Their signature style is dreamy slow songs, with beautiful melodies.
The original band, including Mike Bitts (bass), and Steve Brown (drums), was formed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the early 80s when the members met during a Catholic school production of Godspell. Although all members of the band have contributed musically, Karen Peris does most of the group's writing.
Their eponymous debut album, released in 1989 (A&M Records), was produced by Larry Klein, then-husband of Joni Mitchell, and recorded in the couple’s basement recording studio. The album peaked on the Billboard charts at #167 in 1990, and the album’s second track, "Black Sheep Wall", released as a single in 1989, peaked at #22 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks. The album’s fifth track, "Clear to You", was used on the soundtrack of the pilot episode of Beverly Hills 90210. Klein also produced their 1991 follow up, Umbrella.
Their third and final A&M album, Glow, released in 1995 (A&M Records), Was produced by Dennis Herring, who had previously produced two records for Camper Van Beethoven. This album is a departure from Klein's heavier production style. Whereas the first two releases may have brought to mind The Sundays and The Cocteau Twins with their moody keyboards, Herring's lighter touch gave more emphasis to the group's guitar work and to Karen's vocals and lyrics.
Glow contains songs that appear on the soundtracks of the films Empire Records, and Dream for an Insomniac, as well as the television series Party of Five. The album’s second track, Bright as Yellow, peaked on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks at #33.
In 1999 the band recorded for a new label, Badman. Additionally, drummer Steve Brown left the band to pursue a career as a chef. On the subsequent album, Birds of My Neighborhood, Brown played drums and brushes on "Snow," but otherwise the group became a trio. Now bereft of drums, their sound took an even more acoustic direction. Some songs featured just Don and Karen, and a few, such as "She May Turn Around," featured only Karen's voice and instrumentation.
The 2000 release of Christ is My Hope, featuring religious music that had inspired them over the years, was independently released on their own website. Small Planes, released in 2001, featured outtakes from Glow and Birds of My Neighborhood. 2003's Befriended was their next "regular" album.
In 2004, the Innocence Mission released Now the Day is Over, a collection of lullabies. Except for "My Love Goes With You," all songs are cover versions, such as a stripped-down vocal and piano rendition of Henry Mancini's Moon River,
The Innocence Mission's new album We Walked in Song was released March 13, 2007.
Now in This Hush
The Innocence Mission Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Am I going silent now?
O have I overnight been emptied?
If I could call these thoughts to come
To stand on this paper
I could read what I mean
May I? May I?
Now I seem to come apart, to sink
Inside this overwhelming
What can I do?
What have I made of all of these new days?
And forgive my despair
Where is color this hour?
Where is music this hour?
Are they still going on somewhere?
But where now, in this hush?
Where are words in this hush?
And what am I?
O bless us
For we give our hearts to fear
For so we give our minds to worry
If I could brush this sorrow dust
From off of our faces
And see our joy again
May I? May I?
O let us make a joyful noise resound
O let us make a noise and hear it
The Innocence Mission's "Now in This Hush" is a song that encapsulates the feeling of being lost and overwhelmed. The lyrics are introspective and filled with a sense of longing for clarity and understanding. The song begins with the singer questioning whether they have suddenly gone silent, and whether they have been emptied overnight. The themes of emptiness and isolation continue throughout the song, with the singer asking where color, music, and words are in the hush.
The second verse of the song takes on a more communal tone, with the singer asking for a blessing for "us." They note that fear and worry have taken hold of our hearts and minds, and long for the sorrow to be dusted away so that joy can be found again. The song ends with a call to make a joyful noise, to create something that we can hear and take comfort in.
Overall, this song speaks to the universal feeling of being lost and disconnected from the world around us. It acknowledges the struggle of trying to find meaning in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming and devoid of color and sound.
Line by Line Meaning
O bless me
A plea for guidance
Am I going silent now?
Questioning her own voice or testimony
O have I overnight been emptied?
Wondering if she has lost her passion or purpose
If I could call these thoughts to come
Expressing a desire to control her thoughts and emotions
To stand on this paper
To express her thoughts in a tangible, visible way
I could read what I mean
To find meaning and understanding in her own thoughts
May I? May I?
Requesting permission to do so
Now I seem to come apart, to sink
Feeling overwhelmed and lost
Inside this overwhelming
Being consumed by negative thoughts and emotions
What can I do?
Feeling helpless and unsure of how to proceed
What have I made of all of these new days?
Questioning the value and purpose of recent experiences
And forgive my despair
Acknowledging her despair and asking for forgiveness
Where is color this hour?
Searching for beauty and joy in the present moment
Where is music this hour?
Searching for inspiration and comfort through music
Are they still going on somewhere?
Wondering if beauty and inspiration still exist somewhere
But where now, in this hush?
Questioning if peace and quiet can bring clarity and understanding
Where are words in this hush?
Questioning if words are necessary for understanding and communication
And what am I?
Questioning her own identity and purpose
O bless us
A plea for guidance for all
For we give our hearts to fear
Acknowledging the negative impact of fear on our lives
For so we give our minds to worry
Recognizing the link between fear and worry
If I could brush this sorrow dust
Desiring to remove grief and sadness
From off of our faces
To free ourselves from the negative impact of sadness
And see our joy again
To rediscover the positive aspects of life
O let us make a joyful noise resound
Encouraging celebration and happiness
O let us make a noise and hear it
Encouraging self-expression and celebration
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
D.R.
Lyrics:
Oh, bless me, am I going silent now?
Oh, have I overnight been emptied?
If I could call these thoughts to come, to stand on this paper
I could read what I mean, may I? May I?
Oh, bless me, now I seem to come apart, to sink
Inside this overwhelming, what can I do?
What have I made of all of these new days?
And forgive my despair
Where is color this hour? Where is music this hour?
Are they still going on somewhere?
But where now, in this hush?
Where are words in this hush? And what am I?
Oh, bless us for we give our hearts to fear
For so we give our minds to worry
If I could brush this sorrow dust from off of our faces
And see our joy again, may I? May I?
Oh, let us make a joyful noise resound
Oh, let us make a noise and hear it
Kali Bonoz
If the innocence mission doesn't move to tears so much as soaking your t-shirt then you aren't human. The last minute of this masterpiece is so moving when she sings hey,hey hi, hi over the multi layering guitars you can't help but feel it in your heart.its so syrapy and pretty.i just don't want it to end.this is magic.
Rj wije
Karen's voice is beyond belief, honest, pure, child like amazement in all it's incredible wonder
D.R.
Lyrics:
Oh, bless me, am I going silent now?
Oh, have I overnight been emptied?
If I could call these thoughts to come, to stand on this paper
I could read what I mean, may I? May I?
Oh, bless me, now I seem to come apart, to sink
Inside this overwhelming, what can I do?
What have I made of all of these new days?
And forgive my despair
Where is color this hour? Where is music this hour?
Are they still going on somewhere?
But where now, in this hush?
Where are words in this hush? And what am I?
Oh, bless us for we give our hearts to fear
For so we give our minds to worry
If I could brush this sorrow dust from off of our faces
And see our joy again, may I? May I?
Oh, let us make a joyful noise resound
Oh, let us make a noise and hear it
dj esteban
Yes....I don't know when this album was made, but I picked it up because of the cover. One of the BEST albums EVER made. From Pennsylvania? She ranks up there with Elizabeth Fraser and Natalie Merchant!
Dustin Cotter
Remember hearing this song in the early 90s? .. Karen hit me like a ton of bricks.... wow!
The intonation and Holy Spirit inspired lyrics coupled with your voice is too much!! It still hits in 2019!
Hope to meet you all again someday! Peace be with You Karen, Don and Mike!
Ritzy's Garage
one evening back in 1988 I accompanied a friend who was going to Temple U. in Philadelphia to this small informal 'thing' on campus - and at some point, Karen's voice started emanating from behind a piano, as the formative years Innocence Mission started playing some of their songs. I can attest: 2 verses in, I was completely mesmerized by Karen's voice - and I've been a fan ever since. They're simply magical in person.
zyzzyvavils
One, of the many things that make her lyrics so wonderful, is her complete honesty. You feel her living through these songs. Umbrella has always been my favorite album by them. It's such a mood album, capturing and holding it 'till the very end. Karen Peris is a very special person!
Toine Claessen
Amazing song that I just discovered! A sound that resembles that of The Sundays which I was / am a big fan of.
Pipe Choir
Why this song was not a radio hit single one may never know...it has everything...
zyzzyvavils
I read an interview about this song and this album from Innocent Mission. I remember Karen saying that this song was about her having writer's block and not being able to find the lyrics: now in this hush; am I going silent now; have I overnight been emptied; where are words in this hush. That's what she is referring too.
The sad part is she also said she didn't like this album (Umbrella) very much. It is her least favorite. She felt it was over produced and too layered. The producer was Larry Klein. I couldn't disagree more. I love every song on this record. I think it is their best, and I think Karen Peris's lyrics are so meaningful and deep on every song on this record. The music is beautiful. Everything about this record is perfect. I also wish they would bring back Steve Brown as the drummer. I really think their music lost something when they parted way.