Meece often incorporates classical piano works into his songs. "This Time" (from LEARNING TO TRUST) borrows its opening section, bridge and ending tag from Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude" (Op. 10, No. 12) in C minor. Similarly, the introductory melody for "You Can Go" (from the album 7) is taken from Bach's Two-Part Invention No. 13 in A Minor (BWV 784) and "Falling Down" (from COUNT THE COST) has its basis in a sonata by Mozart.
His song "We Are the Reason" has been recorded by over 200 other artists and CHRONOLOGY's "Seventy-Times-Seven" peaked at No. 77 in Australia's Top 100 chart. David worked with Canadian Juno Award winner Gino Vannelli for his albums CHRONOLOGY and CANDLE IN THE RAIN.
David and his wife currently live in Franklin, Tennessee.
When I Was 17
David Meece Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said he had to move on
He took the bottle as his only friend
I didn't know why, I didn't know why
Mama tried to do the best that she could
But she just didn't understand
All the confusion I was feeling inside
Feeling so alone
How I wish back then I'd known
When I was seventeen
Na na, na na na na
You were callin'
Na na, na na na na
While I was fallin'
Na na, na na na na
When I was seventeen, seventeen
From study hall to the senior prom
I felt like no one at all
And just a shadow in a crowded room
I didn't know why, I didn't know why
Thought I was to blame
While Your love screamed out my name
When I was seventeen
Na na, na na na na
You were callin'
Na na, na na na na
While I was fallin'
Na na, na na na na
When I was seventeen
Sure, I heard You died for me
I heard about the Cross
But oh, the pain was burning deep
It took so long to hear Your voice
Na na, na na na na
You were callin'
Na na, na na na na
While I was fallin'
Na na, na na na na
When I was seventeen
Na na, na na na na
You were callin' me
Na na, na na na na
While I was fallin'
Na na, na na na na
When I was seventeen
Na na, na na na na
You were callin' me
Na na, na na na na
While I was fallin'
Na na, na na na na
When I was seventeen
I found a photo of my mom and dad
A few tears later I could see
How much You loved that lonely boy I was
Seventeen
Na na, na na na na
Na na, na na na na
Na na, na na na na
When I was seventeen
David Meece's song "When I Was Seventeen" is about a young man looking back on his past and reflecting on the struggles he faced. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about his childhood, specifically about how his father left him when he was young, taking only his bottle as a companion. As a confused and lonely child, he didn't understand why his father had abandoned him. He then reflects on his mother's attempts to take care of him, but ultimately failing to understand the turmoil he was feeling inside.
Moving forward to his teenage years, the singer continues to speak about feeling lost and alone. He goes to school every day and attends the senior prom, but he can't seem to find his place in the world. He feels like a shadow - barely present and easily overlooked. He wonders if he is to blame for not fitting in with his peers. It's at this point in the song that he begins to hear the call of God. He's heard about the Cross, but it wasn't until he hit rock-bottom that he truly began to listen to His voice.
As the song comes to a close, the singer reflects on how far he's come. He speaks about finding a photograph of his mom and dad and realizing how much God truly loved him, even in his darkest moments. The refrain of the song, in which the singer repeats "Na na, na na na na" several times, is a representation of God's call to him. Through his struggles, it's almost as if God was saying "I was there all along, calling you to me."
Line by Line Meaning
My daddy left home when I was a kid
My father left our home when I was young.
Said he had to move on
He mentioned that he must leave to the next phase of his life.
He took the bottle as his only friend
He turned to alcoholism and left me alone.
I didn't know why, I didn't know why
I didn't understand why he had to do that.
Mama tried to do the best that she could
My mother tried her best to raise me.
But she just didn't understand
But she didn't really get my situation.
All the confusion I was feeling inside
I was confused and hurt about everything that was happening.
I didn't know why, I didn't know why
I didn't understand why things were so hard.
Feeling so alone
I felt isolated by my experiences.
How I wish back then I'd known
I wish I had known then what I know now.
When I was seventeen
When I was young and inexperienced.
From study hall to the senior prom
From school to graduation.
I felt like no one at all
I felt like nobody understood me or cared.
And just a shadow in a crowded room
I felt invisible and unimportant.
I didn't know why, I didn't know why
I didn't understand why I felt so lost.
Thought I was to blame
I believed that I was responsible for my situation.
While Your love screamed out my name
God's love was calling me.
Sure, I heard You died for me
I learned about the sacrifice of Jesus.
I heard about the Cross
I learned about Jesus's crucifixion.
But oh, the pain was burning deep
But the pain I felt was still real and deep.
It took so long to hear Your voice
It took me a long time to hear and accept God's love.
I found a photo of my mom and dad
I found a picture of my parents.
A few tears later I could see
I cried and realized some things.
How much You loved that lonely boy I was
I saw that God loved me despite my struggles.
Na na, na na na na
Musical bridge of the song.
When I was seventeen
When I was young and inexperienced.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jennifer Pruitt
Best David Meece album EVER!!! When I was 17, I was dealing with some serious issues of my own! That was 1993....
Flern Flanstonsons
For sure his best album and one of the greatest of all time generally, he's had some good ones but this is truly exceptional
Jennifer Pruitt
@Jonathan Lee I'm 45 now and doing okay.
Jonathan Lee
Jennifer - I hope you're all right!
Axl Kix
Agreed! Truly, a solid album.
Flern Flanstonsons
I'm sitting here right now in the exact parking spot at Denny's. The spot I was in when I heard this full album on cassette back in 93. My brother hated Christian music but we listened to the whole thing and he loved it. I didn't understand why he liked it so much and years later I listen to it and realized that the whole album was the story of his life with a message of Hope and that God really cared for him and his love and grace was calling him to Him. He had a terrible time understanding grace and mercy and God really used this album in his life and mine too as I've struggled myself. He was saved around a year later. I want to encourage everyone to listen to the entire album. It is truly exceptional.
Darmadi Darmawangsa
I was 22 when I heard this song in my apt across the charles river, Boston. The song really brings hope to those who want to know Him
DrPolarBaer73
This song brings back some great memories. It was David's tour to Australia for this album where I finally gave into God and submitted my life to Jesus. That was in 1990, on Feb 17th, I was only a little over a week from turning 17! This song has stayed with me since then......along with many of David Meece's songs.
Axl Kix
That's really cool, my man!
Mel Schimdt
That's great.....I am Australian too and I went to the same concert..... Jesus really touched a lot of lives when David Meece came to town!