1 - The band ma… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three bands using the name "Glad"
1 - The band making the most longstanding use of the name is a contemporary Christian band (and often, a cappella ensemble) formed in 1972 on the campus of West Chester State University of Pennsylvania when singer Ed Nalle auditioned for a new Christian band. Nalle would write and produce much of GLAD's early material in addition to his role as lead vocalist. The other members (from Temple University in Philadelphia) were Bob Kauflin (keyboards, vocals), T. Coble (bass, vocals), John Bolles (guitar, vocals), and Brad Curry (drums). The group's name was chosen from a poll taken at a shopping mall. Playing over 200 dates annually at college campuses, churches and concert halls throughout the United States, GLAD released their first two albums on Myrrh Records in 1978 and 1980.
"The Reason" (on Beyond a Star) was their first a cappella song, which they subsequently re-recorded for their 1988 watershed album, The Acapella Project. That album was released with some trepidation because there was no track record in the genre for the Christian market, but it proved tremendously popular (selling over 400,000 copies), and received a Dove Award nomination and a Billboard Critic's Choice Award. Since that time, GLAD has alternated band and a cappella recordings and increased their admirers, evidenced by new groups that are obviously influenced by the group's elaborate, multilayered sound.
GLAD ventured into the mainstream with their 1995 release, A Cappella Gershwin (featuring some arrangements by the legendary Gene Puerling), which set the a cappella world buzzing and helped introduce their music to a wider audience.
GLAD's current lineup includes Nalle and longtime members Chris Davis (a musician with a strong background in classical and electric guitar, plus session work in the Northwest) and John Gates (an experienced studio percussionist who backed Gladys Knight & the Pips, Frankie and the Knockouts, and others), plus alternating keyboardists Paul Langford and Don Pardoe. Kauflin and Don Hart are the group's primary a cappella arrangers. Recently, the group has released recordings inspired by the writings of John Piper and the worship music of Sovereign Grace Ministries (formerly PDI).
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2 - The second band calling itself Glad is Timothy B. Schmit's band, who made one album in 1968 before he left to join Poco and become a leading figure in the development and evolution of Country Rock.
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3 - Third, Glad is also the name of a little-known UK indie band. Formed in Oxford in 1988, the band that was to become Glad changed their name more often than their underwear. Settling on Smitty’s Chopper for their first gig, the band’s original line-up was Mark Jordan (bass & vocals), Tony Greenham (guitar), Jon Williams (guitar), Will Crerar (drums) and John Tabinor (vocals). Jordan soon took over as main vocalist with Tabinor opting to leave rather than become an embarrassing appendage. The band’s name gradually morphed into Paisley Nightmare and Angus-Boyd Heron was recruited on bass, leaving Jordan free to focus on his frontman persona. After a final, Madchester-inspired name change to Glad and a personnel change in the drumming department, the band split in 1992.
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Gloria
Glad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn like the autumn leaves
In effort to praise you
Wish I could smell like a forest
The fragrance lifting a mighty In effort to praise you
In effort to praise you
But I'm such a limited creature
And my words can only paint so many pictures
That I am treasured over all creation
So I know that I must try
Wish I could roll like the thunder
To leave the earth below in wonder
In effort to praise you
Wish I could fall like the summer rain
Every drop would sing your name
In effort to praise you
In effort to praise you
But I'm such a limited creature
And my words can only paint so many pictures
But somewhere I think I've read
That I am treasured over all creation
So I know that I must try
I must try
Gloria! Glory in the highest
Forever I will hide myself in you
Oh, Gloria! Glory in the highest
Forever I will hide myself in you
Every breath that I breathe
Every moment in my history
Is an effort to praise you
An effort to praise you
Gloria! Glory in the highest
Forever I will hide myself in you
Oh, Gloria! Glory in the highest
Forever I will hide myself in you
Gloria! Glory in the highest
Forever I will hide myself in you
Oh, Gloria! Glory in excelsis Deo
Gloria, Gloria
The song "Gloria" by Glad is a beautiful expression of personal devotion and praise towards a higher power. The lyrics describe the singer's limitations as a human being and their desire to praise their creator in the best way possible. The song begins by wishing to crash like the waves, turn like the autumn leaves, and smell like a forest. All of these natural processes happen effortlessly, and the singer wishes to emulate them as a way to praise their creator. They continue by expressing that they are aware of their limited capabilities as a human being, and that their words can only do so much justice in praising their creator. However, they have also read that they are treasured above all creation, and therefore, they must try to praise God in the best way possible. The singer then wishes that they could roll like thunder and fall like summer rain, both of which are powerful and awe-inspiring natural occurrences. The song ends with the singer expressing that every breath they take and every moment in their history is an effort to praise God.
Line by Line Meaning
Wish I could crash like the waves
I long to have the same power and effortless grace as the waves crashing onto the shore
Turn like the autumn leaves
I yearn to have the same ability to change and transform as the leaves in the fall
In effort to praise you
Both crashing and turning are actions that glorify and praise you, and that's what I long to do
Wish I could smell like a forest
I wish I could have the same purity and natural beauty as a forest, which speaks of the Creator's glory
The fragrance lifting a mighty
The fragrance that emanates from the forest reflects the Creator's might
But I'm such a limited creature
I am just a small, finite being with limited abilities
And my words can only paint so many pictures
The words I use to describe my praise and adoration for you are limited and can only capture so much
But somewhere I think I've read
I recall reading somewhere that even though I am limited, I am still treasured by the Creator above all other creations
So I know that I must try
Therefore, I know that I must continue to attempt to give you the praise and honor you deserve
Wish I could roll like the thunder
I wish I could mimic the thunder, which speaks of your power, majesty, and authority
To leave the earth below in wonder
I hope that my actions and words of praise, like thunder, will inspire and astonish those around me
Wish I could fall like the summer rain
I wish I could fall like the summer rain, so even that will be a pathway to worshiping the creator
Every drop would sing your name
If I could fall and every drop that touches the earth would sing your name, it would be a wonderful act of worship
But I'm such a limited creature
I am still limited and cannot do these things, no matter how much I desire to praise you in every way possible
I must try
Even though I am limited, I still must try to praise you to the best of my ability
Gloria! Glory in the highest
Gloria! Glory in the highest signifies that only our Creator deserves the highest honor
Forever I will hide myself in you
I am willing to do whatever it takes to stay close to you, trusting in your wisdom and love
Every breath that I breathe
Every breath I take is an opportunity to glorify and honor the Creator
Every moment in my history
Every moment in my past, present, and future has the potential to bring glory to the Creator, and that's what I strive to do
Is an effort to praise you
Everything I do, including breathing and living, is an effort to give you the praise and adoration you deserve
Gloria! Glory in excelsis Deo
This line is a translation of 'Glory to God in the Highest' which declaring the glory of our Creator
Gloria, Gloria
Gloria, Gloria is an exclamation of praise and gives unmistakable affection and thence a great bond between a worshipper and the Creator.
Contributed by Lily W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John-Marylou Wells
on There Is Hope
2nd stanza, 2nd line should read " And lives shared for years fall apart"
Dan Roman
on The Reason
Wrong lyrics!