There have been two bands known as The Choir:

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.

Butterfly
The Choir Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You are precious more than I could express
Melodies and words are poor at best
You are a gift to me
A treasure from Heaven
You were created to fly
To decorate the blue sky

Show the world your colorful wings my butterfly

Little one, are you frightened of the sky?
It's alright, sometimes even daddies have to cry
Give your heart to the wind
I know you're gonna make it
You were created to fly
To decorate the blue sky

Show the world your colorful wings my butterfly

Now I long to show how truly I love you
When you are at home and I am away
The father above is near enough to hold you
Remember me, love, tonight when you pray
You were created to fly
To decorate the blue sky

Show the world your colorful wings my butterfly
Butterfly, you're free

Overall Meaning

The Choir's song Butterfly is a heartfelt ballad that communicates a father's emotions for his child, as well as provides admonition for the child to embrace their potential in life. The lyrics reinforce the idea that a child is a precious, valuable creation, who has the potential to flourish and achieve success. The opening lines reflect the difficulties that often arise when a person is struggling to express their love and admiration for someone. There are some things that cannot be adequately expressed or captured in words or music, but the singer is trying to convey that the child is an irreplaceable gift that has been bestowed upon him. The phrase "Melodies and words are poor at best" reinforces the idea that the child's worth and value are beyond measure, and both the singer and the listener struggle to put into words the depth of their feelings for the child.

The second and third stanzas reflect the father's desire to encourage and empower his child to be brave and take risks in life. The phrase "you were created to fly" suggests that every person has a unique purpose and that the child's purpose is to soar and stand out in the world. The father acknowledges the fear in the child and provides reassurance that it is natural to be scared, but with time, the child will overcome this fear and achieve greatness. The father emphasizes the child's uniqueness and encourages the child not to be afraid to show the world their true colors and abilities.

The final stanza emphasizes the connection between the father, the child, and a higher power. The father acknowledges that he cannot always be physically present but emphasizes the idea that God is always there to hold the child in his embrace. The father encourages the child to remember him in prayer and to always remember that they were created to fly and to be a beacon of hope in the world.

Line by Line Meaning

You are precious more than I could express
You are extremely valuable to me and expressing that is difficult.

Melodies and words are poor at best
Even the best of songs and words cannot fully express how valuable you are to me.

You are a gift to me
You are a precious present to me.

A treasure from Heaven
You are a special blessing that comes from above.

You were created to fly
Your purpose is to soar high.

To decorate the blue sky
You are meant to add beauty to the vast sky.

Show the world your colorful wings my butterfly
Reveal your unique and colorful nature to the world, my little butterfly.

Little one, are you frightened of the sky?
Are you afraid of taking flight, my little one?

It's alright, sometimes even daddies have to cry
It's okay to feel scared or sad, even for an adult like me.

Give your heart to the wind
Have faith and trust your instincts, little one.

I know you're gonna make it
I am confident that you will succeed and thrive.