The band’s recent history is pretty impressive. Since its 2008 debut album, Over and Underneath, Tenth Avenue North has become one of Christian music industry’s most successful acts, saturating Christian radio with such memorable songs as “Love is Here,” “Hold My Heart,” and “By Your Side,” a number one single that was Billboard magazine’s No. 3 overall Christian song for the decade. They won New Artist of the Year in 2009 at the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards and in 2010 “By Your Side” was named Song of the Year.
The band’s 2010 sophomore album, The Light Meets the Dark, debuted at No. 1 on the Nielsen Christian SoundScan chart and No. 15 on the Billboard 200. The album hit the No.1 Christian Album chart position at both iTunes and AmazonMP3, reaching Top 5 on iTunes’ Overall chart, propelled by the lead single, “Healing Begins.” The compelling ballad “You Are More” was 2011’s No. 1 Song of the Year on Billboard’s Christian Audience Chart.
As the band approached its third album, it would have been easy to take an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude, but the word complacency is not in its vocabulary. Band members Mike Donehey (lead vocals), Jeff Owen (guitars), Jason Jamison (drums), Ruben Juarez (bass) and Brendon Shirley (keyboard) took a totally different approach in how they wrote and recorded The Struggle. Instead of waiting until they got home to Nashville to begin recording demos, the songs were written and demoed on the road while the band was on tour.
“We wrote ‘Don’t Stop The Madness’ in January of 2011,” Owen says of the confessional anthem. “That’s when we first started writing as a band and we were recording demos as we were writing. On the last two records, Mike would write most of the songs with Jason, or on his own. He would show up and the song would have lyrics and melody and acoustic guitar, and then we’d take that and make it our own. We’d put a beat to it and shake it, but this time we started basically from scratch.”
Recording on the road led to some interesting sessions. “When we recorded, ‘Where Life Will Never Die,’ there was an amp in our bathroom,” Jamison says with a smile.
“Sometimes there were things on the demo that we couldn’t replicate in the studio,” Donehey adds, “so we ended up finding the files from the demo and putting them on it. We recorded drums in the front of the bus at one time. They sounded amazing.”
The Struggle is also the first album to include the two newest members of Tenth Avenue North-- Ruben Juarez and Brendon Shirley.
“Ruben and Brendon are more technically knowledgeable than Jason, Jeff and I are,” says Donehey. “They really added to the musical structure of these songs. Plus, we all get along so well creatively, I couldn’t see doing this record without them.”
In an innovative twist, Tenth Avenue North invited fans to be part of the creative process and invited them to sing on the record. “It started on the Third Day tour,” Owen says of the trek last fall. “We sent out Twitter and Facebook [messages] to our fans and said, ‘Hey, come sing on our record.’ We have people from Nebraska singing with people from Fargo and Albuquerque.”
In various cities on the tour, the band would invite fans to show up and then they’d record their voices to add to different songs on the album. “It’s cool,” Donehey says. “These are the people that support us and listen to this music. It is music that affects their lives and now they are actually a part of it.”
Working again with producer Jason Ingram (six-time winner of SESAC’s Christian Songwriter of the Year award), the members of Tenth Avenue North have crafted a sonically diverse record that mirrors the passion and intensity of its live show. “We got a lot of comments over the past several years about how our live show is much different than our recorded music,” says Donehey. “It has more energy and more of a rock edge to it. We try to be more musical and create different moments, so I think going into this we wanted to make sure we were aware of our live show and how these songs were going to play out live.”
As always, the band was ever mindful of the power of its songs and the messages in its lyrics. Though the word “struggle” tends to evoke thoughts of challenge and strife, leave it to Tenth Avenue North to illuminate the possibilities and show that struggle is ultimately a privilege. “Hallelujah! We are free to struggle. We’re not struggling to be free,” Donehey sings in the title track.
“We want to give people permission to struggle, to realize that there’s grace and you don’t have to be good enough,” says Donehey. “It’s the theme of a lot of our music, but we also want to challenge people to not stay there, to not stay in that place of struggling. There is power and there is grace, not only to forgive your struggle, but to redeem you from the struggle. . . We’re going to struggle until the day that we die, but we don’t have to struggle to earn what God has provided for us.”
The lead single, “Losing,” is a song that challenges believers to forgive because we’ve been forgiven. Offering forgiveness may sometimes make you feel like you're "losing" but only in showing others the grace God has shown us are we truly free. Such powerful yet poetic messages continue to populate every song on The Struggle. “Strangers Here,” inspired by Hebrews 11 reminds us of better things to come. As Donehey sings the emotional lyric he urges us to remember that this life is only temporary and one day we will touch the face of our God.
“Worn” is a tender ballad that acknowledges our human frailty and the rest that awaits in our heavenly Father’s arms. As a young father, balancing the responsibilities of music ministry and raising two young daughters, Donehey is well acquainted with physical and emotional exhaustion; and in the song, he shares one of the most vulnerable vocal performances on the record. Yet even in the midst of struggle, fatigue and alienation---all emotions every human battles---the songs celebrate the sovereignty of God in every aspect of our lives. Song after song, the band offers up the kind of lyrically substantive lyrics people have come to expect from Tenth Avenue North wrapped in the most adventurous music they’ve ever crafted.
“Grace” boasts a vibrant melody and some of the record's most compelling lyrics as Donehey sings: “Grace, only grace can roll your dead heart's stone away. Grace only grace can move us to a rhythm that can changes our ways.” “We’re going to struggle until the day that we die," says Owen of the song's message, "but we don’t have to struggle to earn what God has provided for us.”
“All the Same” acknowledges the fact that though we might appear very different on the surface, at the core we are all the same, desperate for the love of God. “You Do All Things Well” is yet a soothing prayer that celebrates the power of God to meet our every need. The worshipful chorus is a soaring celebration of God's majesty.
Tenth Avenue North has come a long way from sharing the Gospel with students at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida to playing for more than a half a million people in concert last year. It’s a platform and privilege they take seriously. “When I’m playing, I look out and I can see people’s eyes,” says Donehey. “I’ve always carried an ache for people. I want people to experience the freedom I’ve experienced. I want people to experience the forgiveness I’ve experienced.”
Music can provide a healing balm to those breaking hearts and through its music, Tenth Avenue North continues to shine a light not only on the struggle, but the hope that changes lives forever.
Members:
Mike Donehey - Lead Vocals/Guitar
Jeff Owen - Guitar/BGVs
Jason Jamison - Drums
Ruben Juarez-Bass Guitar
Brendon Shirley-Keys
Former Members
Bryan Homan
Daniel (Danny) Zayas
Scott Sanders - bass guitar, keyboard
Andrew Middleton
Genre:
Rock/Christian/Religious
Hometown:
West Palm Beach, Florida
Record label:
Reunion Records
by your side
Tenth Avenue North Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why are you trying to earn grace?
Why are you crying?
Let me lift up your face, just don't turn away
Why are you looking for love?
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?
To where will you go child?
'cause I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Look at these hands at my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in and give you life
I wanna give you life
And I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
'Cause I, I love you, I want you to know
That I, yeah I love you, I'll never let you go
No, no
And I'll be by your side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Here at my side wherever you fall
In the dead of night whenever you call
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you
Here at my side
My hands are holding you
The lyrics to Tenth Avenue North's song "By Your Side" are meant to be a comforting message to those who are struggling in life. The opening lines ask questions that many people may ask themselves - why are they striving so hard, trying to earn grace, and searching for love when it may be right in front of them. The singer tells the listener to not turn away and let him lift up their face. The following verse emphasizes that the singer will be with the listener wherever they fall, in the dead of night whenever they call, and that they should not fight his hands that are holding them.
The chorus repeats these comforting lines, with the added message that the singer loves the listener and will never let them go. The bridge of the song references Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, saying that his hands took on the sins of the world so that he could carry the listener and give them life. The song ends with a final chorus reinforcing the message that the singer's hands are holding the listener and he will be with them wherever they fall.
Overall, this song provides hope and reassurance to those who may be struggling with life's challenges. It reminds us that we are never alone and that there is always someone who loves us and will be there to help us through difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Why are you striving these days?
Why are you constantly pushing yourself to meet expectations and earn favor?
Why are you trying to earn grace?
Why are you attempting to obtain grace through your own efforts and works?
Why are you crying?
What is the source of your pain and sorrow?
Let me lift up your face, just don't turn away
Allow me to comfort you and bring you back to my gaze. Do not hide from me.
Why are you looking for love?
Why are you seeking affection and validation from sources other than me?
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?
Why are you continuing to look for fulfillment elsewhere, despite me being all that you need?
To where will you go child?
Where do you plan to turn towards if not to me?
Tell me where will you run, to where will you run?
Please reveal to me if you have another refuge besides me to flee to.
'cause I'll be by your side wherever you fall
I promise to be with you through every mistake and stumble.
In the dead of night whenever you call
I will respond to your pleas for help even in the darkest of times.
And please don't fight these hands that are holding you
Do not resist my loving touch that is guiding and supporting you.
My hands are holding you
I am always here to protect and comfort you.
Look at these hands at my side
Take a moment to observe my hands, which have the power to create and save.
They swallowed the grave on that night
My hands overpowered death and allowed for eternal life through my sacrifice.
When I drank the world's sin
I took on the burden of sin that was weighing down the world.
So I could carry you in and give you life
I went through immense suffering and death so that you could be redeemed and granted eternal life.
I wanna give you life
I am deeply invested in your well-being and long to bless you with abundant life.
'Cause I, I love you, I want you to know
I want to make it clear that I love you with a fierce, unshakeable passion.
That I, yeah I love you, I'll never let you go
My love for you will never falter or fade, and I will always hold onto you.
Here at my side
I am forever with you, right by your side.
My hands are holding you
My hands are always tightly gripping onto you, providing strength and security.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Phillip Larue, Michael Donehey, Jason David Ingram
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GreatHope3-16
I don't think this band knows the extent of how much power this song has. That line "to where will you go child, tell me where will you run, to where will you run" hit me like a ton of bricks when I was lost and wandering. I had never considered the thought before. This song will be forever in my heart! So much Love!
@charleshayden7408
God bless you 999 trillion times more in EVERYTHING
@charleshayden7408
God bless you 999 trillion times more because of you listening to this song. Exponentially beyond your wildest dreams- God loves you so much more than you could ever imagine!!!!
@jenny_b_
I’m cleaning up the remnants of my home after Hurricane Ian, and this song just came on…instant tears. Never heard it before, but it’s my new theme song. Thank you, God!!🙏🏼❤️
@WolfLove89
God's got you and if I could I would help you
@Sralaineo-
No matter what life will go On..... with GOD Help 🙏❤️✌️
@charleshayden7408
God loves you 999 trillion times more than this song could ever very richly and deeply feel. Deeper passion than you could ever imagine. God desires deeper intimacy with you so much more than you could ever imagine.
@jimthescrub
Praise the Lord! My Dad always used to play this whenever I was not even double digits. He died when I was 14, it was near the end of 2020 so things were already hectic. After that, we moved and were only able to visit my Church once a month because we can't find any good ones where we are. I am really grateful that I have been baptised into God's word. Recently I just reconnected my faith, it happened after I finished helping out at the Firehall I volunteer at because they were hosting bingo. I felt annoyed and exhausted walking back, I was struggling with faith and I went to YouTube to play something to calm me. It's so comical how this happened because the first song that came to mind was this one. My Dad was always a hard-core Christian and he actually introduced Christianity to my Mom who afterwards was determined to baptise me and my brother. Not even halfway through the song and I nearly burst into tears because all this time I thought I was being forced into doing things I didn't want to do, but I learned that my parents just wanted to save me, and so did Jesus. Before this happened, I was being forced to sleep at my aunt's house because we were still moving into this one. Either way, out of nowhere, I had a strange but also encouraging vision. I couldn't move, but I saw and witnessed Jesus going through his suffering for us. And this wasn't caused by anything natural because I hadn't even thought of Church since we started moving. I think Jesus was genuinely reminding me that he is here with us all, he is risen, and he loves us. Now I know that doubt is natural for teenagers, in fact, pretty much every Christian goes through it, but we don't need to worry. God is in us and he will make sure we are okay. Just remember to worship and pray every day! Love you guys and especially you, Jesus!
@jeremiahryor822
I'm gonna sing this song at my church because it explained Why I was so disobedient to my parents, and so blinded by sadness, I wasn't listening to GOD and I refused to let him comfort me. And I didn't notice I was doing that! But this song allowed me to realize what I was doing! So I'm happy with this song and what it means!☀️😁💗
@ryanflanagan9624
praying for you in Jesus Name we pray amen! ask The Holy Spirit for wisdom in all faith and He will provide liberally and without reproach God bless! keep me in your prayers!