As with most aspiring musical groups, By the Tree got their start playing a series of small venues — predominantly churches — throughout the southern and southwestern United States. Their near-constant touring cultivated a sizeable fan base.
In 1999 they released two independent, self-produced CDs, which they sold at their concerts. By 2001, these two CDs had sold a combined 30,000 units, which more than recouped their production costs, and additionally brought them to the attention of the Gospel music industry.
The band eventually signed with Fervent Records, part of the BMG music publishing company. Their first national U.S. commercial recording was Invade My Soul. The album charted in the Billboard Top 40 in the Contemporary Christian and Independent categories. The album eventually went on to win two Dove Awards: The album itself won Best Modern Rock/Alternative Album, and the album's title track won Best Recorded Song.
The band has gone through numerous lineup changes since signing with Fervent. Drummer Aaron Blanton joined the group prior to the recording of Invade My Soul, and bassist Ben Davis joined in 2002 for the recording of These Days. Original member Kevin Rhoads left the band shortly after the release of These Days and was replaced by Charlie Goddard, who left the band in 2003 to join the Jeff Deyo Band.
By the Tree has released four albums under the Fervent label, and they remain one of the more popular acts in Contemporary Christian music.
Chuck Dennie now lives in Franklin, TN with his wife Joanne.
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/bythetree
Confessions
By The Tree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We need to know
How do we get out of here
Cause its out of control
Then we fall down, we fall down
Around and round we go with this merry life
You asked me once, I told you twice
There's a difference between black and white
You have made us for yourself
And our hearts are restless till we rest in you
(x2)
I was looking for it all
You came the wrong way
I was looking for it all
I looked the wrong way
Then I fall down, I fall down
You asked me once, I told you twice
There's a difference between wrong and right
I want something else in this life
I want something else in this life
By The Tree's song Confessions speaks to the human experience of feeling lost and seeking a way out of the chaos of life. The opening lines set the stage for an urgent quest for answers, as the singer implores, "Start the engine lets go / We need to know / How do we get out of here / Cause its out of control." This sense of desperation is echoed later in the chorus, with the repeated refrain of "Then we fall down, we fall down / Around and round we go with this merry life." Despite this seeming futility, there is a glimmer of hope in the acknowledgement of a difference between black and white, wrong and right.
The crux of the song, however, lies in the repeated assertion that "You have made us for yourself / And our hearts are restless till we rest in you." This is a nod to the concept of the human soul's innate longing for spiritual fulfillment, and the recognition that true peace and purpose can only be found in connection to a higher power. The singer admits to having looked for something else in life, only to come up short - "I was looking for it all / You came the wrong way / I was looking for it all / I looked the wrong way." However, there is a sense of renewed determination in the final repetition of the desire for something more.
Overall, Confessions is a song that speaks to universal themes of seeking, longing, and the search for meaning in the midst of a chaotic world. Its repeated references to black and white, wrong and right, and the overarching message of finding rest in a higher power make it a poignant and relatable meditation on the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Start the engine lets go
Let's take action and move forward
We need to know
We need answers and clarity
How do we get out of here
We need guidance and direction to escape our current situation
Cause its out of control
Our circumstances are chaotic and beyond our control
Then we fall down, we fall down
We make mistakes and face challenges
Around and round we go with this merry life
Life is unpredictable and full of ups and downs
You asked me once, I told you twice
I have already given you my answer, even though you may not have understood it the first time
There's a difference between black and white
Things are not always as simple as they seem, there are often nuances and complexities
You have made us for yourself
We were created to fulfill a specific purpose for a higher power
And our hearts are restless till we rest in you
We will never find true peace and fulfillment until we connect with our spiritual origin
I was looking for it all
I craved complete fulfillment and happiness
You came the wrong way
I searched for happiness in the wrong places
I looked the wrong way
I had incorrect expectations and beliefs
There's a difference between wrong and right
We are responsible for our own choices and actions, and it's important to know the difference between what is ethical and what is not
I want something else in this life
I desire something more than what I currently have
I want something else in this life
I desire something more than what I currently have
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: CHARLES DENNIE, CHUCK DENNIE, PETER FURLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind