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.
Only The Beginning
Downhere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just when I thought my time was through
Oh the stirring I feel inside
Is the voice I know I cannot deny
The surge of hope and full acceptance
Freedom deep as the blue
This is only the beginning
And the good work, He is still perfecting
A new name, a new dream, a new life
And this is only the beginning
This is only the beginning
The stream is swift when I step in
So I brace myself the adventure begins
I've seen things I never thought I'd believe
The hand of God brings about mysteries
Rolling waves, rushing wind and water
Swept away and dripping with wonder
Rolling waves, rushing wind and water
Swept away and dripping with wonder
It's His calling, it's His fire
This dream is real, it's His Spirit inside me
This is only the beginning
Press ahead forget what's behind, forget what's behind
And the good work, He is still perfecting
A new name, a new dream, a new life
And this is only the beginning
This is only the beginning
The song "Only The Beginning" by Downhere speaks to the idea of new beginnings and pursuing personal dreams. The lyrics express a sense of hope and excitement for what's to come. The song communicates that it's never too late to begin again and that there's always a chance for a new start. The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, talking about the stirring inside that is impossible to ignore. The surge of hope and full acceptance is compared to the freedom of deep blue waters, which is a beautiful metaphor for the emotions stirring inside the songwriter.
The chorus emphasizes the need to keep moving forward and to forget what's behind. It's about pressing ahead and not letting past mistakes or failures define you. The good work isn't finished, and the songwriter knows that this is only the beginning. The adventure is just starting, and there is so much to look forward to. The second verse describes the stream as swift and the adventure beginning. The hand of God brings about mysteries that the songwriter never thought possible, and they are swept away and dripping with wonder. The last verse speaks to the personal calling the songwriter feels deep within, acknowledging that this dream is real and that it's fueled by the Spirit inside.
Line by Line Meaning
It's only beginning it's true
This is the start of something significant
Just when I thought my time was through
Despite feeling hopeless, there is still potential
Oh the stirring I feel inside
An overwhelming feeling of inspiration and motivation
Is the voice I know I cannot deny
An undeniable urge to pursue this path
The surge of hope and full acceptance
Optimism and complete embrace of this new journey
Freedom deep as the blue
A sense of liberation as boundless as the ocean
The stream is swift when I step in
Progress quickly accelerates when I take action
So I brace myself the adventure begins
Preparing for the exciting, unknown adventure ahead
I've seen things I never thought I'd believe
Unexpected experiences that defy expectations
The hand of God brings about mysteries
Divine intervention and guidance through the unknown
Rolling waves, rushing wind and water
The forces of nature that represent the power of God
Swept away and dripping with wonder
Overwhelmed and completely captivated by this new journey
It's His calling, it's His fire
This is a calling and a passion inspired by God
This dream is real, it's His Spirit inside me
This vision is legitimate and based on my connection with God
Press ahead forget what's behind, forget what's behind
Keep moving forward and don't dwell on past failures or setbacks
And the good work, He is still perfecting
God is continually working to improve and shape me
A new name, a new dream, a new life
A fresh perspective and direction for my life
And this is only the beginning
The potential for growth and fulfillment is limitless
This is only the beginning
The start of something great
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
J Allen
My husband and I used this song in our wedding.
Noris Araya
👍👏👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏🙏Maravillosooossss...
Lola Becker
This is so wonderful♡
Di Gi
meravigliosa!