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The Innocence Mission — When Mac Was Swimming
Album: Befriended
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1662








Released: 2003
Length: 3:41
Plays (last 30 days): 0
When Mac was swimming I was running late,
walking around New Orleans looking for a birthday cake.
It was a great surprise to him so many people came.
Nobody knows, darling.
Nobody knows how they are loved.
Don't worry, my darling, the sun's coming up.

Let's get up early now, dive clear into the day.
Let's get out of the car with open arms,
not wait to be embraced.
The flowers that grew, the things that happened
since the day you came.
Nobody knows, darling.
Nobody knows how they are loved.
Don't worry, my darling, the sun's coming up.
Comments (245)add comment
8 to 9

Macs don't swim all that well...
Within the first few bars I'm transported into an ocean of love. Never heard this song before today but before she even began singing, I fully resonated with every note
 dragonflygal wrote:

Isn't this the same woman who sings with The Sundays??




no.
this song hits me at the spot 
Man these guys are great, going to give them a 9
Class and Talent are a boundless here
Just lovely.  The singer reminds me of EmilĂ­ana Torrini
One of the happiest, sweetest songs I know.  Like a child's smile, there's no defense for it.
enjoying waking up to this. 
like seeing an old friend!

 

More of The Innocence Mission please.  How about "Lakes of Canada" from "Birds of My Neighborhood"?  Just a thought.

 

I would love to hear this again sometime soon please, Bill. It is a lovely poem of a song.
Fantastic! Thank you RP. 
I suddenly regret throwing darts at that old lady outside...

A Mac goes swimming,
i hear a bit of "paved paradise and put up a parking lot" kind of honesty in her voice.

thanks, rp 
hey another new band i'm turned on to by RP.   what a sweet voice - reminds me of
The Sunday's singer, Harriet Wheeler.
Her voice really reminds me of Alanis Morrisette. Am I the only one thinking so?
(A bit less bitter though...) 
Wish they were still doing "Pop" music with Don on the Gretsch electric.
 Cynaera wrote:

And I absolutely love both groups. The music will automatically land me smack dab in the middle of a huge meadow of sunflowers. Of course, I'm about a hundred pounds lighter, rocking a pair of Daisy-Dukes, my hair is honey-blonde, and I have a glass of expensive champagne in my hand when that little butterfly kisses my cheek and flutters away. 

For those who can't slog through my dream-world, this song makes me happy. {#Sunny}

 



 
Sweet early spring moment
Sounds a bit like "the phantom of the opera"
¡Que bella canción!
{#Moon} 
 HonduranRed wrote:
beautiful

 
I agree!
beautiful
Like a pot of hot chamomile tea with honey on a cold winter's night like this, it just hits the spot.
 helgigermany wrote:
terrible voice!
 
Define terrrible. Define voice. Define what the hell you mean. Please
Very annoying voice.....
 helgigermany wrote:
terrible voice!
 
Just what the doctor ordered, a lovely, soothing song.  We can't all be helgigermanys.

terrible voice!
When Mac Was Swimming, he busted his motherboard...
what a lovely song... (sighs)
 bev wrote:

Yes. They play this one to calm the inmates at the asylum. Nah, I do sorta dig this, but it seems to conjure both lazy beautiful days — as some here noted — and also a sort of methadone-induced haze. No rating from me at this time. Carry on.
 
True.   It has a slow motion, stupor quality to it.  I love this comment, even if you are not sure about the song.
For me, since I was a kid in the 70s, it just makes me think of that time.  When I did not worry about things so much, just go out and "play" with other kids.  No pressure.  Seems like so much simpler a time.  I bet everyone thinks the same about the past though, it's normal.   

 
Nice.  ... But wait, how did we get here from Free Four?  Amazing.
I find Innocence Mission's arrangements often sublime. Expansive with just a small, laid back ensemble.
This song is Killing me Softly.
so pretty...sounds like she's speaking a language other than english
That reminds me, Carla Bruni will have to start earning a living again now.
like the first few days of spring after a long dreary winter
 Poacher wrote:
Oh, the variance of mood. . . I had this as a 2 and just changed it to 8. Lovely.
 
Totally get that. It feels like a 2 to me today, too; but on another day it would probably feel like a 6 or 7. So, I defer my rating until another day/another mood!
 rdo wrote:
this has to be the most soothing and relaxing tune ever written
 
Yes. They play this one to calm the inmates at the asylum. Nah, I do sorta dig this, but it seems to conjure both lazy beautiful days — as some here noted — and also a sort of methadone-induced haze. No rating from me at this time. Carry on.
soothing!!
Love this....8
always like them with REM.
 
Heaven on earth, Bill!!!{#Notworthy}
 patrick30 wrote:
this song just fits perfect at the moment. looking out the window-first snow in austria!!
 
Perfect song no matter what or when......
Oh, the variance of mood. . . I had this as a 2 and just changed it to 8. Lovely.
this song just fits perfect at the moment. looking out the window-first snow in austria!!
 alanthecowboy wrote:

Nope, this is the vocalist from The Innocence Mission...  Sorry, couldn't resist.  Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays) and Karen Peris do sound somewhat alike, but they are two different people.

 
And I absolutely love both groups. The music will automatically land me smack dab in the middle of a huge meadow of sunflowers. Of course, I'm about a hundred pounds lighter, rocking a pair of Daisy-Dukes, my hair is honey-blonde, and I have a glass of expensive champagne in my hand when that little butterfly kisses my cheek and flutters away. 

For those who can't slog through my dream-world, this song makes me happy. {#Sunny}

 


 michaelc wrote:
is that the vocalist from the sundays ? 
 
 
Nope, this is the vocalist from The Innocence Mission...  Sorry, couldn't resist.  Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays) and Karen Peris do sound somewhat alike, but they are two different people.

is that the vocalist from the sundays ? 
 
 editorp wrote:

Steely Dan - Midnight Cruiser
R.E.M. - Nightswimming
The Innocence Mission - When Mac Was Swimming

you for Bill There's...


 
lol

 sub-arctic wrote:
The Innocence Mission - When Mac Was Swimming
R.E.M. - Nightswimming
Steely Dan - Midnight Cruiser

There's Bill for you...


 
Steely Dan - Midnight Cruiser
R.E.M. - Nightswimming
The Innocence Mission - When Mac Was Swimming

you for Bill There's...




Mission accomplished! Now I know what it feels like to be a young girl running freely through a field of wild flowers in a loose cotton dress. Hey! Why is everyone looking at me that way? I didn't say I "wanted" to be a young girl.
 efaulkjr wrote:
Great follow up to REM's "Nightswimming".  Great work, Bill!
 
He does know what he's doing, doesn't he? Maybe I oughta do some swimming, nightly.

Great follow up to REM's "Nightswimming".  Great work, Bill!
Warm, reassuring sunshine on an unfamiliar beach. The soft caress of a much needed love. A cool drink on a hot summer day in the middle of August. These things are what permeate my senses when I hear this tune. I love it. 
That's really really nice... I've put this on my wish list.
 ernest3 wrote:
Love the Innocence Mission!  Love this song!  And a nice transition from REM's Nightswimming.

Thanks for making my day better :)
 
Ditto.

This is my favorite Innocence Mission song {#Music}
Gawd, I love this song!  Gives me chills! :swoon:{#Good-vibes}
 cosmiclint wrote:
This has a real Camera Obscura vibe. Very nice.
  That’s who they remind me of.

I don't know exactly what it is about The Innocence Mission that makes me grin, but I just do. Maybe it's the way I feel when their music washes over me like a warm wave of sunshine. Maybe it's that fragile vocal. All I know is that I love this band (and "band" seems too harsh a word to use in describing them. Maybe "collective" would work. Or "gathering.")

Loves me this flock.
This is what you get when you throw the Kings of Convenience, the Velvet Underground, and Belle and Sebastian into a mixer. Very smooth music. Love the voice and the mood.

Love the Innocence Mission!  Love this song!  And a nice transition from REM's Nightswimming.

Thanks for making my day better :)


Love this song for a long time now. Up from 9 to 10
Bit of a VU/Nico vibe...
Takes me back to simpler times .... nice song
Love this song, love her voice ... reminds me of the Sundays.
this has to be the most soothing and relaxing tune ever written
Talking about "Angelic" voices....
 cactus7709 wrote:
FIrst time i hear this group....they're good
 
and they've been around A LONG time
This has a real Camera Obscura vibe. Very nice.
FIrst time i hear this group....they're good
Wow, you really touch me with Innocence MIssion. Thanks !!!!!
Lovely!! And I don't usually care for IM.
When Mac was swimming I was running late,
walking around New Orleans looking for a birthday cake.
It was a great surprise to him so many people came.
Nobody knows, darling.
Nobody knows how they are loved.
Don't worry, my darling, the sun's coming up. Let's get up early now, dive clear into the day.
Let's get out of the car with open arms,
not wait to be embraced.
The flowers that grew, the things that happened
since the day you came.
Nobody knows, darling.Nobody knows how they are loved.
Don't worry, my darling, the sun's coming up.
The Innocence Mission - When Mac Was Swimming
R.E.M. - Nightswimming
Steely Dan - Midnight Cruiser

There's Bill for you...


I guess you need to just sing him a few notes and he'll get back to you.  I'm doomed to the pits methinks...  {#Doh}

 Bleyfusz wrote:

So what about the rest of us {#Eek} ?
 

(her voice is very cute though, in the same way Hope Sandoval, Harriette Wheeler, and Ambrosia Parsleys' are)

one of my *favorite* songs ever discovered on RP. Wonderful.
 Canoe52 wrote:
Who are these guys?? They're great! Only on Radio Paradise...
 
they've been around for a long time. I use to go see them when I was in school back in the late '80s.
 RobK wrote:
I know Karen is religious.  I'm not.  When I hear her sing, I hope she's right.  With a voice like that, she deserves to go to heaven.   {#Heartkiss}
 
So what about the rest of us {#Eek} ?


{#Sunny}


Makes me think of walking in the park, in the fall, at dusk, with the sun lighting up all the leaves and putting reds and oranges all around you.
...PC was drowning?

Yeah, I know somebody must have already said this, but I'm too lazy to page back.
Ooohh! New for me, but I like! She has a voice like Metaxa Brandy, smooth with a bit of a bite, and gives you the shivers...
It's sleepy song..., but she gives me more and more energy for work! Nice
 laozilover wrote:
That does it! I've heard this TOO MANY TIMES on RP! I gots ta get me dis record!!
 

And there's not a bad tune in the entire work of music for this CD.
Too tired and full of McDonalds to enjoy this...but it is nice.

I would almost like it better if she were singing the "Phantom of the Opera" theme to this kind of music. It almost sounds like she is in the first couple lines.
Well this is a real yawner isn't it?
I know Karen is religious.  I'm not.  When I hear her sing, I hope she's right.  With a voice like that, she deserves to go to heaven.   {#Heartkiss}
A gorgeous song from a wondrous album.
I shouldnt like this song but for some reason i do.
I *like* her voice.
That does it! I've heard this TOO MANY TIMES on RP! I gots ta get me dis record!!
Holy crap this is good. Nothing like being surpised by good, new music.
awesome set list going this morning!
Killing me softly.
I'm usually lukewarm on Innocence Mission, but this one is quite nice. The lower register suits her voice much better (imho) than the high register she usually sings in.
Essbee wrote:
Sounded good until she started singing. An example of the "can't-sing-but-sings-anyway" style popularized by Edie Brickell. Barf.
Couldn't disagree with you more......
nice tune
prickelpit96 wrote:
No way out..I have to purchase this. I fell in love with her voice.
You won't be sorry...entirely lovely.
Sounded good until she started singing. An example of the "can't-sing-but-sings-anyway" style popularized by Edie Brickell. Barf.
TobyRush wrote:
Her voice actually reminds me a bit of Edie Brickell...
Interesting. I lent Karen Peris an Edie Brickell CD several years ago.
sfuller wrote:
I was waiting for a segue into 99 Red Luftballons.
I was waiting for a segue into 99 Red Luftballons. I do like her voice and the musical arrangement on this is nice too
coffee-eyes wrote:
Sounds like Harriet Wheeler from The Sundays.
I agree!!
Ah....really lovely, sweet...
This song messes with my psychologically. Not sure what happened - but I always get the same visuals and feeling of anxiety of when I was a little kid after getting back from Sunday school with that anticipation of the day being half over and school was tomorrow! Ahh!!
Chumbawamba-1984 wrote:
Maybe too much popcorn and beer while watching nascar on espn?
Beez wrote:
This song makes me vomit.
Maybe too much popcorn and beer while watching nascar on espn?
Her voice actually reminds me a bit of Edie Brickell...
gjeeg wrote:
Innocence Mission (Karen Peris and her brother) define melancholy. Gorgeous, haunting, moody.
Don Peris is Karen's husband, not brother, and they have two children, which she's singing about here. Karen plays piano and sings, Don plays guitar and Mike Bitts plays bass.
A perfect song for this cold, snowy, sleepy Michigan morning ....
pelipeli wrote:
Her voice sounds like Natalie Merchant...
actually the lead singer of IM has recorded a with Merchant. I believe it was on Merchant's Ophelia album.
Really nice flow to the music, nice balance and voice so well matched :)
Beautiful.
Innocence Mission (Karen Peris and her brother) define melancholy. Gorgeous, haunting, moody.
Such a great song from such a beautiful album. Gentle, pensive, delicate music with such a characterful and expressive vocal performance. Perfect for a relaxed Sunday morning.