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.
Away With the Swine
The Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A miracle for Caananites, a wedding celebration
And I do realize moderation is a truly wise ideal
Away with the swine
With the demons of insanity
Away with the swine
Away with indecency
I was freed when I was a child in parochial school dress
Although I rarely really ran wild one sister swore I was possessed
Under oath I would have to confess how my friends and I set fires
Away with the swine
With the demons of insanity
Away with the swine
Away with the indecency
Set the mad men free
Away with the swine
With the demons of debauchery
Away with the swine
Away with indecency
Set the mad men free
Away with the swine
With the demons of insanity
Away with the swine
Away with idolatry
Set us all free
La la la la la la la la la
On a merry occasion.
La la la la la la
Moderation is a truly wise ideal
The Choir's song "Away with the Swine" is a powerful statement against societal evils and the need for freedom from them. The first verse references the biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding celebration, but acknowledges the importance of moderation. The chorus then repeats the phrase "Away with the swine" three times, a metaphorical call to reject demonic and indecent influences on society, and to set mad men free.
The lyrics then turn personal in the second verse, as the singer reflects on their own past misdeeds and struggles with destructive behavior. They were "freed" from this behavior as a child in parochial school, but were still prone to setting fires with their friends. The chorus repeats, with the addition of "demons of debauchery" and "idolatry" as further examples of societal evils that need to be rejected. The song ends with a refrain of "La la la" and a reiteration of the importance of moderation.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesus turned water into wine on a merry occasion
Jesus performed a miracle by turning water into wine at a joyful wedding celebration.
A miracle for Canaanites, a wedding celebration
The miracle of turning water into wine was performed at a wedding celebration and was a wonder for those in attendance.
And I do realize moderation is a truly wise ideal
I understand that practicing self-control and moderation is a wise and beneficial approach to life.
Away with the swine
I reject and renounce all that is impure or undesirable.
With the demons of insanity
I wish to be free from mental distress or madness.
Away with indecency
I reject and denounce anything that is vulgar or unseemly.
Set the mad men free
I advocate for the liberation of those who are mentally unwell or suffer from insanity.
I was freed when I was a child in parochial school dress
As a child, I was liberated from the constraints of my environment by the clothing I wore to my religious school.
Although I rarely really ran wild one sister swore I was possessed
Despite the fact that I did not often misbehave, one of my teachers accused me of being possessed by a demon.
Under oath I would have to confess how my friends and I set fires
If I were under oath, I would have to admit that I and my friends engaged in the act of starting fires intentionally.
With the demons of debauchery
I wish to be free from immoral or excessive behavior.
Away with idolatry
I reject and denounce the worship of false gods or ideals.
Set us all free
I advocate for the liberation of all people from anything that may cause them harm or suffering.
La la la la la la la la la
Vocalization to express emotion
On a merry occasion.
A joyful celebration or event.
La la la la la la
Vocalization to express emotion
Moderation is a truly wise ideal
Practicing restraint and self-control is a wise and valuable philosophy to adopt in life.
Contributed by Annabelle S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.