The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two NAACP Image Award nominations. They won Grammy Awards in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1998, and 2003 and have collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Don Henley, Ray Charles, Queen Latifah, Joe Sample, Quincy Jones, Marcus Miller and Gordon Goodwin.
In 1980, Claude McKnight formed an a cappella quartet, The Gentlemen's Estate Quartet, at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, a Seventh-Day Adventist College, where he was a freshman. He auditioned fellow students for the hobby group. The Gentlemen were rehearsing in a campus bathroom (later said to be in Peterson Hall), getting ready for a performance, when Mark Kibble walked by and heard them singing. He joined the harmonizing, adding a fifth part, and ended up singing with them onstage that very night.[1] Mark later invited Mervyn Warren to join the group. The group performed under the moniker "Alliance".
The group performed in local churches and on campus over the next years, with members changing due to college's inevitable comings and goings. In 1985, the lower half of the group (bass, baritone, and second tenor) left upon graduating. At that time, Alvin Chea, Cedric Dent, and David Thomas joined.
The group was signed to Warner Brothers in 1987, and quickly changed its name to "Take 6" after a name search revealed that "Alliance" was already being used. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1988, won them two Grammy Awards and resulted in top ten appearances on both the Billboard Contemporary Jazz and Contemporary Christian Charts. Take 6's swinging, harmony-rich gospel sound attracted a flurry of attention, and the group went on to record or appear with a number of luminaries, including Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder.
In 1991, after the release of their second album, So Much 2 Say, Mervyn Warren left the group to pursue a career as a producer. Joey Kibble, Mark's younger brother, was invited to round out the vocal lineup. The group added instrumentation to their purely a cappella sound beginning with the record He Is Christmas; Join The Band and Brothers continued their streak of success, and Take 6 amassed a total of seven Grammys and eight Dove awards, as well as topping the Downbeat Magazine's Reader's and Critic's poll for seven years' consecutively.
Take 6's 1998 release, So Cool, brought the group back to its a cappella origins.
In 2006 the group launched Take 6 Records and the 2006 release Feels Good was released on that label.
The group currently lists Nashville, Tennessee as its home.[2] All members grew up Seventh-Day Adventist.[
Over The Hill Intro
Take 6 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you don't feel like trying, keep climbing
Because over the hill is home
There maybe someone here who's going through something
The difficult time that needs to hear this message
This song is for you
Is often before the breaking of dawn, so hold on
And may this song encourage you
The lyrics of Take 6's song "Over The Hill Is Home" impart a message of hope and perseverance to those who may feel lost or stuck in their lives. The first verse mentions that while shelter may be just down the road, it is important to keep climbing over the hill because "over the hill is home." This lyric can be interpreted to mean that the journey may be difficult, but the end result - finding a place where you truly feel at home - is worth the effort.
The second verse shifts the focus to others who may need to hear the message of the song. It acknowledges that there may be someone going through a difficult time who needs encouragement to keep going, and that this song is for them. The chorus reassures the listener that the darkest hour of the night is often before dawn, and to hold on because things will get better.
Overall, "Over The Hill Is Home" is a song about perseverance, hope, and finding your place in life. It encourages listeners to keep going even when things seem tough, and to remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Line by Line Meaning
Over the hill is home, just down the road is shelter
Although it may seem far away, home and safety are within reach.
When you don't feel like trying, keep climbing
Even when you feel like giving up, keep pushing forward and persevering.
Because over the hill is home
The ultimate reward for overcoming obstacles and challenges is reaching the place where you belong.
There maybe someone here who's going through something
There could be someone listening who is struggling and needs to hear these words of encouragement.
The difficult time that needs to hear this message
In times of hardship, it is essential to hear messages of hope and inspiration.
This song is for you
Take comfort in knowing that this song was written with you in mind and meant to uplift and encourage you.
Just remember that the darkest hour of the night
Even in the bleakest moments, there is always hope and the promise of a new day ahead.
Is often before the breaking of dawn, so hold on
The most challenging moments are often just before things start to turn around, so don't give up hope.
And may this song encourage you
May this song provide you with the strength and inspiration to keep going and never give up.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALVIN KUMEH CHEA, CEDRIC CARL DENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind