1) The Choir were a ro… Read Full Bio ↴There have been two bands known as The Choir:
1) The Choir were a rock band in the mid-1960s from Cleveland Ohio, best known for the oft-covered song "It's Cold Outside". With the addition of singer Eric Carmen, they became The Raspberries in 1970. The band consisted of Dann Klawon on rhythm guitar, Dave Smalley on vocals & rhythm guitar, Wally Bryson on vocals, lead guitar, & bass, and Jim Bonfanti on vocals & drums.
2) The Choir (originally The Youth Choir) is an atmospheric alternative Christian rock band, led by Derri Daugherty on guitar and vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums -- who also writes most of the band's lyrics -- and Dan Michaels on lyricon, electric flute and saxophone. Originally formed in Southern California in the early 1980s, the band members moved to the Nashville, Tennessee area in the 1990s. Past members include guitarist Marc Byrd and bass guitarists Michael Sauerbrey, Robin Spurs, Bill Batstone, and the late Tim Chandler.
Each band member also has a depth of musical history outside of The Choir. Hindalong produced four successful City On A Hill albums, writing the well-known song "God of Wonders" with Marc Byrd. Daugherty has been a member of the Christian-alterna-pop-supergroup The Lost Dogs since it started in 1991, and Hindalong joined the group in 2006. Chandler was the bass player for years for Daniel Amos and that band's alter egos The Swirling Eddies, and passed away in 2018. Byrd was a member of Common Children, recorded with his wife Christine Glass as Glassbyrd, and is currently half of the post-rock duo Hammock. Michaels has been a Senior Vice President of Fair Trade Services (formerly INO Records) since 2000.
All Night Long
The Choir Lyrics
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It's enough to light the way
But the sky is black above me
And I see in shades of gray
I hear voices in the shadows
And I wonder what is true
I hear laughing, I hear crying
And sometimes I know it's you
All night long
I've been looking out my window
All night long
I've been hoping to see you
All night long
I've been praying for the morning
I've been looking out my window all night long
When I finally see the Son
Will I know You as my friend?
If I fail to see you now
Will I recognize you then?
I see faces in the shadows
And I wonder what to do
I see dancing I see dying
And sometimes I know it's you
All night long
I've been looking out my window
All night long
I've been hoping to see you
All night long
I've been praying for the morning
I've been looking out my window all night long
The Choir's song "All Night Long" is a powerful and emotional ballad about searching for meaning and connection in a world that can often feel dark and confusing. The lyrics describe a central conflict between the singer's desire to find faith and hope in the future and their struggle with doubt and uncertainty. The song begins by establishing a sense of contrast between the singer's inner fire and the darkness that surrounds them. The opening lines, "There's a fire inside my heart / It's enough to light the way / But the sky is black above me / And I see in shades of gray," suggest that while the singer has some sense of inner direction, they are still grappling with a world that feels unpredictable and unknowable.
As the song continues, the singer describes hearing "voices in the shadows" and wondering "what is true." They also describe a sense of recognition and connection with other people, even as they struggle to understand their own feelings: "I hear laughing, I hear crying / And sometimes I know it's you." This sense of ambiguity and complexity is heightened in the chorus, as the singer repeats the refrain "All night long / I've been looking out my window / All night long / I've been hoping to see you / All night long / I've been praying for the morning / I've been looking out my window all night long." The repetition creates a sense of urgency and longing, but also a sense of frustration and stagnation, suggesting that the singer is stuck in a cycle of waiting and uncertainty.
The song's bridge adds another layer to this complexity, as the singer contemplates the possibility of finding faith and connection with others. They ask, "When I finally see the Son / Will I know You as my friend? / If I fail to see you now / Will I recognize you then?" These questions suggest a sense of urgency and longing, but also a sense of fear and doubt. The final lines of the song, "I see dancing I see dying / And sometimes I know it's you," reinforce this sense of ambiguity and complexity, suggesting that even in moments of connection and intimacy, there is always an element of confusion and uncertainty.
Overall, The Choir's song "All Night Long" is a powerful exploration of the human struggle to find meaning and connection in the face of doubt and uncertainty. Through its evocative imagery and emotional language, the song captures the many shades of gray that exist between faith and doubt, hope and despair, connection and isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a fire inside my heart
I feel a strong passion within me
It's enough to light the way
It guides me through life's challenges
But the sky is black above me
Despite my passion, life seems bleak
And I see in shades of gray
Nothing is clearly defined, leading to confusion
I hear voices in the shadows
I sense potential danger or deceit
And I wonder what is true
Uncertainty about what to believe
I hear laughing, I hear crying
I am privy to a range of emotions
And sometimes I know it's you
I can recognize your presence
All night long
Throughout the entire night
I've been looking out my window
I am searching for something
I've been hoping to see you
I desire to find you
I've been praying for the morning
I eagerly anticipate a fresh start
When I finally see the Son
When I meet God
Will I know You as my friend?
Will I have a personal relationship with Him?
If I fail to see you now
If I do not recognize Him in life
Will I recognize you then?
Will I be able to connect with Him upon meeting?
I see faces in the shadows
I sense the presence of others
And I wonder what to do
I am unsure of how to respond
I see dancing I see dying
I am witness to the entire spectrum of life
And sometimes I know it's you
I can sense your intervention
Contributed by Cole G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.