It's 1992. I'm 16 years old. I go to the library to check out some audio books. I end up in the music cassette section. I see an interesting cover. "The Innocence Mission - Umbrella". Never heard of them. I take it home and give it a listen. I must have played that tape 50 times on each side. Cried for no reason. Felt things I didn't know I could. A beautiful sadness. It was the most profound musical event of my life. And now here I am 30 years later. Still seeking. Still listening. Still moved at the sight of something as simple as...an umbrella.
🥰🥰🥰 in love with those words. Wish I could say what I mean to say (or something like that) Those are my exact thoughts. When I first heard Umbrella it was like a firework set off inside me and I had never felt true emotions until that moment. Still my all time favorite record out of all music I have heard. Thank you.
I am north of 60 years old. Still, when I hear your somehow naturally comforting voice, I am transported to the world of lullabies... and smiles. Thank you.
Came across Bird In My Neighborhood while working in the music department at Borders Books and Music. It was in the discarded bin freebees. Ever grateful I picked it up. These songs have helped heal my soul throughout this lifetime.
What a treat! Thank you Karen and Don. Love you guys! 1. She May Turn Around 2. Oh Do Not Fly Away (2:16) 3. The Lakes of Canada (5:10) 4. Birdless (10:00) 5. Song About Traveling (13:31) 6. You Are The Light (14:56) 7. The Girl on My Left (16:05) 8. I Haven't Seen This Day Before (18:48) 9. Small Planes (21:20)
Hi, I have been listening to your songs since before I was even born (not kidding) my dad gave the lullaby cd to my mom before I was born. Growing up my parents would play them for me every night. Your songs are my childhood, I am a teenager now but a tear always comes to my eyes when I hear your beautiful music and voices. Love you guys.
After the excellence and beauty of the music itself, what stands out to me in this concert is that this is exactly how the innocence mission should be now.
These two are masters of harmonics. With their light harmonies, sympathetic resonance, just the right amount of reverb in all the right places, they manage to make a two-piece ensemble sound like an orchestra. Stunningly beautiful.
Dear Karen, dear Don, there is no way to say it better than in your very own words because "... I never can say what I mean to say..." and "...all I can not say I hope you can hear...". What I really feel is that your voice and your songs are the most beautiful thing I have ever heard in this wonderfil life. Andreas from Germany
IM takes me back to being a teenager. I used to listen to their music a lot in the winter and cry. It’s so cathartic to revisit their music in my adulthood
I’ve been listening to ya’ll ever since your first album. You’ve always been my go to music when I seeking some quite and peace. Thank You and God Bless you with Happy Blessings for all the musical peace you’ve given my heart.
This is such a treat, it’s more than just another UA-cam video, this is a gift. The Innocence Mission’s music and performances bring me back into a place of gratitude and therefore joy, by poetically shining a light on the beauty and sadness of everyday life. They are such a naturally spiritual band, and life is just richer for them existing. 🙏🏻❤️
Goosebumps and tears. So very very beautiful. And so many songs from Birds of My Neighborhood which is an album that holds a very special place in my heart. Thank you so much
Can anyone doubt the musical love affair that is the innocence mission? I feel like what happens with our voyeuristic participation must be very protected; by us; it's our mission too.
Small Planes makes me soar and die in the same moment. Oh, do not fly away makes me thing of my two babes my wife and I lost before they made it to this world "I am afraid to look down the road much further"; we both knew we we're going to lose them before they decided to foy away. I now have two beautiful 16 year old twins so the story end happy. Thank you for your music.
These two musicians are priceless gems and I'm so grateful they've had the courage to create all these years. I still have no defense against that voice!
@20:46 the different melody is sublime and the moment is breathtaking. Always my favorite song. Thank you for so much wonderful music, poetry and love.
My bucket list item is to IM live, but this concert comes in as a close second! Wow! I've been a fan since the early 90's and you guys just keep getting better!
That was really amazing. I only just now watched the attic concert but feel almost as though I had been right there with you in 2021, just watching and listening as the two of you played & Karen sang in that soulful way that only she can do. Thank you for... everything! For all you do & have done from the late 80's(!) to this very day. God bless.
There are no words to describe how incredibly exquisite this is....other than incredibly exquisite. Thank you so much for this beautiful gift. The crafting of the compositions is other wordly.
Thanks for this video/jam sess and wonderful music over the decades! Innocence Mission has been and will always be a touchstone sound for me. ~30+ years ago I made a fortuitous somewhat random purchase of their first album and was SO pleasantly surprised by the songs/sounds/musicianship and honesty there on the vinyl. I mean.. it opens with Paper Dolls, that's something! Could use a new copy of that record lol. My favorite IM songs - I admit I have more exploring to do and just saw they have a newish album out!! - but the 1st three records are sublime and transcendent, so I just keep going back to them - if you like one song you'll like them all. The band, together with Karen's voice and Don's guitar work on those albums is truly something unique and wonderful. Mercy is definitely one of my favorite songs ever. But, Sorry and Glad Together, Brave, There, Keeping Awake, Notebook, and etc are timeless.
Found out about IM by walking by a yard sale, 1991, a few blocks uphill from the "Bohemian Pig" bookstore in the Hollywood Hills area. The cassette tape was purchased in remembrance of the 80s when we experimented with albums based on a name or a cover or a word or a place, in my hometown of Portland Oregon, where we had a penchant for music of foreign shores, and we had the "import" bug...
Whatever snooping into my life is done by the UA-cam spies worked. I wasn’t subscribed and this came up in my feed. Been a fan from the start or at least ‘89. Thank you for this effort.
Likewise for me, 1997, but I started as a slight skeptic, as my friend Lynx, had their IMission debut album, the Letterman one, on cassette, in my car. Her music was girlier than my faves, but with similar musical likings. Us, musically drawn to compose and create, she more talented than I. Also, we had this on again, off again, friends romance thing from my infatuations of her. Common, I was about 30, she, 23. Anyway all these years later I love Innocence M's MUSIC, WOW!? How can it be so wonderful? mike Thanks.
I love you both for sharing your talents/songs through all these years; and still and will always sound like you did for 30 years now. Greeting from LA, California. Such sad/nostalgic healing you give!!
I''ve loved everything since the first album. And the greatest thing is you both keep keep getting better! This has always been my favorite album, though your latest may just overtake it after a lot more listens. Karen, you are beautifully luminous in all ways. Don, I appreciate the BB King-like philosophy you apply to the guitar -- play just the notes that matter.
What a treat, both albums being my favourites from them! Song About Travelling and You Are the Light has actually been on repeat for the past month for me I'm so happy that i get the chance to listen to them here. My room in the trees next maybe?! one could hope : )
Discovered you today from another bands cover of The Lakes of Canada and now I’ve been listening to everything I can find online of yours…just spectacular ❤
Breathtaking. Such a performance--Wow. THANK YOU, Karen and Don. Such a day maker and a tear bringer (in the best of ways). :) P.S. Are my wife and I the only ones here who tear up hopelessly at IM tunes? EDIT: Reading the comments of my fellow listeners, we're NOT the only ones who break into tears when hearing these tunes. Lovely. We've never had this reaction to any music before and can only describe it as crying at the beauty, longing, and love of it. Again, I bow and thank you both.
It's 1992. I'm 16 years old. I go to the library to check out some audio books. I end up in the music cassette section. I see an interesting cover. "The Innocence Mission - Umbrella". Never heard of them. I take it home and give it a listen. I must have played that tape 50 times on each side. Cried for no reason. Felt things I didn't know I could. A beautiful sadness. It was the most profound musical event of my life. And now here I am 30 years later. Still seeking. Still listening. Still moved at the sight of something as simple as...an umbrella.
Your wonderful words are almost as beautiful as their music! I think I know what you mean... Lots of love from Germany, Andreas
A beautiful sadness? I've felt this before.
Thats beautiful. You have an open eye 👁️
beautifully put! That is the only cassette I've played until exhaustion. It played to the end.
🥰🥰🥰 in love with those words. Wish I could say what I mean to say (or something like that) Those are my exact thoughts. When I first heard Umbrella it was like a firework set off inside me and I had never felt true emotions until that moment. Still my all time favorite record out of all music I have heard. Thank you.
I am north of 60 years old. Still, when I hear your somehow naturally comforting voice, I am transported to the world of lullabies... and smiles. Thank you.
Came across Bird In My Neighborhood while working in the music department at Borders Books and Music. It was in the discarded bin freebees. Ever grateful I picked it up. These songs have helped heal my soul throughout this lifetime.
AMEN
Since my college days, I have loved you IM
What a treat! Thank you Karen and Don. Love you guys!
1. She May Turn Around
2. Oh Do Not Fly Away (2:16)
3. The Lakes of Canada (5:10)
4. Birdless (10:00)
5. Song About Traveling (13:31)
6. You Are The Light (14:56)
7. The Girl on My Left (16:05)
8. I Haven't Seen This Day Before (18:48)
9. Small Planes (21:20)
A fan ever since 1989 ("Curious", "Black Sheep Wall", "Wonder of Birds", "Surreal",) ...thank you always for your musical gifts!
Hi, I have been listening to your songs since before I was even born (not kidding) my dad gave the lullaby cd to my mom before I was born. Growing up my parents would play them for me every night. Your songs are my childhood, I am a teenager now but a tear always comes to my eyes when I hear your beautiful music and voices. Love you guys.
This comment makes me very happy.
AMEN
After the excellence and beauty of the music itself, what stands out to me in this concert is that this is exactly how the innocence mission should be now.
These two are masters of harmonics. With their light harmonies, sympathetic resonance, just the right amount of reverb in all the right places, they manage to make a two-piece ensemble sound like an orchestra. Stunningly beautiful.
Third time listening…❤I love you guys thank you…
Dear Karen, dear Don, there is no way to say it better than in your very own words because "... I never can say what I mean to say..." and "...all I can not say I hope you can hear...". What I really feel is that your voice and your songs are the most beautiful thing I have ever heard in this wonderfil life. Andreas from Germany
I've been a big fan of The Innocence Mission for about 20 years now. I would like to have the record. From Japan.
When you went into "The Lakes of Canada" my heart stopped... few things are more beautiful than that. Thank you.
This music makes my heart ache, but in a very good way. So good I can hardly stand it!
Anyone who hasn't found this music is missing out on something really amazing
AMEN
IM takes me back to being a teenager. I used to listen to their music a lot in the winter and cry. It’s so cathartic to revisit their music in my adulthood
AMEN TO THIS
Two angels who dropped to Earth so our hearts could rejoice.
I’ve been listening to ya’ll ever since your first album. You’ve always been my go to music when I seeking some quite and peace. Thank You and God Bless you with Happy Blessings for all the musical peace you’ve given my heart.
Karen Peris, Rickie Lee Jones, Natalie Merchant, Joni Mitchell - wonderful, magnificent beautiful poets of our age. We are so lucky to have them xx
My only regret is that I can only give one upvote. Beautiful as always. Thanks Don and Karen.
This is such a treat, it’s more than just another UA-cam video, this is a gift. The Innocence Mission’s music and performances bring me back into a place of gratitude and therefore joy, by poetically shining a light on the beauty and sadness of everyday life. They are such a naturally spiritual band, and life is just richer for them existing. 🙏🏻❤️
Dons perfectly melodic hollow body Gretsch twinklings provide this landscape of beauty that is just so moving. Really tugs at heart strings.
Goosebumps and tears. So very very beautiful. And so many songs from Birds of My Neighborhood which is an album that holds a very special place in my heart. Thank you so much
Thank you. Perfect way to start the day.
Lofty drafts on our way to Love. Sprinkles on the divine Love sundae. God bless your contemplative hearts.
Can anyone doubt the musical love affair that is the innocence mission? I feel like what happens with our voyeuristic participation must be very protected; by us; it's our mission too.
Small Planes makes me soar and die in the same moment.
Oh, do not fly away makes me thing of my two babes my wife and I lost before they made it to this world "I am afraid to look down the road much further"; we both knew we we're going to lose them before they decided to foy away. I now have two beautiful 16 year old twins so the story end happy. Thank you for your music.
So glad to finally see you guys play "live" again! Awesome! Thanks for posting.
Love the live Lakes of Canada from Birds of our neighbourhood - thank you Karen and Don
These two musicians are priceless gems and I'm so grateful they've had the courage to create all these years. I still have no defense against that voice!
@20:46 the different melody is sublime and the moment is breathtaking. Always my favorite song. Thank you for so much wonderful music, poetry and love.
Small Planes - lovely - and a nice surprise to see the archive photographs at the end.
Bright as yellow, outstanding, unassumingly fantastic, makes me fly in the freedom of your voice. Superb
Thankful for your gift!
These are beautiful people right here. thank you for your music.
I can't even handle it. Flat out, staggeringly beautiful music. Thank you.
Karen and Don, wonderful as always. Glad to have been blessed by your music since 1989 😊❤
Yes! Thank you!
My bucket list item is to IM live, but this concert comes in as a close second! Wow! I've been a fan since the early 90's and you guys just keep getting better!
Oh look it’s my two favourite humans being awesome again ❤️
That was really amazing. I only just now watched the attic concert but feel almost as though I had been right there with you in 2021, just watching and listening as the two of you played & Karen sang in that soulful way that only she can do.
Thank you for... everything!
For all you do & have done from the late 80's(!) to this very day.
God bless.
i love you so much guys
There are no words to describe how incredibly exquisite this is....other than incredibly exquisite. Thank you so much for this beautiful gift. The crafting of the compositions is other wordly.
GOOSEBUMPS! ❤️
This music makes me smile and cry at the same time. Thank you.
I've listened to this too many times. I keep going to it over and over.
These songs bring back so many memories. It’s different to put into words just how beautiful your music is. Thank you!
They still have that energy!
oh such loveliness.
Love it, Small Planes was my first TIM album, and such an amazing album
And "Birdless" here is just incomparable, absolutely fucking beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measure xx
A música de vocês, aquece meu coração e sempre me emociona. Obrigado por existirem. Saudações do Brasil.
I love these two fab musicians. Wow
Thanks for this video/jam sess and wonderful music over the decades!
Innocence Mission has been and will always be a touchstone sound for me. ~30+ years ago I made a fortuitous somewhat random purchase of their first album and was SO pleasantly surprised by the songs/sounds/musicianship and honesty there on the vinyl. I mean.. it opens with Paper Dolls, that's something! Could use a new copy of that record lol.
My favorite IM songs - I admit I have more exploring to do and just saw they have a newish album out!! - but the 1st three records are sublime and transcendent, so I just keep going back to them - if you like one song you'll like them all. The band, together with Karen's voice and Don's guitar work on those albums is truly something unique and wonderful. Mercy is definitely one of my favorite songs ever. But, Sorry and Glad Together, Brave, There, Keeping Awake, Notebook, and etc are timeless.
Such a beautiful joy to watch and listen to these special renditions of beloved songs. Thank you.
Thank you 😊 love you …..
Much thanks for this early holiday gift.
Vous êtes assis et pourtant vous volez ! Vous faites parti de mes plus belles découvertes… 🤩🤩
This has been wonderful to listen to. Thank you Don and Karen.
Karen's voice hasn't aged at all. It's still so high and sweet.
Sounds exactly the same as the studio version. This is amazing.
Found out about IM by walking by a yard sale, 1991, a few blocks uphill from the "Bohemian Pig" bookstore in the Hollywood Hills area. The cassette tape was purchased in remembrance of the 80s when we experimented with albums based on a name or a cover or a word or a place, in my hometown of Portland Oregon, where we had a penchant for music of foreign shores, and we had the "import" bug...
Lovely reverb in the attic! I have every song in your catalog. Your music is transcendent. "I Left The Grounds" (Small Planes) gives me goosebumps.
This made by week! Thank you, Karen and Don.
Me too, it’s like being given an early Christmas present, one I’ll cherish and get joy from, over and over for years.
just absolutely wonderful.
Whatever snooping into my life is done by the UA-cam spies worked. I wasn’t subscribed and this came up in my feed. Been a fan from the start or at least ‘89. Thank you for this effort.
Thank you for this gift!
As always... So beautiful and soothing. Thank you for being there. Come to Montreal soon!
Subtle masterpiece, thank you!
Thank you for this! I love the evocative "title" cards between songs too
What a lovely surprise! Thank you. This was masterful.
Thank you for this gift of warmth and light. Loved the pictures at the end. And of course the amazing quilt! “I never knew you from the sun.”
Likewise for me, 1997, but I started as a slight skeptic, as my friend Lynx, had their IMission debut album, the Letterman one, on cassette, in my car. Her music was girlier than my faves, but with similar musical likings. Us, musically drawn to compose and create, she more talented than I. Also, we had this on again, off again, friends romance thing from my infatuations of her. Common, I was about 30, she, 23. Anyway all these years later I love Innocence M's MUSIC, WOW!? How can it be so wonderful? mike Thanks.
I love you both for sharing your talents/songs through all these years; and still and will always sound like you did for 30 years now. Greeting from LA, California. Such sad/nostalgic healing you give!!
This is wonderful!! A beautiful light... thank you!
I''ve loved everything since the first album. And the greatest thing is you both keep keep getting better! This has always been my favorite album, though your latest may just overtake it after a lot more listens. Karen, you are beautifully luminous in all ways. Don, I appreciate the BB King-like philosophy you apply to the guitar -- play just the notes that matter.
Beautiful and perfect.
God- "Birdless" is so beautiful!..
And so are you two! :-)
Thank you for this. :-)
simple. transcendent.
Merci pour poste.
Warm as always...
Thanks Karen and Don! That was wonderful.. every minute of it.
Wow. Just wow.
This is fantastic. Thank you for sharing. I dream of being able to see you live again sometime in the future.
YOU did it, as a hack guitar player;( myself) anglochina brilliant
So precious
Thank you Don and Karen!
Sounds like you found a spot with good acoustics🙂
What a treat, both albums being my favourites from them! Song About Travelling and You Are the Light has actually been on repeat for the past month for me I'm so happy that i get the chance to listen to them here. My room in the trees next maybe?! one could hope : )
Thank you for this!
just beautiful
Thank you!
what a treat! thank you :-)
Discovered you today from another bands cover of The Lakes of Canada and now I’ve been listening to everything I can find online of yours…just spectacular ❤
Lovely.
This would be a great live record!
Wonderful!
I discovered you guys when Brandon was on the motorcycle with a girl who was throwing a house party and I knew I would always be a fan
Love this so much!
Breathtaking. Such a performance--Wow. THANK YOU, Karen and Don. Such a day maker and a tear bringer (in the best of ways). :)
P.S. Are my wife and I the only ones here who tear up hopelessly at IM tunes?
EDIT: Reading the comments of my fellow listeners, we're NOT the only ones who break into tears when hearing these tunes. Lovely. We've never had this reaction to any music before and can only describe it as crying at the beauty, longing, and love of it. Again, I bow and thank you both.