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
Mystery
By the Tree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're looking for the medicine to make the morning light
You wake up and you wonder, does anybody care?
We're living in a world that nobody wants to share
Traces of my love in the spaces all around
How will it begin to look up if you're always looking down?
Seek and you shall find,
And if you thirst for love, drink of me I'll fill you up
[Chorus:]
Hey would you like to meet with me?
I can show you all that there is to see
Hey would you like to meet with me?
I can show you all of life's mysteries
Take a look around the town in which you live
How many people take, but few people give?
Did I leave the world?
Am I ever missed?
If you believe in love then you believe that I exist
For to love what the eye can't see,
Is the sort of love that sets a blind man free
The heart is the door to the place where you hide
I knock and I knock, but the lock is on the inside
If you open up, drink of me I'll fill your cup
[Chorus]
The song "Mystery" by By The Tree explores the idea of feeling lost and disconnected in the world. The lyrics describe the struggle of waking up to a new day, hoping for a change, but feeling as though nobody cares. The lines "Traces of my love in the spaces all around, how will it begin to look up if you're always looking down?" suggest that love can be found in even the smallest details if we only take the time to look for it. The verses also delve into the concept of faith, with the line "Faith is a flower blooming deep inside the mind," implying that even in the darkest moments, there is always a seed of hope that can grow and bloom.
The chorus of the song offers a solution to the feelings of disconnection, inviting the listener to meet with the singer who can show them all of life's mysteries. The verse that follows encourages the listener to take a closer look at the people around them and to consider how they can give back instead of just taking. The idea of being missed and the question of whether one has made a positive impact in the world are also explored. The final lines of the song, "If you open up, drink of me I'll fill your cup," suggest that by being vulnerable and opening up to others, one can find the love and connection they are looking for.
Line by Line Meaning
The day breaks you apart, you're broken from the night
Waking up in the morning after a rough night, feeling broken and separated from the rest of the day.
You're looking for the medicine to make the morning light
Searching for a way to make the day better and brighter, like medicine for an illness.
You wake up and you wonder, does anybody care?
Feeling lonely and unimportant, questioning whether anyone cares about your well-being.
We're living in a world that nobody wants to share
A society where people are not willing to share their resources or connect with each other.
Traces of my love in the spaces all around
Signs of love and connection can be found everywhere, even in small, unnoticed places.
How will it begin to look up if you're always looking down?
Life will not improve if you are always focused on negative and depressing things.
Seek and you shall find,
If you actively search for something, you will eventually discover it.
Faith is a flower blooming deep inside the mind
Belief and hope can grow within a person's thoughts and emotions, like a flower blossoming.
And if you thirst for love, drink of me I'll fill you up
If you are craving love and connection, the artist is willing to provide it.
[Chorus:] Hey would you like to meet with me? I can show you all that there is to see Hey would you like to meet with me? I can show you all of life's mysteries
Inviting the listener to connect with the artist and explore the mysteries and wonders of life together.
Take a look around the town in which you live
Encouraging the listener to observe and be mindful of their environment.
How many people take, but few people give?
Noting that many people are self-centered and only interested in receiving, not giving to others.
Did I leave the world? Am I ever missed?
Wondering whether the singer's presence in the world makes a difference or if they would be noticed if they were gone.
If you believe in love then you believe that I exist
Connecting the idea of love with the singer's existence and presence in the world.
For to love what the eye can't see, Is the sort of love that sets a blind man free
Real love can transcend physical appearances and limitations, giving a sense of freedom and liberation.
The heart is the door to the place where you hide
One's emotions, especially those hidden or suppressed, are the gateway to their true inner self.
I knock and I knock, but the lock is on the inside
The artist is trying to reach the listener's deepest emotions and self, but the barrier to do so is internal, not external.
If you open up, drink of me I'll fill your cup
If the listener is willing to let their guard down and connect emotionally with the singer, they will be rewarded with love and connection.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MILES DAVIS, OSTEN HARVEY, OSTEN S HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind