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.
Someday Coming
The Innocence Mission Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I name and I re-name you
I make up memories for you
of melodies and friends
from books I wanted to give you
and horse and buggy sounds outside
but of the someday coming world
there is so much I would keep you from
if I, if I could
the heroes, selfish fools
they only want their freedom
the hero-maker's greed prevails
and we are all shock numb
and watch the shock increasing
and shame is something old, outgrown
oh, maybe you won't see
my too self-conscious stumblings
my running from the phone
my fears
because I can be very strong
say I can, say I can
there is so much to believe in
there are angel words to teach you
there is hope, my daydream child
The Innocence Mission's song Someday Coming is a poignant tribute to the innocence of childhood and the struggles of raising a child in an uncertain world. The song is addressed to a child who is yet to be born, or perhaps just a young child, whom the singer is eagerly awaiting. The first verse sees the singer creating an idyllic image of the world for this child - filled with beautiful melodies and happy memories - while the second verse is more about the harsh reality of the world that they will grow up in, with all its selfishness and greed. The song wraps up with a hopeful message, stating that despite all the chaos and uncertainty, there is still hope and beauty in the world, and the child can learn from these virtues.
The opening lines of the song - "my someday coming child / I name and I re-name you / I make up memories for you / of melodies and friends" - immediately set up a sense of hope and anticipation for the coming of the child. The singer is clearly excited to welcome this child into the world and is already dreaming up happy memories and experiences for them. However, this happiness is tempered by the knowledge that the world is not always a safe or kind place, and the singer is unsure how to protect the child from its harsh realities. The lines "but of the someday coming world / I don't know, I don't know / there is so much I would keep you from / if I, if I could" showcase this anxiety and uncertainty, which is a universal feeling for any parent.
The middle section of the song takes a darker turn, moving away from the personal to the political. The singer laments the state of the world and the selfishness of those in power, who prioritize their own freedom and greed over the well-being of others. The lines "the heroes, selfish fools / they only want their freedom / the hero-maker's greed prevails / and we are all shock numb" speak to the disillusionment many people feel in the face of widespread corruption and injustice. However, the song ultimately ends on a hopeful note, reminding the child and the listener that there is still beauty in the world, and that hope and kindness can prevail even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
my someday coming child
Addressing the child that will come in future
I name and I re-name you
The mother chooses names for her unborn child
I make up memories for you
Mother imagines making memories with the child
of melodies and friends
Imagining the music and friendship the child will have
from books I wanted to give you
The mother thinks of the books she will give her child
and horse and buggy sounds outside
Imagining the sounds outside the house when the child is born
but of the someday coming world
Mother is uncertain about the future world the child will grow up in
I don't know, I don't know
Mother is unsure about the future
there is so much I would keep you from
Mother wants to protect the child from the negative aspects of the world
if I, if I could
If possible, mother would keep the child away from the negative
the heroes, selfish fools
People who are hailed as heroes can be selfish and foolish
they only want their freedom
Heroes may want freedom without the responsibility that comes with it
the hero-maker's greed prevails
The ones who make heroes are driven by greed
and we are all shock numb
Everyone is shocked and numb to the current reality
and watch the shock increasing
The surprise and shock continue to increase
and shame is something old, outgrown
Shame is an old sentiment that people have outgrown
oh, maybe you won't see
Mother hopes the child doesn't have to witness the negative
my too self-conscious stumblings
Mother hopes the child won't see her personal faults
my running from the phone
Mother won't be running away from phone calls in the future
my fears
Mother hopes the child won't have to face the fears she has
because I can be very strong
Mother has the ability to be strong for the child
say I can, say I can
Mother has faith in herself
there is so much to believe in
There is so much good in the world
there are angel words to teach you
Teaching the child about the goodness in the world like angels
there is hope, my daydream child
Mother has hope that her child will not be burdened by negative reality
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD CHARLES JR. PERIS, KAREN PERIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@isadoreladuca7532
To me, a very spiritual album, a masterpiece from the first note to the last.
@empressofherteatable
One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard! I've been in love with this album and song since 1993. Freshman in college. What a wonderful time of life!
@dennissekharan8922
@empressofherteatable, I couldn't agree with you more. I fell in love with TIM since their debut able in 1989 when I was a freshman in college and for me, the masterpiece that is the Umbrella album is the crown jewel of their catalogue.
@alvarogundingallego1913
Masterpiece. One of my favourite songs of all time. Thanks for sharing,
@cw9817
This is Umbrella's "Mercy," the album's emotional high point. TIM have a gift for crafting very emotional songs that tap into the deepest human longings.
@laurenwestlake5507
An untremely underated, splendidly talented band... Meaningful lyrics coupled with lyrics that speak of love, loss, nostalgia, honey-sweet longing. Wish them all the best, and love. Thank you.
@keithbate9405
Great to see this album and esp this song finally on you tube (been waiting for it for years ) Thanks Bob
I first heard IM in the late 80's , when I thought they were very similar to 10,000 Maniacs (but inferior . The latter were at their zenith in this period )
But by 1991 and this album I started to think that IM were as least as good as 10K M. by the mid 90's it was obvious that IM were better .
ps this song is "effortless beautiful" and is in my all time fav by IM and is in my top 20 tracks of all time .
@empressofherteatable
I just burst into tears! I'm listening today...1/6/21...all hell has broken loose at the capital building in Washington DC. I recalled these lyrics" ... and we are all shock numb. And watch the shock increasing. And shame is something old, outgrown"
@empressofherteatable
I too have been waiting for this exact song to appear on YouTube for at least ten years! 10kManiacs is my all-time favorite band. I was hard-core into them at the same time I discovered The Innocence Mission. Amen to all their beauty!
@keithbate9405
@empressofherteatable Yes both two of my favourite bands . Was lucky to meet/speak to Natalie M at a gig in Wolverhampton England in 1989 (in fact 9 Nov she announced from the stage the Berlin wall had fallen) Have liked IM since the first album (late 80's) . Never seen them live . They have only played in the UK once I think a London gig around 1990.
do you like Natalie's solo stuff ? I don't think the band are any good at all nowadays.