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.
Sweep Down Early
The Innocence Mission Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ring out. Tell me you have arrived.
I will kiss all the faces of my beloved ones.
I will meet the morning.
Sweep down early, my friend.
And we will go somewhere now.
And it feels like we can go
Flower forth, all you branches of Easter.
Why won't the spring come?
Sweep down early, Tomorrow, come.
Tell me that I can just start over again.
Sweep down early, my friend.
The Innocence Mission's song "Sweep Down Early" is a beautiful and poignant song that has an air of wistfulness and longing. The lyrics evoke a deep sense of anticipation as the singer eagerly awaits the arrival of tomorrow. The refrain "Sweep down early, my friend" is an urgent plea for time to move more quickly so that she can begin anew. The singer is eager to start fresh and move forward, guided by the hope and promise of tomorrow.
The lyrics also convey a deep sense of love and connection to family and loved ones. The image of kissing the faces of her beloved ones conveys a deep sense of affection and tenderness. The singer is ready to face the challenges of the day ahead, fortified by the love and support of those around her.
The song also touches on the theme of rebirth and renewal. The singer pleads for the arrival of spring, encouraging all the branches of Easter to flower forth. This imagery is a powerful symbol of new life and new beginnings. The singer is eager to start over again, to leave behind the past and embrace the promise of the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweep down early, Tomorrow, come.
May the day start early with the arrival of tomorrow
Ring out. Tell me you have arrived.
Announce your arrival to me
I will kiss all the faces of my beloved ones.
I will show my love to my dear ones
I will meet the morning.
I will welcome the new day
Sweep down early, my friend.
May my friend arrive early to start anew
And we will go somewhere now.
Let's start a new journey
And it feels like we can go in the morning. When the morning comes.
We feel we can start our journey in the morning when the day is new
Flower forth, all you branches of Easter.
Let's celebrate the blooming of Easter
Why won't the spring come?
Why is the season of new beginnings not arriving?
Tell me that I can just start over again.
Encourage me to begin a new chapter in my life
Sweep down early, my friend.
May my friend arrive early to start anew
Contributed by Wyatt P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.