The band was formed by Marc Martel and Jason Germain who were roommates at Briercrest Bible College in Caronport, Saskatchewan. Martel and Germain added fellow Canadians Jeremy Thiessen and Tyson Manning, along with American Corey Doak in 1999, and released an eponymous debut album independently on Slyngshot Records. Tyson and Doak left the band, and later on Downhere signed with Word Records. In February 2001, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee. The band soon added bassist Glenn Lavender, whom they had met two years earlier, after his band broke up. Downhere's independent album was reissued with the inclusion of bassist Lavender, and released in 2001 as their international debut, downhere.
Their second album, also released through Word Records was entitled So Much For Substitutes. In 2006 they were signed to Centricity Records and released Wide-Eyed and Mystified which led to the 2007 Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year, and Covenant Awards for Rock Album of the Year and Recorded Song of the Year ("A Better Way").
In 2007, the band released two additional CDs that were unique. In early 2007, they released Wide-Eyed and Simplified, which contained new versions of 8 songs from Wide-Eyed and Mystified, in addition to three popular songs from earlier releases. Later in 2007, the band released Thunder After Lightning (The Uncut Demos). This album contained 15 previously unreleased demos which were considered for use on Wide-Eyed and Mystified but were not used. The CD also contained demo versions of two songs which were used on Wide-Eyed and Mystified. In April 2007, Downhere released Thank You for Coming (The Live Bootlegs), a six-song collection of live songs recorded in 2007 while on tour with Jason Gray & Lanae Hale.
Their next album, Ending Is Beginning, was released on September 23, 2008. The band released the songs for a few days and gave fans the chance to give input on which songs they should put on the album, and as a pre-release to Ending Is Beginning in June 2008 they gave away the whole album Wide-Eyed and Mystified as a free download.
In October 2009, they released How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas, a collection of Christmas songs. This included "How Many Kings", which was a bonus track on Ending Is Beginning. Between the release of Ending Is Beginning and On the Altar of Love, Downhere released Two at a Time: Sneak Peeks & B-Sides, a collection of older songs compiled over their career, as well as two new songs: "You're Not Alone" and "The Song You Sing". "You're Not Alone" was released as a single in May 2010.
In May 2011, the first single,"Let Me Rediscover You", from their upcoming album On the Altar of Love was released. The album itself was released August 23, 2011.
Holy
Downhere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh great God of Abraham
Who gave his only Son
You are the same yesterday, today
Forever you are faithful
And your covenant remains
Holy is the Lord most high
Holy is the Lord of life
You are holy, holy
You are holy, God
Spirit aflame in my heart
The same who burned in Isaac
Calls and sets me apart
You are my joy, my comforter and peace
You guide my dreams reveal the truth
And move in me to sing
Holy is the Lord most high
Holy is the Lord of lights
Holy is the Lord of life
You are holy, holy
You are holy, God
Jesus, my brother, king and friend
The heir of Jacob, Son of God
Beginning and the end
You bore my shame
In death carried my sin
Worthy Lamb, who gave Your life
Now, I can live again
Holy is the Lord most high
Holy is the Lord of lights
Holy is the Lord of life
You are holy, holy
You are holy, God
Who was and is and is to come
The Father Spirit and the Son
Holy, holy, holy One
Holy, holy God
Downhere's song "Holy" is a powerful declaration of the holiness of God and His unchanging nature. The song starts with the acknowledgement of God as the Father and the composer of love. The lyrics reference Abraham and the fact that God gave His only Son. The song reinforces that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and His covenant remains. The Holy One is worthy to be praised and is the Lord most high.
The second verse references the Spirit aflame in the heart and the same Spirit that burned in Isaac. The song speaks of the Holy Spirit as the one who calls and sets us apart. The Holy Spirit is the joy, comforter, and peace and moves in us to sing. The bridge references Jesus as our friend and King, the heir of Jacob and the Son of God. The song notes that Jesus bore our shame and carried our sins in death as the worthy Lamb who gave His life.
Overall, "Holy" is a moving declaration of the holiness of God and the role of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in our lives. The song acknowledges that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and His covenant remains. The lyrics declare the worthiness of the Holy One to be praised and to receive all honor, glory, and power.
Line by Line Meaning
Father, composer of love
God, the creator and author of love
Oh great God of Abraham
God worshipped by Abraham and his descendants
Who gave his only Son
God sacrificed his only son, Jesus, for humanity
You are the same yesterday, today
God's character and nature remains constant throughout time
Forever you are faithful
God is always trustworthy and dependable
And your covenant remains
God's promises to his people are enduring
Holy is the Lord most high
God is pure, blameless and exalted above all
Holy is the Lord of lights
God is the source of light and illumination
Holy is the Lord of life
God is the creator and sustainer of life
You are holy, holy
God is entirely pure and separate from evil
You are holy, God
A declaration of God's holiness and majesty
Spirit aflame in my heart
The Holy Spirit burns within the singer's heart
The same who burned in Isaac
The Holy Spirit that inspired and led Isaac
Calls and sets me apart
The Holy Spirit guides the singer to live a life set apart for God
You are my joy, my comforter and peace
The Holy Spirit brings joy, comfort and peace to the singer
You guide my dreams reveal the truth
The Holy Spirit helps the singer interpret their dreams and discern the truth
And move in me to sing
The Holy Spirit inspires the singer to worship
Jesus, my brother, king and friend
Jesus is the singer's sibling, ruler and companion
The heir of Jacob, Son of God
Jesus is the promised savior and the son of God
Beginning and the end
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the first and last
You bore my shame
Jesus took on the guilt and shame of humanity
In death carried my sin
Jesus took the punishment for human sins through his death
Worthy Lamb, who gave Your life
Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, gave his life for humanity
Now, I can live again
Jesus' sacrifice allows humanity to find new life
Who was and is and is to come
God is eternal and everlasting
The Father Spirit and the Son
God exists in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Holy, holy, holy One
God's holiness is repeated three times as a symbol of perfection
Holy, holy God
A declaration of God's holiness and majesty
Contributed by Tristan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
gmwsea
One of my favorite Christian bands. I've listened to their albums more than any other. The music and lyrics are amazing. I believe they are from Canada.
Stuart Wall
This song reflects the new maturity of this most recent album; all the more powerful for the understated vocals. You can almost detect the heavenly hosts empowering the chorus. Wonderful.
MadMadamMimsy88
I'm not a "worship music listening" kind of gal. That being said, this song is one of my favorites from this album. One of my favorites from the band's whole career. After months of listening to it, I still can't sing the whole thing for getting choked up and weeping. Honest, sincere, full of life-giving truth.
Rognox
Powerful, Reminds me of the songs that i song as a little kid at church, I haven't sung, or heard, the like for years, it really gets to me as my faith has been wavering lately, the reminder of happier times helps me to see through this point in my life.
Aleyda Aragon
I love this band, we need more band of Christian music this one. God bless you.
gladys vera
Simplemente GRANDIOSOS !!!
💖💖💖🎶💖💖💖🎶💖💖💖
jnjmusic1
this is a wonderful song
Lori Benintendi
Amen.🙌👑✝️🕊❤❤❤
Kamil Czoska
Bóg jest wielki i wynagrodzi wam to , bardzo chciałbym każdemu z was uścisnąć rękę :) jesteście niesamowici . Tylko głupi nie poparł by was gdybyście mieli dostać Oscara lub statuetkę MTV :) pozdrawiam
Tavita James
Can't believe queen brought me to this greatness....much luv n respect to u guys..my god bless ur every move..