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.”
Sleepers
Seven Places Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I went back to the park where we used to sit and talk for hours.
We'd laugh and make our plans. We swore that we'd be friends forever.
But oh how things change. Did you see this coming? It caught me off guard.
I never thought I'd see you forsake your first love.
Chorus:
It's been such a long long time since we have talked.
We used to feel the same. It's obvious to me:
We dreamt the same dreams but now you're awake
But I'm still sleeping.
Verse 2:
Winter's in the air and the wind it stings like ice, or
Maybe those are just the tears freezing in my eyes. I
Wish I could see you and tell you nothing's changed.
The God you once loved with all of your heart
Stayed the same, stayed the same, stayed the same
Chorus
I'm still sleeping X3
The song "Sleepers" by Seven Places is a powerful and emotional depiction of the pain of losing a friend due to a change in their beliefs. Through the first verse, the singer sets the scene of reminiscing about old times and realizing how much things have changed. They express their shock and surprise at their friend's shift away from their shared first love, likely referring to their shared faith in God. The chorus emphasizes the deep sadness and distance that has grown between them, with the singer feeling left behind and still "sleeping" while their friend has awakened to a new reality.
In the second verse, the imagery of winter highlights the emotional coldness and bitterness that has taken over their relationship. The singer longs for a reconciliation, wishing they could still connect over their shared faith, which they emphasize has not changed for them. The repetition of "stayed the same" emphasizes the contrast between the singer's own steadfastness and their sense of loss over their friend's departure. The chorus repeats the same refrain, emphasizing the pain and isolation the singer feels, still sleeping and left behind by their friend's transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
I went back to the park where we used to sit and talk for hours.
I revisited a place where we spent a lot of time conversing in the past.
We'd laugh and make our plans. We swore that we'd be friends forever.
During our conversations, we would laugh, strategize and promise eternal friendship.
But oh how things change. Did you see this coming? It caught me off guard.
However, change is inevitable. Did you anticipate this change in our friendship? I didn't expect it.
I never thought I'd see you forsake your first love.
I never imagined that you would leave your initial passion.
It's been such a long long time since we have talked.
It's been an extensive duration since our last conversation.
It's been such a long long time since we've seen eye to eye.
It's been way too long since we understood and shared similar opinions.
We used to feel the same. It's obvious to me:
We previously had mutual beliefs. It's apparent to me that we don't anymore.
We dreamt the same dreams but now you're awake
We used to aspire towards the same visions, but now you have lost interest.
But I'm still sleeping.
However, I'm still living in the same reverie.
Winter's in the air and the wind it stings like ice, or
The weather is currently cold and windy, and it's quite harsh to the body.
Maybe those are just the tears freezing in my eyes. I
Perhaps, the tears I'm shedding because of our broken friendship are turning into ice on my face.
Wish I could see you and tell you nothing's changed.
I desire to meet you and convey that I haven't changed a bit.
The God you once loved with all of your heart
The deity you used to worship intensely in the past.
Stayed the same, Stayed the same, Stayed the same
That divine force stayed consistent through time.
I'm still sleeping X3
I'm still daydreaming about our previous relationship.
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
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