I have been listening to this song today, over and over again. You can listen to it here if you'd like. I am not a fisherman, or a boater, so I have no idea really what this song is communicating, but I believe in sudden joy that darts like a fish, a dazzling, darting light in murky darkness. Hell, I've experienced it today getting ready to go to a funeral home. So for those of you who believe in such things, you might like this song. Today, of all days, it is really precious to me.
Look for me another day
I feel that I could change
I feel that I could change
There's a sudden joy that's like
a fish, a moving light;
I thought I saw it
rowing on the lakes of Canada
Oh laughing man
what have you won?
don't tell me what cannot be done.
my little mouth, my winter lungs
don't tell me what cannot be done
cannot be done
Walking in the cirlce of a flashlight
someone starts to sing, to join in
Talk of loneliness in quiet voices
I am shy but you can reach me
rowing on the lakes of Canada
rowing on the lakes of Canada
Oh laughing man
what have you won?
don't tell me what cannot be done
my little mouth, my winter lungs
don't tell me what cannot be done
cannot be done
So look for me another time,
give me another day
I feel that I could change
So look for me another time
give me another day.
I feel that I could change
rowing on the lakes of Canada
rowing on the lakes of Canada
rowing on the lakes of Canada
rowing on the lakes of Canada
-- The Innocence Mission, "The Lakes of Canada"
"I'm in awe of big songs, national anthems, rock opera, the Broadway musical. But what I always come back to, after the din and drum roll, is the small song that makes careful observations about everyday life. This is what makes the music by The Innocence Mission so moving and profound. 'Lakes of Canada' creates an environment both terrifying and familiar using sensory language: incandescent bulbs and rowboats are made palpable by careful rhythms, unobtrusive rhyme schemes, and specificity of language. What is so remarkable about Karen Peris' lyrics are the economy of words, concrete nouns - fish, flashlight, laughing man - which come to life with melodies that dance around the scale like sea creatures. Panic and joy, a terrible sense of awe, the dark indentations of memory all come together at once, accompanied by the joyful strum of an acoustic guitar. This is a song in which everyday objects begin to have tremendous meaning."
-- Sufjan Stevens, on "The Lakes of Canada"
12 comments:
I heart Innocense Mission. Just don't listen while operating a motor vehicle or heavy machinery.
Well it looks like I'll be listening to Sarah Wheeler while I mow the lawn tonight. Ms. Peris really reminds me of her. Why? I guess it's the simple soft way she tells a story.
I met Sarah outside Fileen's Basement downtown Boston while I was in college. She was busking and I had a few minutes to stop and listen. I picked up her CD before I hustled off to wherever I was heading.
Just like you, I didn't know what she was singing about but the way she sang it made me want to figure it out. I couldn't put the CD down for about 2 years, and I always stopped to listen when she was playing.
Wonder where she is now?????
If your interested. I found her website.
http://www.sarawheeler.com/index.htm
Karl.
It'd be cool to see your www.last.fm profile.
That's as sparse as the innocence mission comes. Got to remember to get that on my iPod. Makes sense that Sufjan would be a fan.
i love the innocense mission. when simon was a baby (till about 4 years old), the one cd that would calm him down and help him nap in the car (while on a trip) was their 'christ is my hope' cd. he called it "a calmer song". when he was an infant we had to play it continuously or he would start crying.
Thanks for reminding me of this one. It was in heavy rotation a few years ago. Also, reminded me of seeing them here in Nashville at a local club. We got to the show a little late to find that they due to lack of ticket sales all 20-30 people got to sit in a circle around them while they played an acoustic show. Not sure what I paid for that show but, come to think of it, I would have paid triple. Other favorite song of theirs "Wonder Of Birds".....
Scott, I couldn't agree more about that first John Prine album. I wrote about it here: http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article?article_id=1798
I just hosted a "Can you describe the Innocence Mission's music?" contest. The winners are posted at lookingcloser.org.
I'm so glad they remastered and re-released "Birds of My Neighborhood." It's a timeless wonder.
Karen, the song that worked that way for us when my daughter Emily/Katryn was a toddler was called "True Confessions" by Tonio K. She used to request it every time we got in the car, and would sing along, loudly, at every opportunity to: "It's a jungle out there/It used to be a garden/But the times got tough/Now all those innocent hearts have hardened."
It was always interesting hearing someone in a carseat bellowing that.
This is weird- I've been on vacation for this week and whilst driving home today- I was listening to a mix cd that included all the songs form IM's album "Christ is my hope" as well As Sufjan's "Seven Swans" They go together perfectly. Kathleen insists on going to sleep to their music every night. You can get their prolific Indy releases off their web-site.
Much reccommended!
Andy, I found your site searching technorati looking for Innocence Mission info. Glad to have found your site as I also enjoy Paste magazine.
Could you point me in the direction of other musicians who exhibit similar qualities that Innocence Mission do. I'm looking for music that contains a Christian steeped atmosphere like the Innocence Mission creates so well. I'm also looking Christain music of the sort found on Innocence Mission's Christ is our Hope.
I think what I appreciate about the Innocence mission is their subtlety and attention to detail. I hope you can direct me more of the same.
Glad to have found your blog.
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