1: From Wikipedia, the free enc… Read Full Bio ↴Greg Long can be one of two artists
1: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Greg Long (born December 12, 1966) is a member of the Christian band Avalon. He is married to fellow band member Janna Long.
From Greglong.com, the artists website:
With eight number one singles, six more top 10 hits, an ASCAP Award, and two Dove Award nominations, Greg Long embarks on a new leg of his acclaimed journey with passion and excitement. Not only has his long-awaited Christian Records debut, BORN AGAIN, released, but Greg has officially joined Sparrow Records’ multi-Dove Award-winning, American Music Award-winning platinum selling group, Avalon. While it may sound like a full plate, Greg is enjoying the ride as he continues to grow his relationship with God and expand his career and ministry.
Musically, BORN AGAIN presents bold lyrics, great melodies and a fresh sound. It reunites Greg with producer Don Koch (4HIM, NewSong) on four songs, and Koch’s presence assures fans of Greg’s signature rich pop melodies and strong vocals. Secondly, add producer Mooki Taylor (TobyMac, Stacie Orrico, The Katinas) for four more tunes, and Greg exhibits some R&B flare that has not been heard on his previous projects. The album is completed with two cuts produced by Greg and industry A&R veteran, George King (Michael W. Smith, Yolanda Adams, Bob Carlisle).
BORN AGAIN reflects the story of grace in the life of one man, Greg Long, as he shares the love relationship with His God. It is a testimony in music. From the first seed planted, to baptism in the faith, to a time of rededication, to calling on God during difficult times, to the ongoing call to share the Gospel, Greg invites the listener to rediscover the joy of being in love with the Savior. “I wrote or co-wrote nine of the 10 songs on BORN AGAIN-- the most I’ve ever contributed to an album,” Greg explains. “I hope people see my heart in this project and are drawn to the excitement of walking with Jesus.”
The title cut launches with “It was the Gulf of Mexico / My father waded in….” which tells the actual story of Greg’s baptism by his father, an itinerant preacher. Real life footage of his baptism as a young boy is included in the music video of “Born Again.” “The greatest moment in someone's life is when they meet Christ and become a new creature,” Greg explains. “The Bible says that all the old is passed away and everything becomes new. That moment brings such joy and relief and a heart full of gratitude. Taking that faith the next step is seen through the expression of baptism. The song ‘Born Again’ reminds me of that moment and brings it to today – I can feel clean inside with no more weight on my back because His mercy is "new" every morning. I know I don't live like this is true everyday, but I should. When people hear the song, they might not identify with the specifics of the story of Greg Long, but they relate to that feeling in their heart. They know what it feels like to be born again!”
Having given his heart to Christ at an early age, Greg Long recalls rededicating his life at a Dallas Holm concert at age 14. “I remember literally feeling like my body was walking on it’s own at the altar call. God really moved in my heart that night. It was a watershed moment for me. Now it’s my turn to take a stab at a song, ‘Rise Again,’ that has impacted me and countless others.”
The musical journey continues as Long presents his passion to share Christ through his own music. “The song ‘Sing About Jesus,’ with its light R&B groove, is a reaction to the conflict of ministry vs. making a living. When it comes down to it, I really do just want to sing about Jesus and tell people about his goodness and his love. I am blessed to be able to have my career be my ministry.”
Continuing the theme of wanting to share about Jesus comes “Fifteen.” This song displays the desire and responsibility Greg feels for people to come to know Christ as their own personal Savior. “This song is so convicting to me personally, but also it is meant to be an encouragement to us all. If it takes a person 15 times to hear about Jesus before they believe, what happens if I’m the fifteenth? Wow! We have to be constantly aware of sharing Christ with others.”
“Once Upon A Time“ has a movie-like theme production that was inspired when Greg was writing the song with Lowell Alexander. The song began and Greg was instantly reminded of a fairy tale. “Every fairy tale starts with ‘Once upon a time…,’ and has some great love story between a prince and the princess. Well, what about the greatest love story of all time, the story of God’s love for his people and how He rescues them? But this story isn’t a fairy tale!”
The R&B ballad “The Cross, The Blood, The Love,” was birthed out of Long’s desire to understand why it had to be the Lamb. “I always understood the cross and the blood, but I don’t comprehend why it wasn’t me. Why did it have to be Jesus?”
“Savior of the World” presents the gospel with a driving dance beat behind it, “Everlasting” is a straight up true pop tune, and the simple prayer song “Be Near,” features vocal contributions from Greg’s friend, 4HIM member Andy Chrisman.
Greg Long’s passion has remained consistent since those early days of faith. He has always tried to concentrate on living in the present – but the present sure has changed. Married to Avalon’s Janna Long with a child on the way, a busy touring schedule as a solo artist, and most recently adding responsibilities of being a member of Avalon, Greg has had to juggle a lot of hats. “Being in Avalon while maintaining a solo career is the result of people’s hearts for furthering the Kingdom. I am grateful that I am able to tour with my wife and share in the ministry of Avalon, while being able to record BORN AGAIN to present the message God has given to me. Having Avalon and a solo career is truly an unbelievable blessing.”
2: From Discogs:
Also known as Canton Sound and co-founder of Citrona who was born in Jacksonville, Fl. He has spent half his life writing music. He's become a one man band playing an array of instruments ranging from the bass, guitar, piano and currently the drums. A unique difference between Greg and most electronic artists today is that Greg does not use samples (beats or melodies) of any kind in his work. Greg is in the company of musical pioneers who create songs in a more traditional manner, yet maintains a unique modern style of his own.
ONCE UPON A TIME
Greg Long Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A son lay in a manger
Gentle, tiny, precious gift
Sent from heaven's hand
Mother's baby boy, tender as the starlight
Born with wonder in his eyes
Once upon a time
This son walked on the water
Every eye that witnessed him
Witnessed miracles
He dared us to have faith
Beyond imagination
To reach beyond humanity
Once upon a sea
This story that I'm telling you
Of Love that never fails
May seem too good to be true
But it's not a fairy tale
Once upon a tree
The son became a Savior
A sacrifice of grand design
In the name of love
Was nailed to the cross
With open arms to teach us
To reach out to humanity
Once upon a tree
The son was born, and lived and died
Just to save this soul of mine
Once upon a time.
The first verse of the song "Once Upon a Time" by Greg Long speaks of the birth of Jesus Christ. It describes how he was born as a tiny and gentle baby in a manger, which was gifted to humanity by heavens above. The words used, such as "wonder in his eyes" and "mother's baby boy," depict the birth of Christ as a magical and miraculous event. The verse alludes to the belief that the birth of Jesus was a unique event and a symbol of hope and salvation.
Moving on to the second verse, the song describes Christ as he walked on water and performed miracles that challenged humanity to have faith beyond imagination. The verse talks about how Christ dared people to have faith, and when they did, they witnessed miracles beyond what was humanly possible. This verse depicts the power of Jesus' teachings and the importance of believing in something beyond the tangible world.
Then, the third verse speaks of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on the cross. It highlights how he gave his life for the sake of humanity and how his sacrifice was an ultimate act of love. The lyrics "with open arms to teach us to reach out to humanity" signify how Jesus' death invites people to be kind and compassionate towards one another. Moreover, Through his sacrifice, Jesus saves souls and becomes the savior of the world.
In summary, the song "Once Upon A Time" is a beautifully written retelling of the story of Christ's birth, miracles, and death on the cross. It emphasizes the importance of faith, the power of love, and the salvation of souls through Christ's sacrifice.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time
At a particular time in the past
A son lay in a manger
A baby boy was born and placed in a feeding trough
Gentle, tiny, precious gift
A fragile, small, valuable present
Sent from heaven's hand
Delivered from above
Mother's baby boy, tender as the starlight
A son cherished by his mother, soft like the light of stars
Born with wonder in his eyes
Born with a sense of amazement and curiosity
Once upon a time
At a particular time in the past
Once upon a sea
At a particular time on the ocean
This son walked on the water
This person walked on the surface of the sea
Every eye that witnessed him
Anyone who saw him
Witnessed miracles
Observed marvelous events
He dared us to have faith
He challenged us to believe
Beyond imagination
Unthinkable or hard to grasp
To reach beyond humanity
To go beyond the limits of being human
Once upon a sea
At a particular time on the ocean
This story that I'm telling you
The narrative that I am sharing with you
Of Love that never fails
About a love that always succeeds
May seem too good to be true
Could appear to be unbelievable
But it's not a fairy tale
However, it is not a made-up story
Once upon a tree
At a particular time on a wooden trunk
The son became a Savior
The person transformed into a redeemer
A sacrifice of grand design
An offering that was carefully planned and significant
In the name of love
Motivated by affection
Was nailed to the cross
Was fastened to a wooden frame
With open arms to teach us
With an accepting demeanor to instruct us
To reach out to humanity
To extend a helping hand to all persons
Once upon a tree
At a particular time on a wooden trunk
The son was born, and lived and died
The person was born, lived, and passed away
Just to save this soul of mine
To shield my spirit
Once upon a time.
At a particular time in the past.
Writer(s): Lowell Alexander, Greg Long
Contributed by Alexis F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.