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.
Cain
The Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For reasons too cruel
They hide in the throats of cowards who wait
In the shadows with knives for fools
Angry words lie still on the script
And wait for their scene
They leap from the lips of lovers' betrayal
Too bitter to blame on caffeine
Fear ran her through
What could I do?
I washed my robe in the river
I washed my hands in the rain
I washed my robe in the river
I cursed the crime and the stain
Wicked words embrace the darkness
For reasons too cruel
They hide in the throats of cowards who wait
In the shadows with knives for fools
Angry words lie still on the script
And wait for their scene
They leap from the lips of lovers' betrayal
Too bitter to blame on caffeine
Love waved a white flag
Fear ran her through
What could I do?
I washed my robe in the river
I washed my hands in the rain
I washed my robe in the river
I cursed the crime and the stain
I washed my robe in the river
I washed my hands in the rain
I washed my robe in the river
I cursed the crime and the stain
Love waved a white flag
Fear raised a gun
What have I done?
I washed my robe in the river
I washed my hands in the rain
I washed my robe in the river
I cursed the crime and the stain
The lyrics to The Choir's song "Cain" are haunting, evocative, and poetic, showcasing the talents of the band's songwriter, Steve Hindalong. The song paints a vivid picture of love and betrayal, of anger and darkness, and of a man struggling to come to terms with his own sin and guilt.
The opening lines of the song set the scene: "Wicked words embrace the darkness for reasons too cruel. They hide in the throats of cowards who wait in the shadows with knives for fools." This sets a dark and ominous tone, suggesting that something terrible is about to happen. As the song continues, we learn that a lover has betrayed the singer, and he is left to grapple with the aftermath. He washes his robe and hands repeatedly, as if trying to wash away the stain of his guilt, but the crime remains.
The repeated refrain of "love waved a white flag, fear ran her through, what could I do?" emphasizes the sense of helplessness and despair that the singer is feeling. He is powerless to change what has happened, and is left to deal with the consequences alone.
One interpretation of the song is that it is referencing the biblical story of Cain and Abel, in which Cain murders his brother out of jealousy and is then marked with a curse. The repeated washing of the robe and hands could be seen as a reference to Cain's guilt and shame after committing the murder. The idea of wicked words and betrayal could also be seen as a reflection of the jealousy and anger that drove Cain to commit the crime.
Overall, "Cain" is a powerful and introspective song that delves into themes of love, betrayal, and guilt. The haunting melody, evocative lyrics, and strong vocals make it a standout track on The Choir's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
Wicked words embrace the darkness
Darkness is nourished by words that contain evil intentions
For reasons too cruel
The reasons behind the wickedness of these words are too painful to comprehend
They hide in the throats of cowards who wait
The ones who hold these words back are afraid to speak them out loud
In the shadows with knives for fools
These cowards are waiting to hurt and take advantage of those who are unaware
Angry words lie still on the script
Words of anger exist in writing, but not spoken
And wait for their scene
These words are waiting patiently for their chance to be spoken
They leap from the lips of lovers' betrayal
These words are often spoken by those who have been betrayed by someone they loved
Too bitter to blame on caffeine
These words are so cruel that they cannot be blamed on mere caffeine intake
Love waved a white flag
This line is a metaphor for the moment someone surrenders to love
Fear ran her through
Fear overtook her and defeated her love
What could I do?
The singer feels helpless and unable to change what happened
I washed my robe in the river
The artist is attempting to cleanse themselves from the situation
I washed my hands in the rain
The singer is attempting to cleanse themselves from the situation
I cursed the crime and the stain
The singer is angry and resentful of what happened
Love waved a white flag
This line is a metaphor for the moment someone surrenders to love
Fear raised a gun
Fear overtook someone and led them to make a dangerous decision
What have I done?
The artist is questioning their own actions and feels responsible for what happened
I washed my robe in the river
The singer is attempting to cleanse themselves from the situation
I washed my hands in the rain
The singer is attempting to cleanse themselves from the situation
I washed my robe in the river
The artist is attempting to cleanse themselves from the situation
I cursed the crime and the stain
The artist is angry and resentful of what happened
Contributed by Maria H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.