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.
Sorry and Glad Together
The Innocence Mission Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
is over, over.
And I'm sorry and glad together.
Our bustling house
is sane now, sane now.
And I'm sorry and glad together.
I am missing our sewing in secret,
making up his holiday.
It's finally come round.
It's been a long time, a long time.
And I'm sorry and glad together
now.
Now we watch out of doors for May
and the travels of summer ahead
with. What will we bring?
Thoughts of trains,
thoughts of sea.
Will they come? And what will we say?
How possible everything is
in this wondering,
endless wait.
And how sure is joy, and safe.
In May I will say,
I am sorry and glad together
now
The song Sorry and Glad Together by The Innocence Mission is a beautiful reflection on the passing of time and the mixture of emotions that come with it. The first two stanzas describe the end of a busy period and the return to a more peaceful and ordered life. The singer acknowledges that while they are sorry to see the flurry of plans and bustling house come to an end, they are also glad for the respite and the chance to take stock.
In the third stanza, the singer specifically addresses Mary and reminisces about past times spent together, perhaps sewing or making preparations for the holidays. This nostalgic moment reinforces the idea of time passing and the transience of life. Despite the sweetness of the memories, the singer is aware that they cannot be recaptured, and this adds to the complexity of their emotions.
The final stanza looks forward to the future, and the possibilities and uncertainties that it holds. The singer anticipates the coming of May and the start of summer, and feels a sense of wonder about what lies ahead. They reflect on the fact that everything seems possible in this moment, and that even the most unlikely things could happen. And yet, amidst all this uncertainty, the singer is also sure of the joy and safety that can be found in life. The phrase "I am sorry and glad together now" neatly sums up the contradictions and complexities of the singer's emotions, capturing the sense that life is full of both beauty and sorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
This flurry of plans
All the busy, chaotic plans are now done and over with.
is over, over.
The plans have finally ended and there is no more chaos.
And I'm sorry and glad together.
I feel both regret and joy at the same time.
Our bustling house
The house was once full of noise and activity.
is sane now, sane now.
It's quiet and calm now.
And I'm sorry and glad together.
I feel both regret and joy at the same time.
Didn't it go by so quickly, Mary?
Time has flown by, Mary.
I am missing our sewing in secret,
I miss the times we used to sew together secretly.
making up his holiday.
We used to make up plans for his holiday.
It's finally come round.
The holiday we planned for has finally arrived.
It's been a long time, a long time.
It seems like it's been forever since we planned for this holiday.
And I'm sorry and glad together now.
I have mixed feelings of regret and joy now that the holiday is finally here.
Now we watch out of doors for May
We now watch the outdoors in anticipation for May.
and the travels of summer ahead with.
We're excited for the travels we'll have in the summer.
What will we bring?
We wonder what we should bring on our travels.
Thoughts of trains,
We think of travel by train.
thoughts of sea.
We think of traveling by the sea.
Will they come? And what will we say?
We wonder if our travel plans will come to fruition, and what we'll do and say on the trip.
How possible everything is in this wondering, endless wait.
We feel like anything is possible during this time of anticipation and waiting.
And how sure is joy, and safe.
We feel joyful and safe in our anticipation.
In May I will say,
In May we'll speak our minds.
I am sorry and glad together now
We have mixed feelings of regret and joy now that May has arrived.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KAREN PERIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
santiago76able
Beautiful, mesmerizing, ethereal, love the guitar sound, love her voice... I LOVE THE INNOCENCE MISSION.
Greetings from Lima, Perú.
Kali Bonoz
If your eyes don't well up from the pure joy of this song then you are not human.wow each time Karen sings this and now in this hush tears just break me.so beautifully written and sang with so much emotion that I can't ever stop at one play.repeat over and over cause she's that good. The Innocence Mission was a nice discovery at the record store when you could buy records.i miss that thumbing through records endlessly looking for interesting record covers of artist that I have never heard of. This band just hooked me from the beginning and sadly there are no more new songs from this amazing band.thank you TIM for your great music. You are lyracally geniuses.
Scranmaster J
.75 speed is ultra chill