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.
Merciful Eyes
The Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seraph of treason
Heaven above
Show me the reason
Was the ruler of darkness the angel of light
Did I wake up one morning a creature of night
Can a justified sinner discern wrong from right
From your face
Render mercy and grace
Red blood rain
From the sky
God have merciful eyes
Merciful eyes
Innocent tears
Day of the dancer
Heaven come near
Whisper the answer
Did the dead man arise when she entered the room
Did I smell love decaying and call it perfume
Should a justified man know the grave from the womb
When I turn
From your face
Render mercy and grace
Red blood rain
From the sky
God have merciful eyes
Merciful eyes
Swear by the Ghost
Promises broken
Baby come close
Sorry words spoken
Would the Spirit of Truth make a liar understand
If I reach for the blue with my face in the sand
Could a justified slave call himself a free man
When I turn
From your face
Render mercy and grace
Red blood rain
From the sky
God have merciful eyes
Merciful eyes
Merciful eyes
Merciful eyes
Merciful eyes
The Choir's song "Merciful Eyes" delves into the complex nature of spirituality and morality. The first stanza introduces conflicting ideas and potential paradoxes, such as the ruler of darkness being the angel of light and a justified sinner discerning wrong from right. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which questions the nature of sin, forgiveness, and redemption.
The chorus of "Merciful Eyes" is a plea for mercy and grace, accompanied by vivid imagery such as red blood rain from the sky, and a reminder of the title of the song: "God have merciful eyes." The second stanza adds to the previous themes with references to death, decay, and rebirth. The final stanza concludes with a reference to the Holy Ghost, and the potential for redemption even after broken promises and mistakes. The song poses more questions than answers, but ultimately seems to suggest that mercy and forgiveness are essential components of a meaningful spiritual journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Demon of love
Questioning whether love can sometimes feel dangerous or violent
Seraph of treason
Considering whether even angels can betray or rebel against their divine mission
Heaven above
Acknowledging a higher power and seeking answers from it
Show me the reason
Asking for clarity and understanding in difficult situations
Was the ruler of darkness the angel of light
Wondering if good and evil can be inverted or misunderstood
Did I wake up one morning a creature of night
Questioning whether we can become something we previously saw as negative or wrong
Can a justified sinner discern wrong from right
Exploring the idea of moral ambiguity and whether it is possible to always know what is right and wrong
When I turn
Acknowledging that we may turn away from what we should be looking at or understanding
From your face
Referring to a divine or higher power
Render mercy and grace
Asking for forgiveness and compassion
Red blood rain
Metaphor for something catastrophic and violent happening
From the sky
Emphasizing the sudden and overwhelming nature of the event
God have merciful eyes
Asking for divine intervention or guidance, and hoping for mercy
Merciful eyes
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.