Tye has been making bold declarations and bringing forth change within his music for years with Tye Tribbett & Greater Anointing (“G.A.”), his family and ministry. Together they toured and performed with some of the biggest artists in the secular world including Whitney Houston, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Luther Vandross, Elton John, Justin Timberlake and Jill Scott to name a few. It was during a consecration period in between their first two albums Life (2004) and Victory Live! (2006), where Tye & G.A. made the decision to focus solely on gospel.
The success of Life was bolstered to the Billboard Top 10 Gospel Album chart with the infectious singles “No Way” and “Everything.” Victory Live! entered the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart at #1, generated the #1 Gospel Radio single, “Victory,” and earned Tribbett two Stellar Award wins and three Grammy nominations — Best Gospel Performance (“Victory”); Best Gospel Song (“Victory”); and Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. With his third installment Stand Out (2008) entering the Billboard Gospel chart at #1, Tye further propelled the goodness of God with his musical message.
It was within the last year, however, that Tye learned much more about God’s goodness and grace while dealing with the issue of infidelity in his marriage. Tye moved through a dark period that led to thoughts of suicide. It was here when he acknowledged he moved far away from his foundation. Ironically it was sixty day sabbatical from his musical ministry that realigned Tye to focus on his personal ministry with God and his family first. Tye recalls, “I turned away from God and as soon as I turned back around He was ready to receive me, and I learned God does not hold grudges at all.”
On the fiftieth day, Tye received a revelation in Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” The revelation and acceptance opened Tye’s eyes and behold, God set forth the next phase of change. “The Lord restored [my marriage] for the gospels’ sake, not the gossip’s sake.” The process also consisted of transition with Greater Anointing. “There is a season for everything and no matter how great a season is, the next one is always coming. There was nothing wrong with G.A., it was just time for another season,” proclaims Tye. “I had to release everybody to be who they were called to be.” Tye was clear that the Lord restored his marriage to a new position and with obedience and renewed sensibility, his music would also be restored.
With Fresh Tye is clear, the direction of the music and the ministry changed. “It’s opening a door you never opened before and walking through. It’s unfamiliar and new.” While Tye wrote and produced a majority of the album, he also solicited assistance from a small handful of talented individuals along the way for the very first time. “Fresh,” the first single and title track is a personal testimony. The uptempo celebratory dance jam produced by Pablo Vaillatoro of the Group One Crew sets forth a revived form of worship. Sonically, the pulsating rhythm of techno beats serve as the under-current to Tye’s almost auto-tune laden voice as he sings “you can’t even imagine what God has so fresh.” As Tye further proclaims, “it’s a cry out to God for the frustration of the normal, same ‘ole thing, yet celebrating the newness of life.”
Also from the Group One Crew, Manwell Reyes contributed as a writer and producer with the retro “All For You.” Surrendering to the process of being produced versus being the producer, the track excited Tye with its syncopated drum patterns, because it reaches beyond gospel. “I feel like I can go places I have never gone before- beyond the church walls to expand the brand with other inspirational outlets.”
Tye wrote and produced the first song that came during his lowest point in the wilderness, the aptly titled “Good.” The track gives a youthful approach to praise and worship, with its drum pulses and guitar strums as he simply acknowledges, “I love vertical songs and the God we serve is good.” Another personal song to Tye is the old soul, down home bluesy, “Keep Me.” Inspired by his daughter catching two teenagers kissing on television, Tye provided gentle instruction on content for an age-appropriate audience to his young butterfly. Immediately, John 17 entered into Tye’s spirit, acknowledging “Jesus wants us to pray not to be kept out of this world because His power is shown by how he keeps us while we are in the fire. I can’t keep my daughter, but God can.”
Anointed worship musician Israel Houghton contributes to Fresh with “Champion” and “Most High God (Lude).” For Tye the awesome collaboration expresses the sentiment dearest to him, citing “I love songs that brag about how strong and mighty our God is. I can’t wait to perform that song live.” The anthemic “Champion” takes its big piano as “Most High God (Lude)” simplifies is sounds for his vocal praise.
Both “Your Blood (The Communion Song)” and “Take Over” highlight Men of Standard members Isaac Carree and Lowell Pye respectively. “Your Blood” is a big sounding choir song, while “Take Over” is a song of sanctification. While each song amply reflects surrender to God, the humility present and accounted for is in sheer reverence for God’s greatness and grace.
In the uiet stillness within, “You Alone” simply sounds like a prayer. Inspired by Contemporary Christian Music and the total devotion to the fullness of God, Tye acknowledges, “I want to grow my audience to a more mature worship experience and atmosphere.” Adding “the words ask you to listen to my heart and not just the music because this is something you can pray when speaking of the Lord or speaking to Him” as the simplicity of the chords invoke the worship atmosphere. Subsequently “Holding On” sounds like the letter to God after the prayer. “This song stretches me and opens the door with its inspiration. When life gets hard, everybody needs something to hold on to.”
All sixteen tracks on the candid Fresh album are simple, “I want everyone to be refreshed because there is a cleansing that takes place in worship. Whatever I was known for, I’m adding to it with this CD. I want my heart to be heard and then you will understand.” Purposeful in the acknowledgement of his testimony, Tye Tribbett’s self-professed “compassion package” is based on growing through the storms of life with full transparency acknowledging God can change someone. Tye is pursuing an acting career and becoming more involved with organizations that target bouncing back and moving forward. “I have a greater compassion coming out of a storm because this love I experience from God, and for my wife and His people, is so big because He first loved us. Know that a relationship with God is possible.” And that is fresh.
Little Drummer Boy
Tye Tribbett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And clap your hands like.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Here we go!
One, two three, bounce...
Come they told me (pa-rum pum pum pum)
A newborn King to see (pa-rum pum pum pum)
Our finest gifts we bring (pa-rum pum pum pum)
Yeah! So to honor Him (pa-rum pum pum pum)
When we come
Little baby (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I am a poor boy too (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I have no gift to bring (pa-rum pum pum pum)
That′s fit to give our King (pa-rum pum pum pum, ra-pa pum pum, ra-pa pum pum)
Yeah! Shall I play for you (pa-rum pum pum pum)
On my drum?
Yeah! Let me play it for you!
Yeah! Mary nodded (pa-rum pum pum pum pum, pipi pum pum)
The ox and lamb kept time (pa-rum pum pum pum pum, pipi pum pum)
I played my drum for Him (pa-rum pum pum pum pum pum)
I played my best for Him (pa-rum pum pum pum pum, ra-pa pum pum, ra-pa pum pum pum pum pipi)
Then He smiled at me (pa-rum pum pum pum)
Me and my drum ...
Come on!
Come on and drum for me
Pa-pum pum, pa-pum
We're drumming for the King!
Pa-pum pum, pa-pum
This is my offering!
Pa-pum pum, pa-pum
Come on! Yeah.
Here we go.
Pa-pa pum pum, just me and my drum
The song "Little Drummer Boy" tells the story of a young boy who is summoned to meet the newborn King. However, being a poor boy, he has no expensive gifts to offer. Instead, he offers to play his drum for him to honor him. The lyrics describe the journey to meet the King and the performance of the young boy. Mary nods her head as the ox and lamb keep time, and the boy plays his best for the child. Then, the child smiles at him, and the boy feels he has done his job for the King.
The song is about giving the best that you have to offer, no matter what it is. The boy could not afford an expensive gift, but he had his drum, which he played wholeheartedly for the King. The message is that we all have something valuable to give, and if given in the right spirit, it can be a precious gift.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah! Get around kids, get around
And clap your hands like.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Here we go!
One, two three, bounce...
Let's gather around and celebrate with enthusiasm! Let's clap our hands together and create a rhythm to energize us. Let's take this opportunity to enjoy each other's company and have fun.
Come they told me (pa-rum pum pum pum)
A newborn King to see (pa-rum pum pum pum)
Our finest gifts we bring (pa-rum pum pum pum)
To lay before the King (pa-rum pum pum pum, ra-pa pum pum, ra-pa pum pum)
We are on our way to see the King, who has been born recently. We bring our most valuable gifts to offer in his presence as a token of our respect and admiration.
Yeah! So to honor Him (pa-rum pum pum pum)
When we come
We are making this journey to honor the King and pay our respects when we arrive in his presence.
Little baby (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I am a poor boy too (pa-rum pum pum pum)
I have no gift to bring (pa-rum pum pum pum)
That′s fit to give our King (pa-rum pum pum pum, ra-pa pum pum, ra-pa pum pum)
As a humble boy, I acknowledge that I have nothing magnificent to offer the King. I can only hope that he will accept my humble presence as a gesture of my love and loyalty.
Yeah! Shall I play for you (pa-rum pum pum pum)
On my drum?
I may not have anything else to offer the King, but I am willing to share my musical talent with him. May I play my drum for him?
Yeah! Mary nodded (pa-rum pum pum pum pum, pipi pum pum)
The ox and lamb kept time (pa-rum pum pum pum pum, pipi pum pum)
I played my drum for Him (pa-rum pum pum pum pum pum)
I played my best for Him (pa-rum pum pum pum pum, ra-pa pum pum, ra-pa pum pum pum pum pipi)
Then He smiled at me (pa-rum pum pum pum)
Me and my drum ...
Mary, along with the animals, acknowledged my music as I played my drum for the King with all my heart and passion. The King appreciated my offering and rewarded me with a smile - this is all I could have asked for as I played my drum for him with utmost sincerity.
Come on!
Come on and drum for me
Pa-pum pum, pa-pum
We're drumming for the King!
Pa-pum pum, pa-pum
This is my offering!
Pa-pum pum, pa-pum
Come on! Yeah.
Here we go.
Pa-pa pum pum, just me and my drum
Let's all come together and drum for the King with all our hearts and souls, united in our love and respect for him. This is my humble offering to him, and I hope that all of us can join together in this celebration. Together, we will create a beautiful symphony in his honor.
Writer(s): Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone, Katherine Davis
Contributed by Evan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.