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.
Rain
The Innocence Mission Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You take a train to the North,
Winding through New York state
In the morning, leaves on the floor.
Gentle the rain at home,
Gentle the rain at home,
When we can and will return,
He said I could just take the canoe,
Whenever I need.
And, if I go back over the lake,
The clouds may recede.
Gentle the rain at home,
Gentle the rain at home,
When we can and will return,
When we can and will return.
The Innocence Mission's song Rain presents a melancholic yet hopeful atmosphere through its lyrics. It talks about taking a train journey through New York state with an aim to return back home. The lyrics "Brave in the clothes of Georgie's" suggests that the singer is travelling to an unknown land with an adventurous spirit, as Georgie could be a reference to either Georgie Porgie or Curious George. The line "Winding through New York state" presents a sense of curiosity and wonder.
The lyrics "Gentle the rain at home" convey a sense of peace and comfort. It is a yearning to return to the familiar territory where everything is gentle and familiar. The use of the metaphor "leaves on the floor" suggests a change in season, which could be interpreted as a change in the singer's life. Overall, the song suggests a longing to return to the roots and the familiar surroundings where everything is just right.
Line by Line Meaning
Brave in the clothes of Georgie's,
Wearing the apparel of Georgie's takes courage, and you display it by traveling north by train through New York state; the leaves on the floor indicate the onset of autumn
Winding through New York state
The train journeying through various twists and turns of New York's landscapes
In the morning, leaves on the floor.
The morning floor-covering of leaves signifies the start of a new season, as the train continues its travel through the state
Gentle the rain at home,
The rain showers back home are mild in nature; conveying a sense of warmth and comfort
When we can and will return,
The line highlights the anticipation and yearning to return home - when we feel completely comfortable and safe
He said I could just take the canoe,
The singer's companion offers a convenient mode of transport via canoe whenever the singer needs it
Whenever I need.
The singer has a good friend who is always there to help, even in the most challenging times
And, if I go back over the lake,
If the artist returns across the lake, this action may cause the clouds to dissipate
The clouds may recede.
The positive change may take place if the artist retraces their steps somewhere, e.g., back over the lake
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Manuel Cabral
This dress that I made out of the curtains
Was on the line, dancing around
Better than I can
Now we walk up to the top of the street
Once letting go, rain sails us in a leafy boat
Down the street
And we'll be there before we know
There go the lawn chairs
Some frogs are racing them
To catch up with me
Gray buildings go by
Violety sky lit up with trees in yellow
Once letting go, rain sails us in a leafy boat
Down the street
And we'll be there before we know
Hey, is that you, going by, swimming by?
Hey, is that you, zig-zagging, whizzing by?
Sailing up, sailing by?
Once letting go, rain sails us in a leafy boat
Down the street
And we'll be there before we know
Joshua Polak
This dress that I made
Out of the curtains
Was on the line
Dancing around
Better than I can
Now we walk up
To the top of the street
Once letting go
Rain sails us in a leafy boat
Down the street
And we’ll be there before we know
There go the lawn chairs
Some frogs are racing them
To catch up with me
Gray buildings go by
Violety sky lit up with trees in yellow
Once letting go
Rain sails us in a leafy boat
Down the street
And we’ll be there before we know
Hey, is that you
Going by, swimming by
Hey, is that you
Zig-zagging, whizzing by
Sailing up, sailing by
Once letting go
Rain sails us in a leafy boat
Down the street
And we’ll be there before we know
Sidney Del Cid
"then why are you with me? Because of that (pointing to the post-it)" -that part killed me. i was crying and this song is so beautiful for that moment.
Lynda B
yessss! omg
Sally Gil
When saw the Grey's Anatomy episode this tune got stuck I my head and I just had to find it. That's I why I love this show it always features some great musi
stronzo5785
This band kept me sane through a tough divorce, and hearing this music again makes me feel grounded and, well, ok.
Thank you.
Suzanne Anderson
Be well.
Kitt Horton
Amazing how similar my story with this band is
Sunil Forde
It doesn't matter how anyone discovered them it just matters that they realized it was a brilliant song by a great band and took the time to search it for themselves here.
drkam6
Beautiful. Great to hear the full band together again.
sunnyPR0
"It's what i love about you"
"And what you hate about me"
No Dusk Fever
I was a poster color painter. But, this album, and Hello I Feel the Same's artwork inspired me to try watercolors a year ago. And finally, I bought a set yesterday.