suggest that this supportive person has been able to connect with the singer and bring them out of their isolation. The final lines of the song repeat the refrain with an almost breathless urgency, as if emphasizing the profound depth of the singer's gratitude and sense of relief for this meaningful connection.
Overall, the song portrays the journey of finding someone who is there for you in times of adversity and the sense of gratitude that can arise from being met with empathy and support.
Line by Line Meaning
You're such a loud voice
You have a powerful presence that demands attention
Such a strong back
You possess strength and support, both physical and emotional
Such a hard return
You deliver forceful responses to the difficulties of life
Of the backhand blows
You effortlessly deflect the harshness of life with your resilience
I know that sometimes
I am aware that at times
I'm like a stranger
I feel disconnected and unknown
And I hide myself from everyone
I withdraw and isolate myself from others
But I'm so glad you reached me
I am grateful that you made an effort to connect with me
I was a live one
I was once full of vitality and energy
I was a cold light
But my life lacked warmth and depth
But you were piercing my heart
Your genuine care and attention touched me deeply
With your lucid eye
You saw through my façade and understood me
I'm so glad you reached me
I am truly grateful that you took the effort to connect with me
You reached me
Your efforts to connect with me were successful and they mean so much to me
Contributed by Kaylee C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ayadiefair
Isolation brought me here.
Liked the song. :D
@gailgrant5126
this song is worth listening again and again............
@darlenepayne9761
I can’t live without listening it more than once
@gravehumangenuine
Great song!!!
@llamadan40
i freakin' love the reverb actually..
@StevenQSchwartz
The reverb is my fault, but it doesn't take away from the song really. :)