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.
Chase the Kangaroo
The Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nevermind the stars
Mercy is the silver pearl
Vengeance is not ours
Gold glistens bright enough
To render greedy nations blind
But Jesus buried diamonds in
A land where love is rare to find
Shovel go deep
Heart be true
Chase the kangaroo
Shovel go deep
Heart be true
Chase the kangaroo
Chase the kangaroo
Proud men build "holy" shrines
And wise men wonder
Bugs bunny dug to China
I guess I'll go "down under"
Choir, choir, pants on fire
It's alright to laugh out loud
If the night is uninspired
Fear the ghost, forgive the crowd
Monday I'll be in a trench
Working for "the builder" guy
If Sydney is my destiny
I guess I'll dig until I die
Shovel go deep
Heart be true
Chase the kangaroo
Shovel go deep
Heart be true
Chase the kangaroo
Chase the kangaroo
The Choir's song "Chase the Kangaroo" talks about different aspects of life, including greed, faith, forgiveness, and the pursuit of happiness. The song tells us that while gold is valuable and can blind us with its luster, mercy is the true treasure that humanity should embrace. The lyrics also reference Jesus burying diamonds in a land where love is hard to find, which may be an allusion to the difficulties people face in finding love and goodness in the world.
The chorus instructs the listener to shovel deep and chase the kangaroo. This could be seen as a metaphor for digging deep into ourselves to find our true purpose and passions, similar to how a kangaroo jumps and bounds with purpose. It also may reference the Australian Outback, where kangaroos roam free, and encourage the listener to embrace adventure and exploration.
The song's verses also talk about the futility of building holy shrines and the need to forgive others, even if they are acting as a "crowd." The singer acknowledges that life can be uninspiring at times but encourages us to overcome our fears and dig deep into ourselves to find motivation and purpose. Overall, the song is an inspiring call to action to find what truly matters in our lives and pursue it with determination and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
See what sparkles in our world
Take a closer look at the things that shine and stand out in our world
Nevermind the stars
Pay no attention to the bigger or more popular things in our world
Mercy is the silver pearl
Being kind and forgiving is extremely valuable and precious
Vengeance is not ours
We should not seek revenge on others
Gold glistens bright enough
Money and wealth can be blinding and distracting
To render greedy nations blind
The pursuit of wealth can blind entire countries and societies
But Jesus buried diamonds in
There are priceless treasures to be found in unexpected places
A land where love is rare to find
These treasures can be found in places where love and kindness are not common
Shovel go deep
Dig deep to find what is valuable
Heart be true
Be sincere and honest in your pursuit of these treasures
Chase the kangaroo
Go after what is unique and valuable
Proud men build 'holy' shrines
People often build impressive religious monuments to show off their power and authority
And wise men wonder
Truly wise people question and ponder what may not be immediately obvious
Bugs bunny dug to China
Even fictional characters have undertaken impossible feats
I guess I'll go 'down under'
The singer will try their luck in Australia, jokingly referencing Bugs Bunny's digging to an antipodal location
Choir, choir, pants on fire
An absurd and humorous phrase, highlighting the need to not take things too seriously
It's alright to laugh out loud
Humor and laughter can help us stay grounded and not take ourselves too seriously
If the night is uninspired
During moments of stagnation, humor can help us push through
Fear the ghost, forgive the crowd
Forgive those who harm us and let go of our fears
Monday I'll be in a trench
The artist will be doing manual labor
Working for 'the builder' guy
The artist will be working for a construction company
If Sydney is my destiny
If Sydney is where the artist is meant to be
I guess I'll dig until I die
The singer will work hard their entire life, even if it seems futile
Chase the kangaroo
This refrain reminds the listener to find and pursue what is valuable and unique
Shovel go deep
Another reminder to dig deep and search thoroughly for treasures
Heart be true
A final reminder to remain sincere and honest in the pursuit of what is valuable
Chase the kangaroo
The repetition of this refrain and its importance emphasizes the value of persistence in pursuing what is of worth
Contributed by Jonathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aaron Haskins
This song has very deep meaning with it, about perseverance when everyone believes your insane for doing so. It has reminded me for nearly 26 years, about why we persevere against all odds. Thank you for posting.
spooderdoggy 2021
Thanks Aaron. I love the song and your right, it’s deep.🙏🏻
Timothy Maynard
Great album. One of the best underrated rock bands of all time.
rf1997
Rest in peace, Tim Chandler
Scott Cook
I love the beat
David J. Cervantes
I am pretty sure I was searching for this at the very same time it was being uploaded. :-)
Robert Campbell
We'll get there... just keep digging. Dig deep and stay faithful.
Be like Job... 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.