As with most aspiring musical groups, By the Tree got their start playing a series of small venues β predominantly churches β 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
When I Found You
By the Tree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wonder how it all began
The first time I came to understand
Your love was real to me
More real than anything
Chorus:
When I found You
Your glory all around
When I found You
You came into my life and made everyday
Brand new, when I found You
I long to explore the mystery
of leaving it all behind
And find You beyond this crowded life
I know there's got to be more
Won't You bring that day back again
Chorus
Bridge:
Well it's got to be
Awakened in me
And I need to see reality
Come make a way,
Awaken that day in me
Chorus (X2)
The lyrics to By The Tree's song "When I Found You" are centered on the theme of the singer's relationship with God. The song highlights the moment when the singer discovered God's love and the power that it holds. The lyrics in the first verse illustrate the singer's reflection on how they came to understand the reality of God's love. The opening line of "some days I think and wonder how it all began" could refer to how the singer stumbled upon their faith or how they discovered the significance of God in their life for the first time. The second line, "the first time I came to understand" hints at a specific moment of clarity and realization for the singer.
The chorus reinforces the idea of this life-changing moment. The repetition of "when I found You" emphasizes the significance of this experience, and the line "Your glory all around" highlights the awe-inspiring and transformative nature of this encounter. The following lines "you came into my life and made every day brand new" indicate that the singer's newfound faith has had a profound impact on every aspect of their life. The second usage of the chorus near the end of the song offers the idea that the singer wants to reconnect with that moment and asks God to "bring that day back again."
Overall, the song offers a message of hope and finding one's purpose in life through faith. It reflects on the journey of discovery and the transformative effect that God can have on an individual's life. It's a reminder for the listeners of the power of faith and the possibility of encountering God in their own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Some days I think and
Occasional days, my mind ponders and
Wonder how it all began
I wonder about the origin of it all
The first time I came to understand
The moment of comprehension was the initial occurrence
Your love was real to me
I felt the genuineness of your love towards me
More real than anything
It was more concrete than any other thing
Chorus:
Refrain:
When I found You
When I encountered You
That's when I found You for the very first time
It was the premiere meeting with You
Your glory all around
Your eminence was surrounding me
You came into my life and made everyday
Introducing You into my life modified every day
Brand new, when I found You
Revolutionizing my life, when I met You
I long to explore the mystery
I have an intense desire to know the unknown
of leaving it all behind
Abandoning everything I know
And find You beyond this crowded life
Locate You outside this cluttered existence
I know there's got to be more
I am assured that there is further to go
Won't You bring that day back again
Please, can You retrieve that day for me?
Bridge:
Interlude:
Well it's got to be
Certainly, it must be
Awakened in me
Aroused inside of me
And I need to see reality
I require seeing the truth
Come make a way,
Come and make a path
Awaken that day in me
Stimulate that day inside of me
Chorus (X2)
Refrain (twice):
Contributed by Cooper T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.