The Seven Places guys are from southern Oregon and have a long family history in the Calvary Chapel environment. Tyler Jones, guitarist for Seven Places comments, ”The Calvary Chapel system was initially created for hippies on the beach in southern California to hear the gospel. They were kids that were a little out of the box from the mainstream church at the time, but the worship was amazing and it spoke to them. They were getting saved right where they were, in their environment. We’ve just carried that original philosophy into our band. We want to impact kids right where they are.” Indeed they have. Seth and Tyler, together with Seth’s little brother Jeffrey on drums, and Donnie Vizzini on bass began playing for their youth group at a weekly worship event. That number went from 100 to 1,000 kids and stayed that way for two years. Shortly thereafter, Seven Places signed a record deal with BEC Recordings and hit the studio with producer Aaron Sprinkle (Kutless, Jeremy Camp) to record their debut release, Lonely For The Last Time. Clearly, Sprinkle’s indie-rock meets power pop sensibilities gelled well with Seven Places’ pre-existing sound on the disc’s eleven choice cuts, which are loaded with electric urgency, towering crescendos, and a hint of the alternative underground, designated to please listeners of various genre interests. Tyler sums up the band’s approach to writing by saying, “I strive for honesty, and I realize a lot of other songwriters do the same thing, but sometimes they don’t point to anything eternal in the end. It’s fine to share your feelings in really emotional and expressive manners, but in the end thoughts have to be brought back to the Lord.”
Specifically, songs like “Stay the Same” (an ode to self-esteem); “Thinking It Over” (about making difficult life choices) and “Yours” (revolving worshipful adoration) echo such sentiments, as does the anthemic title cut about finding identity in Christ. The punchy radio ready rocker “Like It Never Happened” is a plea for listeners to forget their sinful past, while “Western Wall” was inspired by Seth’s recent trip to Israel. “I gained a new love and appreciation for all of the history of Israel and the Jewish people,” he explains. “But I also saw the community weakened and really struggling by depressing economic times. I wrote ‘Western Wall’ in response to that situation as an encouragement to those feeling dry in their walk with the Lord.”
Beyond any hit single, a spot on any coveted tour, or the quest for longevity, Seven Places’ members would rather focus on the ministering elements of such songs. Unlike some bands with Christian members who get their start on the spiritual scene in hopes of crossing over to the mainstream, Seven Places’ specifically strives to edify the body of Christ and revive hurting listeners’ faith. “We’re about presenting a faith that is real and relevant to young people that have grown up in the church and we’re hear to remind them that this isn’t just their parents’ God,” Seth concludes. “It’s about getting a message of hope to those that have been burnt out in their walk and getting them back on track.”
Even When
Seven Places Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My phone, it rang, I put You on the other line
And now my thoughts they drift around
My knees remain unacquainted with the ground
Unless my faith is put to the test and I am forced to bow
Although I'm in this flesh it doesn't mean You should have the best
From me, from me
Even when my eyes are dry
Even when my soul is tired
Even when my hands are heavy
I will lift them up to You
It's not about how I feel
Oh, Lord I am here for you
I exist for you
I close my eyes but all I see
Is a background of black, bouncy squiggly lines
And this week's mistakes come back to mind but
I will life my voice and make a joyful sound
Forget about me, I only get me down
Although I cannot see it doesn't mean I shouldn't sing to You, to You
[Chorus]
You've given me Your life and have held mine together yet I find
Excuses to slouch in my pew
But when glory devine
Is sitting in my very presence, the least that I can do
Is give my all to You, give my all to You
[Chorus]
The song "Even When" by Seven Places speaks about the struggle of maintaining faith and devotion to God amidst challenging circumstances. The singer talks about how his mind wanders even when he prays, and how he finds it hard to remain grounded in his faith. He acknowledges that he is a flawed human being but recognizes that he should not use this as an excuse to not try to be the best he can be for God. The lyrics convey the idea that even when things are difficult, one should not give up on their faith and continue to lift their hands to God, even when they are heavy. The chorus highlights this through the repetition of the line, "Even when my eyes are dry, even when my soul is tired, even when my hands are heavy, I will lift them up to you."
The second verse describes a typical scenario where the singer's mind is burdened with negative thoughts, and he has to consciously remind himself to praise God. He acknowledges that forgetting himself and focusing on God is the way to live a fulfilling life. The bridge emphasizes the fact that God has given His life to the singer and held his life together, and that the least he can do in return is to give his all to God. The chorus is repeated at the end, making the point that seeking out and praising God is the ultimate purpose of life.
Overall, the song is a reminder to believers of the importance of keeping their faith strong even during trying times. It emphasizes the fact that life is not always easy, but that one should not give up on their faith while dealing with difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
This week, I prayed, one time
I only prayed once this week.
My phone, it rang, I put You on the other line
I answered the phone and talked to God.
And now my thoughts they drift around
I'm easily distracted.
My knees remain unacquainted with the ground
I haven't been kneeling in prayer.
Unless my faith is put to the test and I am forced to bow
I only pray when I'm facing a challenge.
Although I'm in this flesh it doesn't mean You should have the best
Just because I exist doesn't mean God owes me favors.
From me, from me
I still have to put in effort and give to God.
Even when my eyes are dry
Even when I'm not feeling emotional.
Even when my soul is tired
Even when I'm feeling spiritually drained.
Even when my hands are heavy
Even when I'm physically exhausted.
I will lift them up to You
I will still praise and worship God.
It's not about how I feel
Worship isn't about my emotions.
Oh, Lord I am here for you
I'm here to serve God.
I exist for you
My purpose in life is to serve God.
I close my eyes but all I see
I try to focus, but my mind wanders.
Is a background of black, bouncy squiggly lines
I'm not seeing anything significant when I close my eyes.
And this week's mistakes come back to mind but
I'm dwelling on my past failures.
I will life my voice and make a joyful sound
I will still praise God despite my negative thoughts.
Forget about me, I only get me down
Focusing on myself just brings me down.
Although I cannot see it doesn't mean I shouldn't sing to You, to You
I don't need physical evidence to worship God.
You've given me Your life and have held mine together yet I find
God has given me so much, yet I often take it for granted.
Excuses to slouch in my pew
I make excuses to not fully engage in worship.
But when glory devine
When God's glory is present.
Is sitting in my very presence, the least that I can do
The least I can do is worship God when His presence is with me.
Is give my all to You, give my all to You
I need to give my full effort and worship to God.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
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