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.
You're Not Alone
Downhere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This season of waiting, is starting to get old
Looking for acceptance, and aching for a home
So tired of trying to make it out on your own
There's no easy answer, but one thing you should know
You're not alone, anywhere you go
A promise you can always hold:
You're not alone, no
You're stuck in a dive and you've almost had enough
Because of what you've been through, it's difficult to trust
You're still barely hanging on, trying hard to fight
If anybody's listening, you want to know tonight
There's no easy answer, but one thing you should know
You're not alone, anywhere you go
You're not alone, hear the voice whisper to your soul
A promise you can always hold:
You're not alone, no
You're not alone
You're not alone
Reach out, don't reach within
I'm at the door, if you just let me in
Reach out for what you need
What you won't find in yourself, you will find in me
You're not alone, hear the voice whisper to your soul
I'll never leave or let you go
You're not alone, I'm with you to the end
You're not alone, I'm closer than a friend
You're not alone, and I'm with you to the end
You're not alone, closer than a friend
You're not alone...
The song "You're Not Alone" by Downhere speaks directly to those who are feeling isolated, alone, and struggling through a difficult season of life. The lyrics acknowledge the toll that this period of waiting can take on a person and how difficult it is to find acceptance and a place to call home. The song speaks to the feeling of being tired of trying to make it on your own and the difficulty in trusting others after what you've been through. The chorus of the song provides a powerful reminder to the listener that they are not alone, that there is a voice that whispers to their soul, and that they can always hold onto the promise that they are not alone.
The verses of the song contrast the feelings of isolation and struggle with the idea of reaching out and finding support in a higher power. The lyrics encourage listeners to reach out instead of reaching within and to let this higher power in to help them through their struggles. The song offers the hope that through this power, the listener can find what they need, even if they can't find it within themselves. Overall, this is a powerful and uplifting song that offers comfort and hope to those who are struggling.
Line by Line Meaning
You feel the isolation, slowly take a toll
You are experiencing loneliness and it is starting to affect you negatively over time.
This season of waiting, is starting to get old
You have been waiting for a while and it is becoming tiresome.
Looking for acceptance, and aching for a home
You desire to be accepted and to find a sense of belonging somewhere.
So tired of trying to make it out on your own
You are exhausted from attempting to manage on your own.
There's no easy answer, but one thing you should know
While there may not be a simple solution, there is one piece of information that you must be aware of.
You're not alone, anywhere you go
Despite your isolation, there is always someone with you, no matter where you are.
You're not alone, hear the voice whisper to your soul
There is a voice that can be heard in your innermost self telling you that you are not alone.
A promise you can always hold:
This is a vow that you can always depend on.
You're not alone, no
You are not alone, period.
You're stuck in a dive and you've almost had enough
You are in a difficult place and you are almost at your breaking point.
Because of what you've been through, it's difficult to trust
Your past experiences have left you unable to trust easily.
You're still barely hanging on, trying hard to fight
You are barely managing to hold on and are working hard to keep going.
If anybody's listening, you want to know tonight
You want to know that someone is paying attention to you, that someone cares.
Reach out, don't reach within
Look to others for help and support, don't rely only on yourself.
I'm at the door, if you just let me in
Help is available, if only you would allow it into your life.
Reach out for what you need
Seek out what you require from others, do not be afraid to ask for assistance.
What you won't find in yourself, you will find in me
There are things that you cannot do on your own, that can only be achieved with assistance; that is why there is help available if only you let someone in.
I'll never leave or let you go
The promise is made that you will never be abandoned, left alone or forgotten.
You're not alone, I'm with you to the end
There is someone who is always with you, no matter how long or hard the journey gets.
You're not alone, I'm closer than a friend
Not only is there someone with you, but this presence is closer than any normal person who could provide friendship.
You're not alone, and I'm with you to the end
This vow is repeated as an affirmation of the constant presence that will always be there.
You're not alone, closer than a friend
This vow is repeated to signify the depth of the closeness of this presence.
You're not alone...
The song ends with a final affirmation of the promise of constant companionship.
Contributed by Camilla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jewel Lee
Thank you Jesus Christ for helping to form this band...what an awesome group of guys using their talent for you!!!! The song "Here I Am" is great (as is this one) and is so descriptive of how we all feel from time to time. Thank you Heavenly Father for EVERYTHING!!!!!
IvanMtl
My two thumbs are definitely way up! Marc's audition tape for the Queen Extravaganza Tribute may have brought me here, but it's Downhere's great music that keeps me coming back for more. I love Queen, but since I lbelieve that the heart has the ability to produce an infinite amount of love, I'm directing some of that in Downhere's direction. ;-)
3amtimetosleep
I love Downhere, seen them twice in concert, truly amazing. Marc's voice gives me goose bumps, he sings effortlessly. Love it, love it, LOVE IT!!
3amtimetosleep
I also love the contrast between Jason and Marc's voices. Just awesome!! Also such a positive message in all their music, keep spreading the word!!
Rebekah Maxner
I love the blend of the clear tenor and the husky baritone.
bcraig1972
Keep doing what you do guys....God has blessed you all with amazing gifts. Don't forget what got you to this point and never lose sight of that..Bless you all.
Jeff K
Downhere is an awsome band ! I never get tired of listening to them. Can't wait to see them live again someday soon.
Kyle Kunkel
Downhere has an 'embarassment of riches' - two amazing vocalists, incredibly different from each other and yet both stunning!
mrw650
Their voices go together so beautifully....
Priest Benedict Simpson
Music with a deep Christian message. The musicianship is excellent! The message is unparalleled! Sometimes, the truth hits the heart much stronger when ensconced in harmony and melody. It is a small measure of God's magnificence made tangible in music. God be praised and God bless and keep you all!!! Fr. Darren Simpson+ Anglican Church in North America "Reaching the Least and the Lost with the Transforming Message of Jesus Christ"