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
the light
Tenth Avenue North Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have hidden from your rays
From the light of your salvation
To the shadows i am embrace
Could you find me in this valley
In this hatred i have loved
Can the god who see's the future
Love invade the night
Morning satisfy
Mercy floods the sky
The sky
Your are the light
Father and savior
Spirit divine
Truth and the life
You are the light
Father and savior
Holy spirit divine
Giver of life
You are the light
My sin has left me cold and shaking
At your throne i am undone
But i can feel your joys rising
Underneath right heaven's sun
Love invade the night
Morning you satisfy
Mercy floods the sky
The sky
Your are the light
Father and savior
Spirit divine
Truth and the life
You are the light
Father and savior
Holy spirit divine
Giver of life
You are the light
You are the light
Words cant define you
Fail to describe you
You're more than i can say
But the heavens speak
The sky cries out now
In colors of your grace
Of your grace...
Your are the light
Father and savior
Spirit divine
Truth and the life
You are the light
Father and savior
Holy spirit divine
Giver of life
You are the light
You are the light
Love invades the night
Morning you satisfy
Your mercy floods the sky
The lyrics of "The Light" by Tenth Avenue North are a reflection of a person's journey from darkness to light with the help of God. The first verse shows the singer's attempt to run away from God's light and the salvation it offers. However, in the chorus, the singer acknowledges that God is the light that leads to fulfillment, peace, and mercy. The second verse shows the singer's realization of their sinful nature and feeling unworthy of approaching God's throne. But even in the face of the darkness that sin brings, the singer knows that God's joy is always present underneath the sun of heaven. The bridge acknowledges that words cannot describe God's goodness, but the heavens themselves testify to His greatness through the colors of His grace.
Overall, the message of the song is that God is the source of light and life, and even in the darkness that sin brings, He is always present, waiting to lead us back to the light. The song encourages listeners to embrace God's light and promises joy, mercy, and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
I have run into the darkness
I have willingly walked into a state of confusion, despair, or hopelessness.
I have hidden from your rays
I have avoided your presence and your guidance.
From the light of your salvation
From the illuminating guidance of your teachings that can rescue me from my troubles.
To the shadows I am embrace
To the obscure and uncertain future that I have grown accustomed to.
Could you find me in this valley
Can you locate me in this lonely and desolate place that I am in.
In this hatred I have loved
In this state of animosity and anger, I have found comfort and familiarity.
Can the God who sees the future
Is it possible for the divine entity who has omniscience to also see my transgressions and my bleak future.
Still be bind to all I've done
Still be affected or hold me accountable to all the wrongs I have committed.
Love invade the night
May your unconditional love and compassion penetrate the darkness and despair I am in.
Morning satisfy
May the new dawn bring me peace, fulfillment and reasons to be happy.
Mercy floods the sky
May your mercy and compassion be infinite like the sky above us.
You are the light
You are the illuminating force, a symbol and a guide that brings clarity and guidance.
Father and savior
The one who created us, nurtures us, and can also rescue and guide us from our troubles.
Spirit divine
The holy spirit that is mystical and omnipotent; provides wisdom and guidance to help us.
Truth and the life
The embodiment of truth, honesty, genuineness, vitality and strength.
Holy spirit divine
The purest and the most holy embodiment of the wonderful spirit that is watching over us.
Giver of life
The entity that has given us life, the divine force responsible for our existence and well-being.
My sin has left me cold and shaking
My misdeeds have made me feel weak, vulnerable and alone.
At your throne I am undone
In your presence, I feel exposed and vulnerable- my true self is revealed.
But I can feel your joys rising
I'm conscious and aware of the infectious and joyous nature of your being.
Underneath right heaven's sun
Under the warmth and light of nature, with divine guidance- heaven feels close.
Words can't define you
It's impossible to encapsulate and convey your immense power and influence using vocabulary.
Fail to describe you
Any form of description, storytelling or comparison would come short of illustrating your magnanimous spirit.
You're more than I can say
It's hard to fathom the extent to which your presence is felt beyond explanations and language.
But the heavens speak
The skies and nature communicate your grace and presence to us.
The sky cries out now
Nature emphasizes and accentuates the calling for your divine presence and provides the manifestation of your teachings.
In colors of your grace
Nature provides the perfect medium to express the beauty and compassion that you embody.
Contributed by Chase G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hayley T
Gotta say, when I listen to this song, it makes me want to jump up and sing along and dance, and your voice and the words you’re speaking give me shivers every time and I just want to bow down and worship our amazing God
Ann Marie Aguilar
Such an amazing song!
I feel so overwhelmed Toby Mac,Casting Crowns,Bethel,Lauren Daigle,Tenth Avenue North almost every Christian artist is putting out music and it's all so good!!
Erin M
Confess to one another so that you can be healed! SPEAK for those who cannot! You WERE born for such a time as THIS!🔥❣️🔥🌬🌹✡️🙌🏻👑
Francine Galiano Pinto
Such a powerful song! Like always!
I just love! Amei! Hugs from Brazil ❤
It's Faded Void
I listened to this song when I was depressed and it really helped me...
Jewel G
This I think will be my favorite from this album ♥️ I just so badly want us all to be real and honest because we all are broken but God takes our imperfections and makes us beautiful!
John Caldwell
This sounds absolutely incredible, but the real treasure here is the incredible truth of the message: letting the light of God's love and the truth of the gospel shine into our lives so we can be healed of and set free from the things that bind us and keep us from walking in mercy, grace, freedom and joy. Glory to God for all things!
Dabonthehaterallday
Amen
Praizy Jadav
The lyrics actually... Tells about me 🥀 Thanks for this amazing song!👍🏻
Cross
I've been waiting for more lamenting songs from you guys for years!!.. I'm so glad it's finally here.