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.
On Your Side
The Innocence Mission Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
we are mapping songs on the evening walls.
We put many trees.
We keep many leaves
on the sidewalks.
Some days we are not sure where we're going,
how we will arrive.
Some days we don't know where we have gone.
I'm always on your side,
your side.
In my dream
I would be in Paris with my mom.
In cafes she would sip coffee,
she would be smiling on.
She'd say, I never have let you out of my sight,
I have not gone.
She'd say, The light is bright around you now,
and I'm always on your side.
I'm always on your side,
your side.
Going on for a very long time.
Going on for a very long time.
Going on, going on, going on,
on your side.
Some days we don't know where we have gone,
but I'm always on your side,
I'm always on your side,
on your side.
The Innocence Mission's song "On Your Side" is a poignant and reflective piece that speaks to the solid and unwavering nature of love and support. The opening lines, "In this house we are mapping songs on the evening walls," paint a vivid image of a home that is filled with creativity and expression. The mention of putting up trees and keeping leaves on the sidewalk signifies a connection to nature and an appreciation for beauty in everyday life.
The next verse explores the idea of uncertainty and the fear of getting lost. The singer acknowledges that there are days when they may not know where they're going or where they've ended up, but despite this, they assert their loyalty and commitment to their loved one by saying "I'm always on your side." The song then shifts to a dream sequence where the singer envisions being in Paris with their mother, who is proud and supportive of their journey. The last line, "Going on for a very long time," repeats multiple times, emphasizing the lasting nature of this steadfast love and support.
Overall, "On Your Side" is a tender and reassuring song that encourages listeners to find comfort in their connections with others and reminds them that they are never truly alone.
Line by Line Meaning
In this house we are mapping songs on the evening walls.
In our home, we create an atmosphere of artistic expression where we decorate the walls with the melodies we create.
We put many trees. We keep many leaves on the sidewalks.
We plant trees and allow the beauty of their leaves to brighten the path we and others walk on.
Some days we are not sure where we're going, how we will arrive.
Occasionally, we feel lost and unsure of our direction, and ponder how we will reach our destination.
Some days we don't know where we have gone.
There are times where we feel aimless and unsure of where we've ended up.
But I'm always on your side. I'm always on your side, your side.
Regardless of what happens, I will always support and stand by you, no matter what side you may be on.
In my dream I would be in Paris with my mom.
I have a dream of being in Paris with my mother.
In cafes she would sip coffee, she would be smiling on.
I picture my mother enjoying coffee in a cozy cafe with a smile on her face.
She'd say, I never have let you out of my sight, I have not gone.
If my mother were here, she would reassure me that she has always been watching over me and never truly left me.
She'd say, The light is bright around you now, and I'm always on your side.
My mother would remind me of the positive energy that surrounds me and reinforce her commitment to always support me.
Going on for a very long time. Going on for a very long time. Going on, going on, going on, on your side.
Despite the ups and downs we face, we'll persist together indefinitely and remain a strong team to overcome any obstacle.
Some days we don't know where we have gone, but I'm always on your side, I'm always on your side, on your side.
Even if we lose our way, I'll always be there to provide unwavering support and guidance for you on whichever side you need me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Karen Peris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Katerina Ma
On Your Side
In this house
we are mapping songs on the evening walls.
We put many trees.
We keep many leaves
on the sidewalks.
Some days we are not sure where we're going,
how we will arrive.
Some days we don't know where we have gone.
But I'm always on your side.
I'm always on your side,
your side.
In my dream
I would be in Paris with my mom.
In cafes she would sip coffee,
she would be smiling on.
She'd say, I never have let you out of my sight,
I have not gone.
She'd say, The light is bright around you now,
and I'm always on your side.
I'm always on your side,
your side.
Going on for a very long time.
Going on for a very long time.
Going on, going on, going on,
on your side.
Some days we don't know where we have gone,
but I'm always on your side,
I'm always on your side,
on your side
Lucas Lima
In this house
We are mapping songs on the evening walls
We put many trees
We keep many leaves
On the sidewalks
Some days we are not sure where we're going
How we will arrive
Some days we don't know where we have gone
I'm always on your side
I'm always on your side
I'm always on your side
Your side
In my dream
I would be in Paris with my mom
In cafes she would sip coffee
She would be smiling on
She'd say, I never have let you out of my sight
I have not gone
She'd say, The light is bright around you now
And I'm always on your side
I'm always on your side
I'm always on your side
Your side
Going on, going on for a very long time
Going on, going on for a very long time
Going on, going on for a very long time
Going on, going on, going on
On your side
Some days we don't know where we have gone and
I will always
Some days we don't know where we have gone
But I'm always on your side
I'm always on your side
I'm always on your side
Your side
I'm always on your side
I'm always on your side
I'm always on your side
Your side
Going on, going on for a very long time
Going on, going on for a very long time
Going on, going on for a very long time
Going on, going on, going on
On your side
jayallan1970
When one of the best lyricist walking the planet doesn't get the credit she deserves. Something is very wrong in the music industry.
CONCERtina
And the best melodist too.....
John Stinchcomb
Hard to take in all of the wonderful music that exists in the world. Most of it will be lost on most of us. But, yes. Karen is without question one of my favorite lyricists. I love the music of The Innocence Mission.
Stephen Hunter
Their music has delighted me ever since I heard Medjugorje playing in an Atlanta record store 30 years. There's something indescribable about the impact of Karen's voice...a purification, a hearkening to a childlike innocence, an affirmation of a life of joy and contentment. Considering the turbulent and cynical world we live in, their music evokes in me a sweet pathos - a sadness in recognizing that as a nation we simply aren't sufficiently appreciative of, or responsive to, Don and Karen's "innocence" mission.
Peter Anderson
They've been going for 30 years and, sorry to say, I've only just discovered The Innocence Mission - wow, so glad I got there eventually!
Elias Barboza
How did you discover them?
Peter Anderson
@Elias Barboza I heard them played on Gideon Coe's evening radio show on BBC 6Music - he played On Your Side - it blew me away.
Mimijeffries
I stumbled across their song “Today” about 20 years ago - and also got blown away. So glad to know that there are people who appreciate their work, and that the band keeps going with what they do and not changing their way much.
Warren Meacher
I only discovered them and this beautiful song today and am so happy that such music is just floating around out there waiting to be discovered! Always on your side,what an uplifting thought x
Jon W
Another superb song can't wait for the new album, love pretty much everything by Innocence Mission